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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