Even after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 --- a landmark piece of civil rights legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin --- racial tensions remained high in America. During the 1970s, many schools employed full-time police officers to keep the peace between black and white students.
In a powerful story of faith and forgiveness, Woodlawn tells the true story of Birmingham’s first African-American superstar, Tony Nathan, who was heavily recruited by Bear Bryant.
From director Jon Erwin:
It’s a story of a high school that was going to close from violence due to integration. 1973 Birmingham, my home town,” Erwin said. “And nothing could fix the problem. Nothing could fix the hatred. You know, policy couldn’t fix it, police. And it was a spiritual awakening that happened on the football team. The entire team decided to make a decision together to love God and love each other.
This weekend is the perfect opportunity to watch Woodlawn --- rated five stars on Amazon. See Glenn's full interview with director Jon Erwin, who premiered the film in 2015 at Restoring Unity in Birmingham, Alabama.