Series: The Ten O'Clock News
Date: 1990-03-20
Duration: 00:04:22

Subject: Motion pictures; Busing for school integration - General
People: Conway, Jim; George, Christy; Kelly, James; McGoff, Lisa; Palladino, Elvira "Pixie"; Twymon, Cassandra; Walker, George

Clip Description
Christy George reports that the film Common Ground is based on a book about the history of school desegregation in Boston. George notes that a group of people who were involved in school desegregation in Boston watched the film together last night. George reports on their reactions. George's report includes footage from a discussion of the film. Kevin White (former Mayor of Boston) says that the film provoked strong reactions in everyone. James Kelly (Boston City Council) and Elvira "Pixie" Palladino (former member, Boston School Committee) speak out against busing. George Walker (member of the Twymon family portrayed in Common Ground) speaks out against "closed communities." Jim Conway (Charlestown resident) says that the film promotes a negative image of Charlestown. Lisa McGoff (member of the McGoff family portrayed in Common Ground) and Cassandra Twymon (member of the Twymon family portrayed in Common Ground) speak at the meeting. McGoff says that the film concentrates on the negative events of the busing crisis. Twymon says that the film gives an accurate portrayal of her experiences as an African American student in a white school. George notes that Common Ground is a risky film for a network television station to air. George's report includes footage from the film.

This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item:
Jan von Mehren talks to students about school desegregation and race relations
Integrated school in 1990

Series Description
A local program aimed at the Boston audience, The Ten O'Clock News debuted on January 15, 1976. Its two immediate predecessors were The Reporters and Evening Compass. A news and public affairs show focusing on neighborhood, local and state issues, The Reporters was produced and broadcast on WGBH from 1970 to 1973. The Reporters was then replaced by Evening Compass, which expanded into a twice-nightly news broadcast during the tense moments of Boston's busing crisis. On the air from 1973 to 1975, Evening Compass found an audience through its in-depth coverage of school desegregation in Boston, which began in 1974. The Ten O'Clock News stood out as an in-depth news program. It strove for a balance between local and national stories, between politics and the Arts. The last The Ten O'Clock News program was broadcast on May 30, 1991.

See also: http://main.wgbh.org/ton/programs/7155_02