On Sept. 15, 1963, four little girls were killed in a bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.

In 1997, Spike Lee made an Oscar-nominated movie about it. And Tuesday night, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center showed the movie to all interested viewers.

The movie was the first part in a series being sponsored by the cultural center called Inner Visions–Films of Black America. The series will include free showings of the movie selections and group discussions following the viewings.

Lawrence W. Young, director of the cultural center, pioneered Inner Visions in 1986. The series shows at least one film per month and is designed to increase exposure and understanding among students. Young said the program is run because there is "a need for a level of exposure to provide an understanding (among students)."

The series shows mainly non-commercial, documentary films, primarily dealing with educational, social, cultural and political issues. While the series concentrates particularly on African-American films, Young said they include films that portray other cultural and ethnic groups as well.

This month's movie, 4 Little Girls, was originally written and produced for HBO, and earned Spike Lee an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Inner Visions selected it as their first film of the semester because of its relevance in the election year - the bombing itself is said to have roots in opposition stemming from equal voting rights.

The committee therefore feels it will increase awareness among the student community.

They also hope it will encourage students to take up a voice in the community and exercise their right to vote.

The movie was shown Tuesday in the Robeson Center's Heritage Hall and a group discussion will follow. Young usually leads the discussion sessions following the films, but faculty members and other leaders of the community are often brought in to help mediate.

All are welcome to participate. The next film in the series, Crucible of Empire, will be shown on Oct. 12.