Prom Night in Mississippi

In 1997, Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman made an historic offer to the high school in his hometown of Charleston, Mississippi: He would foot the bill for the school’s senior prom—on condition that both black and white students be allowed to attend. Even though the students shared classes and every other aspect of school life, Charleston High had a tradition of holding two proms—one white, one black. Freeman’s offer was ignored. In 2008, he made it again. This time, the school accepted and history was made, but not without significant opposition. Prom Night in Mississippi tells the highly entertaining and ultimately hopeful story of the fallout from Freeman’s offer, as senior students of Charleston High rally in preparation for the school’s first-ever integrated prom.