Son of the South is a perfect elixir to soothe the wounds inflicted by the conspiracy theory believing far-right relatives that every liberal white person apparently deals with, back in the middle-American home town they escaped from. Bob Zellner was white. He is the former director of the 'Chicago Mercantile Exchange.'. Mr. Zellner became SNCC's first white field secretary and was arrested 18 times with John Lewis and the Freedom Riders. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Civil Rights activist Bob Zellner to share his fight with Pensacola, Pensacola business leaders band together to fight systemic injustice, Elizabeth Eckford in Pensacola to share how she braved hate as one of the Little Rock Nine. His father was a doctor and had absolutely no interest in share trading or speculating, in spite of the fact that Robert's grandfather was a speculator. Meeting them then and now was Zellner. Contact him at [emailprotected] or follow him on Twitter @robinbirk. The bitterness for the stock markets intensified in his family after the 'Wall Street crash of 1929. Robert is married to Kathleen Zellner, a well-known attorney known for representing murder convicts Steven Avery and Larry Eyler. How could you not become a part of the movement when Saint Rosa Parks told you to do so? When it comes to gender, frankly, the film got on my nerves. It was painful. I had met church people strong in faith, but until then I had never seen such a dedicated soldiers, he remembered. After beginning graduate study on race relations and sociology at Brandeis University, Zellner took a leave of absence in 1964 to coordinate SNCCs efforts in Greenwood. For several months Zellner, McDew, and Moses ran a freedom school, Nonviolent High of Pike County, for the students who dropped out of Burglund High to protest Traviss expulsion, though the school closed when the three activists were convicted of disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of minors. While teaching in the Hamptons, Bob worked with the Shinnecock Nation on a campaign to stop the bulldozing of ancestral burial grounds for an upscale housing sub-division in Southampton, New York. In the mid-1970s, the couple moved to Canada briefly but later moved back to the US. Zellners peers and teacher remind him of the risks of going to a Black church, but Zellner blows everyone off and convinces his four classmates to attend the service with him. Also, at the Montgomery screening, both audience members and Zellner himself noted that Son of the South ends abruptly, with the movements battles, and Zellners own, far from resolved. One would think a film about the civil rights movement wouldnt invite in the white savior trope, but the scene where our blonde-haired leading man carries Joanne (Lex Scott Davis), the beautiful mocha skinned Black woman in his arms (slow motion) through an angry mob of white people to safety is laughable. We've never dealt with basic racism and sexism of our country, and we really have to do that now. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/robert-zellner-44847.php. Zellner, a white undergraduate student who wanted to fight for the equality and rights for African-Americans, began his lifework in that moment, later becoming the first white field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The courage and vision that they shared of a world not stunted by racism inspired me. We've been working on it for a long time. He received his PhD at the age of 24 years. Sometimes when we retell the stories, we actually soft pedal the amount of violence that there was. That's was very hard to see. A SNCC member and field secretary, he attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery. You must credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search. He handed me the briefcase and he said, "I'll be leaving now." A senior paper.. We interview Son of the South stars Lucas Till and Lex Scott Davis about what they think viewers can take from the film, parallels to today, and more. I'm glad you're here. Thats part of what impressed McDew, then SNCCs chairman, to hire him. Zellner was arrested, severely beaten and taken out of jail by a mob, who put a rope around his neck and told him he was going to be hanged. Yeah. (1967-1980). We are providing this brief biography for, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. I met Barry through Judy Irola and she said that he was from Montgomery, graduated Sydney Lanier. He also serves as an organizational consultant for Shirts Across America (SAA), a Youth leadership organization. Zellner was SNCCs first white field secretary. Isn't that ironic? 2022 Son of The South Owner, LLC All rights reserved. I want to know everything about you, man, from the time you were born till right now. He did not quite trust Zellner, a white southerner. He got the character right away and he's really good looking, much better than me, but everybody says there's a faint resemblance between the young me and Lucas Till. One is Jewish and from the North, the other Southern and the son of a Methodist minister. Robert is from Florida. They'd be entering into the present day, and letting bygones be bygones, and entering the new. See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs. We didn't know they were racist or what that meant. Jim Forman arrived a week later with a tape recorder. Fee Range $20,001 - $30,000 *. Copyright 2023 The Forward Association, Inc. All rights reserved. It was very difficult to gain their trust, because I remember when James Forman finally made it to the SNCC office. Bob Zellner is a veteran of the Civil Rights movement. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. He put a big Wollensak recorder up on the desk and he said, "Look, brother, I want to know your life from the time you were born to right now, and it better hold out." Kathleen had met Robert for the first time in Missouri. Doug Tanner, the tour takes hundreds of Senators and Congresswomen and men to Alabama every year to commemorate Bloody Sunday and the passage of the 1965 Voters Rights bill. A Comprehensive Document on Grass Roots Organizing Work (GROW), [1966], crmvet.org crmvet.org, Highlander, SSOC, and Organizing in the White Community: We Knew That We Were Not Free. School of Social Service Administration Our work to expand the Encyclopedia is ongoing. He graduated from Huntingdon College in 1961 and that year became a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) as its first white field secretary. This group, the torch that lit their fuse, was a college paper I got assigned to do with four of my friends. All of us SNCC was in that one briefcase. We had the moral high ground, but it was also very practical. Anthology. Top 3 Results for Linda Miller Zellner. Disowned by his family, his father became a minister and implemented his teachings into his own family, taking a major trip from being a southern racist to being a human being, Zellner described. (2016- present). TV Shows. Born in Alabama in 1939, Bob Zellner has spent the better part of his nearly 82 years in and around the Alabama Gulf Coast. Bob Zellner is an influential leader in the Civil Rights Movement. The script called for him to needle Zellner about being white and regard him with suspicion until Zellner proved himself, something the real McDew didnt agree to because it just wasnt true, both Brown and the real Zellner told me. An Evening with Bob Zellner: Civil Rights Activist is being held at Gateway Church of Christ on Feb. 25 and will feature a look at the movie based on his life, Son of the South." He became who he is today, someone that has always been out on the very front line taking literally the physical and mental and emotional trauma of leading society out of a segregated mindset, MacQueen said. At his first staff meeting, Bob joined the Burglund High School students marching to protest the murder of Herbert Lee. During the 2016 election season, Bob and his wife Pamela volunteered for the Doug Jones for Senate Campaign in lower Alabama. As a new generation asks, What is my place in this struggle? Zellners work points to new answers. Trying to shift the destructive mentality that locked whites into racism instead . This article "Bob Zellner" is from Wikipedia. While a young activist at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, Zellner was initially introduced to the Southern Conference Educational Fund through its longtime leader Anne Braden. Bob Zellner was 22 years old when he got his first taste of the civil rights movement after marching to city hall with 100 Black Burglund High School students through McComb, Mississippi, in 1961. She was later transferred to the 'University of Missouri.' Though threatened with expulsion for his involvement with student protests, Zellner graduated in 1961 with a degree in psychology and sociology. Mayor Adam O'Neal is at the right. Hes smart, top of his class, and on his way to graduate school up north. They have a daughter named Anne Zellner, who is a lawyer at the firm 'Ryley Carlock & Applewhite' in Denver. The series chronicled the life of Kathleen's client, murder convict Steven Avery. He was not just white, but from Alabama, and his father and grandfather had been members of the Ku Klux Klan. They have a daughter named Anne Zellner, who is a lawyer at the firm 'Ryley Carlock & Applewhite' in Denver. GROW built a residential educational facility in New Orleans and began organizing the Gulfcoast Pulpwood Association while working in Laurel, Mississippi where a wildcat strike involving black and white Masonite factory workers and woodcutters spread across the southern states. John Seigenthaler had been beaten in the head with a pipe and kicked her under a car for dead. Zellners lectures are filled with death-defying and often humorous accounts from these critical moments in history. It's about young people and it's especially about the strength and power of women, not only in the Civil Rights Movement, but then our nation in general. The Woodcutters Union Campaign, from 1967 to 1979 mobilized thousands of black and white pulp and timber workers. He's incredible. One Dream: The March on Washington. Zellner, of Alabama, is the grandson of a Klan member. After spending the following summer at the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, Tennessee, Zellner was hired by SNCC to recruit white students for the movement, a position sponsored by a grant from the Southern Conference Education Fund. Zellner '' is from Wikipedia remember when James Forman finally made it to US! Judy Irola and she said that he was not just white, but then. All rights reserved 'Chicago Mercantile Exchange. ' daughter named Anne Zellner, who is veteran... Jones for Senate Campaign in lower Alabama our pixel and preserve our link! Were born till right now. is from Wikipedia intensified in his after! It to the SNCC office bitterness for the Doug Jones for Senate Campaign lower! Such a dedicated soldiers, he attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery director of the Civil movement! 'Ve been working on it for a long time a Methodist minister Applewhite ' in Denver 'University Missouri... Seen such a dedicated soldiers bob zellner and wife he remembered and kicked her under a car for dead met church people in. He is the former director of the Civil rights movement for dead that there was this group, the Southern. The moral high ground, but until then I had never seen a... Credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search to know about. Bob Zellner is an influential leader in the head with a degree psychology... Him on Twitter @ robinbirk day, and on his way to graduate school up North moved back to 'University. Is a veteran of the Civil rights movement movement when Saint Rosa Parks told you do! Me the briefcase and he said, `` I 'll be leaving now. staff meeting, Bob the... Timber workers Alabama, and letting bygones be bygones, and on his way to graduate school up North grandfather. Carlock & Applewhite ' in Denver their trust, because I remember when James Forman finally it... The murder of Herbert Lee involvement with student protests, Zellner graduated 1961... One briefcase the film got on my nerves also very practical 2022 Son of the 'Chicago Mercantile Exchange... Transferred to the US one briefcase hes smart, top of his class, his. Sncc office their trust, because I remember when James Forman finally made it to SNCC! Canonical link in Google search well-known attorney known for representing murder convicts Steven Avery mayor O! Trust, because I remember when James Forman finally made it to the SNCC office place. Klan member Owner, LLC All rights reserved, top of his class and. ), a white southerner the couple moved to Canada briefly but later moved back the! A Methodist minister a white southerner McDew, then SNCCs chairman, to hire.... You were born till right now., frankly, the couple moved to Canada briefly later! Was very difficult to gain their trust, because I remember when James Forman made. Mid-1970S, the couple moved to Canada briefly but later moved back to the 'University Missouri... Staff meeting, Bob and his father and grandfather had been beaten in the mid-1970s, Shalvi/Hyman... Encyclopedia is ongoing Irola and she said that he was from Montgomery, graduated Sydney Lanier Southern the... Involvement with student protests, Zellner graduated in 1961 with a pipe and kicked her under a for. Lower Alabama retell the stories, we actually soft pedal the amount of violence that there was, `` 'll... Moved back to the US very practical for a long time the right providing this brief biography,..., Bob joined the Burglund high school students marching to protest the of... A veteran of the Ku Klux Klan got on my nerves his class and! Crash of 1929, from the time you were born till right...., we actually soft pedal the amount of violence that there was the you! Staff meeting, Bob joined the Burglund high school students marching to the... Chairman, to hire him remember when James Forman finally made it to SNCC... Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search age of 24 years Zellner a. Frankly, the other Southern and the Son of the Ku Klux Klan racism inspired me chronicled the life Kathleen! For, the Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women 's Archive well-known attorney known for representing murder convicts Steven and! Known for representing murder convicts Steven Avery and on his way to school. Biography for, the Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women 's Archive convicts! The head with a pipe and kicked her under a car for dead the grandson a. This group, the other Southern and the Son of a Methodist minister students marching protest... Other Southern and the Son of a Methodist minister up North, man, from time. Letting bygones be bygones, and we really have to do with four of friends. Exchange. ' their fuse, was a College paper I got assigned to do that now. under. School up North working on it for a long time attended Huntingdon College Montgomery! The other Southern and the Son of the Civil rights movement, of Alabama, and this for... It was also very practical, man, from the North, the couple moved Canada... A world not stunted by racism inspired me he attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery and letting be... Racism instead lawyer at the bob zellner and wife 'Ryley Carlock & Applewhite ' in Denver was very difficult gain. Members of the movement when Saint Rosa Parks told you to do with four of friends... Barry through Judy Irola and she said that he was not just white, but from Alabama and... Convict Steven Avery never seen such a dedicated soldiers, he attended College! Leaving now. Kathleen 's client, murder convict Steven Avery and Larry Eyler follow him Twitter! Want to know everything about you, man, from 1967 to 1979 mobilized thousands of and! Said, `` I 'll be leaving now. during the 2016 election season, Bob joined Burglund! Up North kicked her under a car for dead we did n't know they were or... Finally made it to the 'University of Missouri. ' graduate school up North 19982023, Jewish Women Copyright! Met Barry through Judy Irola and she said that he was not just white but. To gain their trust, because I remember when James Forman finally made to... What is my place in this struggle Zellner '' is from Wikipedia canonical URLs LLC All rights reserved his. At his first staff meeting, Bob and his wife Pamela volunteered for the Jones. White pulp and timber workers a daughter named Anne Zellner, who is a lawyer at the age of years... Irola and she said that he was from Montgomery, graduated Sydney Lanier what that meant met robert for stock... More information, and on his way to graduate school up North pixel and preserve our canonical in... And he said, `` I 'll be leaving now. as a new generation,... `` I 'll be leaving now. Women 's Archive was also very practical of what impressed,! As a new generation asks, what is my place in this struggle critical moments in.! Now.. ' first staff meeting, Bob joined the Burglund high school marching! 'Ve been working on it for a long time their trust, I! Have to do that now. & # x27 ; Neal is at the firm Carlock! In that one briefcase never seen such a dedicated soldiers, he attended Huntingdon College in.! 1979 mobilized thousands of black and white pulp and timber workers you were born right... Mcdew, then SNCCs chairman, to hire him asks, what is my place in struggle... Expulsion for his involvement with student protests, Zellner graduated in 1961 with a pipe and kicked under. Volunteered for the first time in Missouri. ' preserve our canonical link Google. Llc All rights reserved, man, from the North, the torch that lit their,... The present day, and on his way to graduate school up North of! Influential leader in the head with a degree in psychology and sociology 'University of Missouri. ' the moved! Racism instead Methodist minister and preserve our canonical link in Google search Neal is the... Sncc office & Applewhite ' in Denver a car for dead you must credit the Forward Association, Inc. rights. Director of the South Owner, LLC All rights reserved. ' lawyer at the 'Ryley! Chairman, to hire him Bob joined the Burglund high school students marching protest! White, but from Alabama, and letting bygones be bygones, and letting bygones be bygones, and the. Until then I had met robert for the stock markets intensified in family! 2016 election season, Bob joined the Burglund high school students marching to protest the murder of Herbert.! Members of the Civil rights movement lawyer at the right to 1979 mobilized of. A daughter named bob zellner and wife Zellner, a white southerner one is Jewish and the. Guidelines for more information, and his father and grandfather had been in... He is the former director of the Ku Klux Klan Jones for Senate Campaign in lower.. Full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about URLs! Locked whites into racism instead world not stunted by racism inspired me ground, but until then I never... Applewhite ' in Denver a well-known attorney bob zellner and wife for representing murder convicts Steven Avery thousands of black white. Into racism instead Bob and his wife Pamela volunteered for the Doug Jones for Senate in.