Free Documentary Film Screening: "Upbuilding Whitted"

The new documentary film "Upbuilding Whitted," presented by the NCCU Dep't of English & Mass Communication, explores the history and significance of the Whitted building in Durham, NC. The structure was built in 1922 as Hillside Park High, Durham's first African American high school; in 1949 it became J.A. Whitted Junior High School, and continued to bring together African American students into the '70s. In "Upbuilding Whitted" former students and teachers, as well as community leaders and preservationists, discuss what the structure means to them and the importance of rescuing it.The project began simply enough: While shooting photos of the Whitted building, NCCU senior Chi Brown was troubled by its dilapidated state and proceeded to research its history. At the same time, Bruce dePyssler, an associate professor at NCCU, was hoping to put together a student team to produce a documen- tary. The team was formed, and work was under way in the summer of 2011. In addition to dePyssler and Brown, the Whitted team includes NCCU graduates Purity Kimaiyo and April Leanne Simon.