A Conversation on Race: Black, White, or Other? 2000
Distributed by Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Post Office Box 2053, Princeton, NJ 08543-2053; 800-257-4113
Produced by Capital Cities/ABC Multimedia
Director n/a
VHS, color, 22 min.
Adult
Multicultural Studies, History
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Ayodele Ojumu, Graduate Student, Department of Library and Information Studies, University at Buffalo, State University of New York Ojumu, Reed Library, State University of New York College at FredoniaWhen the article "White Girl?", written by journalist Lonnae O'Neal Parker, was published in The Washington Post and later republished in The Seattle Times, its controversial content generated enormous reader feedback. ABC News anchor Ted Koppel and correspondent John Donvan explore the impact that this article had on its readers in Nightline's America in Black and White: Two Cousins or, as it is titled for this purposes of this video, A Conversation on Race: Black, White, or Other?
In this program, Parker, her cousin Kim McClaren and a respondent are interviewed to explore heritage/ethnic interpretation. Although the issues presented are thought provoking and will definitely initiate discussion among its viewers, other issues are left dangling, a problem for viewers with no background or who have no direction for use of the program's content. Nightline's program fails to delve deep enough into the issues presented in the Parker article. I had to read "White Girl?" in order to get a better understanding of Parker's message and McClaren's perspective; the most important aspects of McClaren's experiences are left out of the program. Basically, the editing of the video content does not do justice to the article. This video might be appropriate for adult audiences studying history and exploring race relations.
Not Recommended.