On the final day of the school year in 2007, our local high school nearly had an outbreak of race-based violence. Our son witnessed this. He was very disturbed it. — so was I.
During the summer, I contacted our local school district officials – the outcome of which is this film….the frank testimonies of our students – for students in other high schools – who may face a similar reality.
You can watch the film here on YouTube:
It’s purpose is to be educational, contain uncensored, gritty student expression, cause dialog about race, ethnicity, prejudice, sexual orientation, attitudes and racism — and provide a tool – map — to a bridge — a creative pathway – high school students may use to explore these critical issues in their own lives – in their own school – their own community.
In every sense, this film is intended to be constructive and instructive. It’s when we cower from confronting the tough issues together – that learning becomes diminished.
Please use this tool constructively – and admire the courage of high school students “Speaking the Unspoken” among themselves – for the benefit of all concerned.
Your feedback is appreciated.
It neither kills outright nor inflicts apparent physical harm, yet the extent of its destructive toll is already greater than that of any war, plague, famine, or natural calamity on record – and its potential damage to the quality of human life and the fabric of civilized society is beyond calculation. For that reason racism is a sickness of the soul of humanity, it is nothing less than dehumanization.
One is not born a racist, it is a disease of fear that grows within the environment of community, schools and families. When we fear the other, the other we don’t understand it is attacked. It doesn’t have to be physical. It can be words. It can be isolation. But, it is all a form of violence…it is all racism.
Please watch this very poignant video by Bill Dahl dealing with the issue of racism in high schools.