A new documentary titled Color Beyond the Lines will premiere at the 2025 Tryon International Film Festival on October 11, 2025. Directed by David Weintraub in collaboration with the Center for Cultural Preservation, the film highlights the significant history of desegregation in Western North Carolina (WNC). The screening is set for 14:00 at the Tryon Fine Arts Center.
The film’s release coincides with the 60th anniversary of school desegregation in Henderson County. Two years later, in 1967, Polk County followed suit. While the documentary primarily focuses on Henderson County, it reveals the interconnected narratives of both counties. A notable aspect of this history is that many Black students from Polk County attended the Ninth Avenue School in Hendersonville, which served students from Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties until its integration in 1965.
Ronnie Pepper, president of the Black History Research Group, emphasized the resourcefulness of Black communities in securing education during segregation. “Black communities found ways to educate their kids in churches, at people’s homes, even outside,” said Pepper. “They understood that if they were going to be truly free after slavery, they needed a quality education.”
Former student and current Hendersonville City Council member Melinda Lowrance reflected on the impact of the Ninth Avenue School. Lowrance stated that the school fostered a sense of cultural pride and identity that diminished following integration. “There was something special about attending a school where the teachers looked like you, taught history, and understood your community’s struggle to maintain dignity,” she noted. “Integration brought access to up-to-date books and facilities, but it came at a tremendous cost — the loss of identity and heritage.”
Documentary Highlights Resilience and Community
“Color Beyond the Lines” documents both the hardships and resilience of Black communities in WNC, from building supportive networks through churches like Star Bethel Baptist to celebrating milestones such as the 1972 Hendersonville High Bearcats basketball team.
In that historic year, the Bearcats won the state title featuring an unprecedented four Black starters, just years after the end of segregation.
After the film screening, Weintraub will engage with the audience in a discussion and answer questions. Tickets for the event are expected to sell out quickly and can be purchased at www.tryoninternationalfilmfestival.org.
The production of Color Beyond the Lines was made possible through the generous support of the Community Foundation of Henderson County, the Arts Council of Henderson County, and North Carolina Humanities. The Center for Cultural Preservation, based in Hendersonville, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving mountain heritage through oral history, documentary filmmaking, and educational programming. For additional information, visit www.saveculture.org or call (828) 692-8062.
