Black History Celebration continued in the Township of Union with a free screening of the Academy Award nominated film, “Hidden Figures.”
The record breaking event, which took place at Union Theater on Stuyvesant Avenue, accommodated more than 700 residents to see the movie, free of charge, courtesy of Township and Union Theater.
At the event, city mayor talked to movie-goers about the importance of the film saying “Black women are rarely properly acknowledged for their contributions to history. Many of their unsung stories have been overlooked and overshadowed.”
In “Hidden Figures,” Black women are highlighted at the forefront of one of the greatest NASA operations. It tells relevant and valuable stories about civil rights, feminism and equality that, according to Cavadas, are still relevant today.
“My colleagues and I felt this to be a story that the entire community should have the privilege to experience on the big screen,” she said, “but with the average trip to the movies for a family of four costing close to $70, we realized that this was something that may be out of reach for some.”
Upon this realization, the Township Committee set out to partner with Union Theater to make the experience possible.
The movie, which was slated to begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, had a line for admission snaking down Stuyvesant Avenue at 5:15 p.m. By 7 p.m. every seat, in every theater was filled.
Students from Union High School packed into a theater with a capacity of about 160 seats. Their cheers during the movie could be heard in the lobby of the building, noted Committeeman Clifton People Jr., who was seated in the same theater.
“The excitement of our residents, but more importantly our youth, make all of the work that goes into these events worthwhile,” People said