An Unlikely Friendship Documentary Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis
Diane Bloom's 2002 Ann Atwater documentary
features the grass roots activist and her
one-time rival C.P. Ellis talking about
the 1971 school desegregation meetings
that they co-chaired together. The public
meetings, known as charrettes, were held
to discuss the integration of black and
white schools in the Durham, North
Carolina area. C.P. Ellis was president of
the local chapter of the Klan, and he had
previously gotten into heated arguments
with Ann Atwater at city council meetings.
However, as seen in
The Best of
Enemies movie that the documentary
inspired, the two managed to find common
ground and formed an unlikely friendship.
Ellis also emerged from the meetings a
changed man.
Related Article: The Best of Enemies: History vs. Hollywood
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