Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence (Documentary)

Praise for a Georgia Writer from the Birmingham Jail

Join us in honoring the life and legacy of Lillian Smith (1897–1966)—a courageous Southern author who boldly spoke out against segregation and social injustice. Smith’s groundbreaking book, Killers of the Dream, challenged the moral foundations of racism in the South and remains a vital part of the American literary and civil rights canon. As part of this tribute, we invite you to a screening of the acclaimed documentary Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence (2019) in Bernheim Hall. This powerful film explores her life, her defiance of Jim Crow, and her enduring influence on both civil rights and Southern literature.

While you're here, don't miss the companion exhibit: Presented in partnership with the Mobile Public Library and the Southern Literary Trail, the exhibit highlights Smith’s literary achievements and her fearless activism. Notably, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. praised Smith by name in his historic Letter from Birmingham Jail, recognizing her as a Southern voice of conscience during a time of widespread silence.

For more information, please visit southernliterarytrail.org.