Edward Said's book Orientalism has been profoundly influential in a diverse range of disciplines since its publication in 1978. In this engaging and lavishly illustrated interview he talks about the context within which the book was conceived, its main themes, and how its original thesis relates to the contemporary understanding of "the Orient" as represented in the mass media. "That's the power of the discourse of Orientalism. If you're thinking about people and Islam, and about that part of the world, those are the words you constantly have to use. To think past it, to go beyond it, not to use it, is virtually impossible, because there is no knowledge that isn't codified in this way about that part of the world." -Edward Said
Preschool to Prison is a compelling examination of how the United States public school system is built and operated like prisons. Zero-tolerance policies are used to justify suspension and arrests that set up a pathway to send children of color and children with special needs from school to prison. Children are being suspended, restrained, dragged, physically manhandled, and subsequently arrested for minor offenses such as throwing candy on a school bus. These personal accounts from people affected by the school-to-prison pipeline give riveting tales about the generational impact on society.
1972 TWO BOYS EMBARK IN A RACE ACCROSS ROUTE 66. Now the real story begins as the 1970's opens up to us in music and time
Racial tensions break out on 31st Street, a multi-ethnic community. Sam Peckinpah directed this original adaptation of the Harry Mark Petrakis novel for NBC, and the project became an hour-long presentation for NBC's The Dick Powell Theatre, premiering on Apr. 12, 1962.
Leonie has had a bad past with men and now rigorously follows her desire to be independent. This cannot be done without taking revenge on those who have harmed her. That makes her rich and respected, until someone catches on to her.
A 60th anniversary retrospective documentary on the influence and context of the 1962 film, To Kill a Mockingbird.
An unsuspecting homeless man comes across a dead body and a valuable necklace. When he tries to do the right thing, he finds himself trapped in an incredibly dangerous situation.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the premier automotive races of the year. Companies invest millions into cars and racers alike to take home the trophy and the glory of a Le Mans win. And then there is the 24 Hours of Lemons, a 24-hour endurance car race that travels year-round. The rules are simple: buy or build a race car for $500 or less—the most laps win. The teams? Three Pedal Mafia, Team Fafrumwinnin, and Great Globs of Oil will pit their wits, their technical acumen, and common sense against competitors and the laws of physics alike.
Njafweniko is a tender and tense short film about caring for a loved one suffering from mental health issues by First Acts filmmaker Emma Taonga Sayers. Through contemporary dance, Emma calls attention to how race interacts with perceptions of mental health.
Two years after the riots and deaths at Attica, New York, a community day was organized at Greenhaven, a federal prison in Connecticut. The event was documented by People's Communication Network, a community video group founded by Bill Stephens, for cablecast in New York City, marking the first time an alternative video collective was allowed to document an event inside prison walls. Seventy-five-year-old Queen Mother Moore speaks of her support of Marcus Garvey in New Orleans and her involvement with African-American education in Brooklyn.
Portable Channel, a community documentary group in Rochester, New York, was one of the first small format video centers to have an ongoing relationship with a PBS affiliate (WXXI). Portapakers interviewed Sinclair Scott, a member of the negotiating team that went into Attica when the prisoners' rebelled at the federal prison in September 1971.
The Rainbow Prince is a contemporary live action fairy tale, with a twist on The Sleeping Beauty story. Rainbow, who changes colors with his feelings, is left on the castle steps of a King and Queen. Now a Prince, he is put to sleep by an evil Wizard and his dangerous cohort scheming to take over the kingdom. Rainbow is temporarily awakened for 21 years by the Mother of the Forest, a wise, powerful healing woman. The sole remedy to reverse the spell forever is a kiss from True Love. This happens to be from a beautiful Brown Princess. Marea must save the Prince and his entire kingdom. The Rainbow Prince is a 30-minute live action film for a K-6 audience that flips the traditional fairy tale narrative to expose children to new models of power and heroism.
To win a frantic 100m dash, 5 heroic sprinters transform themselves into savage beasts.
A documentary exploring the issue of racial identity among African-Americans through the lens of skateboarding.
The unique Bennett-Song family learns the true meaning of the holidays as they solve a community crisis and adapt to big changes. Everything you want in a holiday film: love, the power of belief, laughter, tears, and new musical classics.
A white family has just put their house on the market and are soon showing it to an interested black family. The neighbors begin to gossip and soon the white family becomes the target of harassment and threats by bigoted residents in the community, who do not want a black family in the neighborhood.