The Center for Creative Partnerships will coordinate a series of public screenings and discussions of the documentary Meltdown in Dixie (2021), which examines the complexities of race and Southern culture through the story of a battle over display of a Confederate flag in Orangeburg, SC. SC Humanities supported the documentary Meltdown in Dixie with a Major Grant and has also supported this film discussion series with a Major Grant.
Directed by Orangeburg, S.C. native Emily Harrold, Meltdown in Dixie explores the broader role of Confederate symbolism in the 21st century through a local look at a battle over a flag flying outside the Edisto River Creamery. The film follows the owner of the Creamery as he tries to bring the flag down. Countering this, the film also profiles the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, who want to keep the flag flying.
“The role of Confederate symbols in our society today is a very charged and dividing issue,” said director Emily Harrold. “While it was hard to turn the camera on my hometown on such a controversial subject, I believe the film offers insights on all sides of the issue. I hope the film encourages audiences to more openly consider their feelings on the topic and acknowledge the legacy of hurt that Confederate symbols continue to uphold.”
Each screening will be followed by a moderated discussion with both local and state scholars. Scholars William Hine and Larry Watson have designed a discussion and study guide that will be made available to participants in the screenings. Some screenings might be live-streamed to include virtual audiences.
The current schedule of film discussion events is:
June 2022
Saturday, June 11 | 4:00 p.m. – Berkley, The Hanahan Amphitheater (3100 Mabeline Road, Hanahan, SC)
*Organized locally by the Grace Development Impact Center as part of the “Root of Soul: J19th Fest”
Sunday, June 26 | 1:00 p.m. – Hampton, The Palmetto Theater (109 Lee Avenue, Hampton, SC)
* organized locally by Hampton Friends of the Arts as part of the SLICE! Short Film Festival
July 2022
Wednesday, July 13 | 7:30 p.m. – Columbia, The Nickelodeon Theatre (1607 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201)
September 2022
Tuesday, September 20 | 7:00 p.m. – Newberry, Newberry Opera House (1201 McKibben St, Newberry, SC 29108)
Saturday, September 24 | 1:00 p.m. – Greenville, The Upcountry History Museum (540 Buncombe St, Greenville, SC 29601)
October 2022
Monday, October 3 | 6:00 p.m. – Beaufort, USCB Center for the Arts (805 Carteret St, Beaufort, SC 29902)
Wednesday, October 12 | 4:00 p.m. – Clemson, Clemson University Humanities Hub (McKissick Theater, Hendrix Student Center, 720 McMillan Road, Clemson, SC 29631)
Saturday, October 15 | 1:00 p.m. – Jasper, Morris Center for Low County Heritage (10782 S Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland, SC 29936)
Tuesday, October 18 | 6:00 p.m. – Dorchester, Jennie J. McMahan Library
Thursday, October 27 | 5:30 p.m. Charleston, Avery Research Center
November 2022
Thursday, November 10 – Florence, Florence County Museum POSTPONED BECAUSE OF TROPICAL STORM NICOLE
Tuesday, November 15 | 6:00 p.m. – Spartanburg, Center for African American Studies of USC Upstate
Thursday, November 17 | 6:00 p.m. – Georgetown, Georgetown County Library
March 2023
Monday, March 13 | 6:30 p.m. – Grace Reformed Church, Monck’s Corner (401 Stoney Landing Rd, Moncks Corner, SC 29461)
April 2023
Monday, April 24| 6:30 p.m. – Kuhne Auditorium in Neville Hall, Presbyterian College (503 South Broad Street Clinton, South Carolina 29325) in partnership with the Echo Theater
Contact: Regan Freeman, echotheatresc@gmail.com
The Center for Creative Partnerships is an educational organization of Conscience and Social Justice that promotes community involvement through the arts and humanities, including civil and human rights. Learn more: https://www.centerforcreativepartnerships.org/.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 20-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.
