Tallahassee Screening Explores African American and Jewish Unity During Civil Rights Movement

Community members learned about the powerful alliance between African American and Jewish communities that shaped the civil rights movement.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A screening of the film "Shared Legacies" in Tallahassee, Florida highlighted the collaboration between African American and Jewish communities during the civil rights movement. The event, hosted by the Charlie Ward Champions Ranch and the Holocaust Education Resource Council, featured a panel discussion on unity, resilience, and education. Organizers hope the event will encourage community members to engage with people from different backgrounds and learn from each other's histories and experiences.

Why it matters

The film "Shared Legacies" sheds light on an important but often overlooked part of civil rights history - the alliance between African American and Jewish communities that played a crucial role in advancing the movement. By exploring this history, the event aims to foster greater understanding and unity across different cultures and generations in the Tallahassee community.

The details

The "Shared Legacies" screening took place at the Challenger Learning Center in Tallahassee, followed by a panel discussion. Speakers emphasized the importance of preserving and sharing this history, with Yavilah McCoy, founder of Ayecha, stating that "Blacks and Jews need right now is the opportunity to be in proximity with one another deeply so that we carry each other's stories in our hearts in our minds and our spirits so that we can once again move together." The event was attended by over 40 students from the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend, with CEO Kacy Dennis hoping they would learn "the importance of working together, conflict resolution, all those great things."

  • The "Shared Legacies" screening took place on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • The event was held in celebration of Black History Month.

The players

Charlie Ward Champions Ranch

A community organization that partnered with the Holocaust Education Resource Council to host the "Shared Legacies" screening.

Holocaust Education Resource Council

An organization that collaborated with Charlie Ward Champions Ranch to bring the "Shared Legacies" film screening to Tallahassee.

Yavilah McCoy

The founder of Ayecha, an activist and teacher who spoke at the panel discussion about the need for African American and Jewish communities to deepen their understanding of each other's histories and struggles.

Kacy Dennis

The CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend, which brought over 40 students to attend the "Shared Legacies" screening.

Barbara Goldstein

The executive director of the Holocaust Education Resource Council, who emphasized the importance of the film's message for the Tallahassee community.

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What they’re saying

“What I think Blacks and Jews need right now is the opportunity to be in proximity with one another deeply so that we carry each other's stories in our hearts in our minds and our spirits so that we can once again move together, not for the sake of saving each other's poor unfortunate souls but for the sake of understanding the essential human dignity that we each carry and why it behooves us as Jews and Blacks to not let go of the years and years of ancestry, the years and years of energy, fights, bodies on the line that have come before us that deserve our attention, to not let go of their legacy.”

— Yavilah McCoy, Ayecha founder, activist, and teacher (WTXL)

“So important for the community to learn for Black history month, and this movie is very powerful about the civil rights movement and learning how to help each other out and stand up for what's right and be together as a community.”

— Barbara Goldstein, Holocaust Education Resource Council Executive Director (WTXL)

“I just hope they learn the importance about the shared legacies...how we all work together. It's so important for the kids to understand and all the kids to know: the importance of working together, conflict resolution, all those great things.”

— Kacy Dennis, CEO, Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend (WTXL)

What’s next

Organizers plan to continue hosting events and screenings that explore the shared history and collaboration between African American and Jewish communities, with the goal of fostering greater unity and understanding within the Tallahassee community.

The takeaway

The "Shared Legacies" screening highlights the powerful alliance between African American and Jewish communities during the civil rights movement, a crucial but often overlooked part of history. By sharing this story, the event aims to inspire community members to engage with people from diverse backgrounds, learn from each other's experiences, and work together towards a more just and equitable future.