A KING IN PARADISE

African American scholar and professor, Steven "TheProf" Cleveland is gearing up for a project that he is excited to give to the world. Many people remember the leis worn by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) and others as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965.  Few know that the story began in 1959 as a part of Hawaii’s statehood celebration. In partnership with From the Heart Productions, Professor Cleveland will share the story of MLK’s first trip to Hawaii with a cohort of students as they adventure to Hawaii to follow in MLK's footsteps.  

Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Charles Burnett, will document their journey and highlight their discoveries. One of the historic moments of MLK’s time in Hawaii was a speech that he gave to the First Hawaiian State Assembly that explored the truth about race in America.  By sharing MLK’s wisdom, the film will empower future generations in a time when the truth is masked, manipulated, and complex. The film has the capacity to inspire “what’s next” by amplifying one of the greatest voices for Black and poor people that America has ever known.  

Your tax-deductible contribution towards Phase #1 funding is crucial to helping us tell this little-known piece of MLK history with the world. The first phase of fundraising for A KING IN PARADISE will allow our team to create a teaser, update the project’s deck, begin grant writing efforts and help to market the story. These elements will allow us to bring this film to life. We can’t do this without you! Please join us in supporting A KING IN PARADISE!!!