The Thermal Belt Friendship Council will hold a viewing of the “Soundtrack for a Revolution” on Saturday, Feb. 26, at noon.

The program will be held at Roseland Community Center, located at the corner of Peak and Howard Streets in Tryon, as part of the Thermal Belt Friendship Council’s continuing Black History Month celebrations.

The program is free to participants and a light lunch will be provided by the Thermal Belt Friendship Council.

As reported by the producer’s website, http://www.soundtrackforarevolutionfilm.com,

“’Soundtrack for a Revolution’ tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music – the freedom songs protesters sang on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy wagons and in jail cells as they fought for justice and equality. The film features new performances of the freedom songs by top artists, including John Legend, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean and The Roots; archival footage and interviews with civil rights foot soldiers and leaders, including Congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, Julian Bond and Ambassador Andrew Young.

“The freedom songs evolved from slave chants, from the labor movement and especially from the black church. The music enabled blacks to sing words they could not say and it was crucial in helping the protesters as they faced down brutal aggression with dignity and non-violence. The infectious energy of the songs swept people up and empowered them to fight for their rights.

“’Soundtrack for a Revolution’ celebrates the vitality of this music. Directed by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman and executive produced by Danny Glover, ‘Soundtrack for a Revolution’ is a blend of interviews, images and contemporary performances – a film of significance, energy, and power.”

Participants are also encouraged to continue the Black History Month celebrations by attending a Black History Program at Garrison Chapel Baptist Church, on Sunday, February 27, at 5 p.m., as black poets will be recognized.

The Thermal Belt Friendship Council is a loosely organized group of local residents that meets together to narrow the racial divide. There is not a membership fee to join the organization. The organization was established during the late 1980s, in response to a planned Klan march in Tryon. Individuals gathered together to examine strategies to demonstrate their lack of support for the Klan. Out of the meeting grew the first community picnic.

The Thermal Belt Friendship Council has continued its monthly lunches, but has expanded its activities to include monthly meetings, an annual Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration celebration, Christmas caroling at White Oak Nursing Home and its annual community picnic.

The Thermal Belt Friendship Council recently co-sponsored, in conjunction with the Tryon Fine Arts Center, a play pertaining to the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Thermal Belt Friendship Council Unity Choir will also participate in “An Afternoon of Gospel Praise” to be held at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 3 p.m., in the Ferguson Auditorium.

Anyone interested in joining the many activities sponsored by the Thermal Belt Friendship Council should contact its president, Dr. Joseph Fox, at JLFox1@charter.net.