Black America and the Education Crisis 1999
Distributed by Films Media Group, PO Box 2053, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-2053; 800-257-5126
Produced by Gina Screen/ America's Black Forum
Director n/a
VHS, color, 48 min.
High School - Adult
Education, African American Studies
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Ruth Maddox Swan, Director of Media Resources, Oakwood College, Huntsville, ALBlack America and the Education Crisis confronts the viewer with unsettling statistics which purport to document the disproportionate numbers of black children scoring below the national norm. Most of the presentation is in the form of a panel discussion moderated by syndicated columnist Juan Williams. He focuses the attention of his diverse panel on speaking about the reasons for academic failure in the black community. Suggestions for improving education in the black community conclude the program.
This AT&T sponsored program evidently aired as a telecast in 1997, and was distributed by Eyemark Video Services. The introduction to the telecast program is abruptly aborted and the viewer is switched to the video version of the earlier telecast. Occasional audio dropouts mar the technical quality of the video. The titles used in the backdrop and during the breaks read, Where to Black America? An Education Crisis. This conflicts with the cover title as distributed by FHS. This may cause some confusion to the viewer as to what title(s) are being presented. Panelists sometimes use unsupported statements as fact, such as when one panelist voices support for school choice by stating that "most public school teachers have their children in private schools". Another panelist declares that the black identity is made up of two components - resentment of white society and a feeling of entitlement.
The Education Crisis would work well in public, high school or academic libraries. It would be useful for parents, students, educators and policy makers. A companion title to round out collections on minorities in education is Cultural Bias in Education (FHS 1992). It deals with similar issues, but as they relate to Latinos in American schools.
Not withstanding editing flaws, dated (1997) statistics, and sweeping generalizations, Black America and the Education Crisis is highly recommended for inclusion in library collections. It is a good discussion title, economically exploring in one presentation issues germane to the various aspects of the education crisis.