Justice 101: From Rosa Parks to Joan Little: A screening and conversation about Civil Rights and Criminal Justice Education
Thursday, April 16, 2026
5:30 - 7:30pm EST
Reception: 5:30 - 6:00 PM
Screening and Discussion: 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Join us for a screening of the documentary “Free Joan Little” by Yoruba Richen and Retro Report, which had its world premiere in November at the Doc NYC Festival. We will be joined by Ms. Richen for a conversation about the role of two Black women, Rosa Parks and Joan Little, in catalyzing a national fight for civil rights, women’s rights and prison reform. Educators are encouraged to attend, as free classroom resources will be shared.
Moderated by David Olson, Director of Education at Retro Report, this conversation will explore Parks’ and Little’s contributions to the decades-long fight to end racial discrimination, and how secondary teachers and parents can use their stories to educate and inspire the young learners of today.
About the Film:
FREE JOAN LITTLE tells the story of the landmark 1975 murder trial of the first woman in U.S. history to be acquitted for using deadly force to resist sexual assault. At 20 years old, Joan (pronounced Jo-Ann) Little was incarcerated in North Carolina when she killed a white jailer who she said tried to rape her. Her trial drew national attention, becoming a rallying point for civil rights, women’s rights and prison reform. The case brought together activists including Angela Davis and Rosa Parks, and catalyzed a national conversation about sexual assault and racial justice. Little’s fight for freedom remains a defining moment in American legal and social history.
Content Warning: This event may contain depictions of or references to subject matter that may be sensitive for some individuals including—but not limited to—sexual assault, racism, sexism, and violence. Classroom resources distributed to educators will provide guidance on adapting the documentary and discussion for young students.
About the Panelists:
Yoruba Richen
Director / Producer
Yoruba Richen is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who won a Trailblazer award from Black Public Media. Her most recent film, “American Coup: Wilmington 1898,” was nominated for a Peabody Award. Her film “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” won a Peabody Award, a Gracie Award, and was honored by the Television Academy. Other recent works include the Emmy-nominated films “American Reckoning” and “How It Feels to Be Free.” Her film, “The Killing of Breonna Taylor,” won an NAACP Image Award. Yoruba is the Founding Director of the Documentary Program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at C.U.N.Y.
Photo Credit: Paul Stremple
David Olson
Director of Education, Retro Report
David Olson is the Director of Education for Retro Report. Prior to joining Retro Report, David was an award-winning teacher of U.S. History, A.P. U.S. Government and Politics and Criminal Justice at a public high school in Madison, Wisc.
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This program is part of Justice 101, a discussion series that dives into some of the most pressing issues in criminal justice today, through a historical lens and with a focus on civic education. Each program includes interactive elements, expert voices, and opportunities for community dialogue.
This program is part of A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future, a yearlong slate of free, inclusive programs exploring the evolving meanings of liberty and justice in America. A Time for Liberty is made possible with support from civic and cultural partners including the City of Philadelphia, America250PA, Campus250, the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program series, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
