The People vs Leo Frank

Leo Frank

Leo Frank's Hanging

I am currently watching the new Georgia Public Broadcasting's PBS docu-drama "The People vs Leo Frank" I really do applaud the state's educational efforts to take such black marks in the history of the state of Georgia and create terrific narrations of that history. Every specific horrifying detail is intricately played out using historians, those that have personal family connections to the events, and others that have spent countless hours studying the case. They trace the events surrounding the death of Mary Phagan, the following "Knights of Mary Phagan" and how that small gathering eventually turned into the new Ku Klux Klan. I really cannot do justice on this post but to say check out the trailer here. Following the film, is a roundtable presented by the Georgia Historical Society. The GHS seem to be the driving force behind this documentary, and I have to specifically applaud their efforts.

Teachers I suggest you use this as supplemental material when covering the early 1900's and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. Just imagine the interpretation and analyzations you can help foster.  PBS has issued teacher's aid guides and supplemental materials to along with the video which can be found here.

http://www.pbs.org/thepeoplevleofrank/