Thanks to support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), POV was pleased to award grants to 17 public television stations across the country to organize local programming and events around American Promise and Brooklyn Castle. The films and activities were part of American Graduate: Let's Make It Happen, a public media initiative made possible by CPB to help communities identify and implement solutions to improve high school graduation rates. Check out the videos below of the panels and local programs produced by some of our PBS station grantees.
WGBH: Basic Black: American Promise and Crushing the Black Male Achievement Gap
The usual stories about African American boys and education most often center on public school systems. But what about the opposite end of the spectrum? American Promise is a documentary 13 years in the making, following the journeys of two African-American boys and their families from kindergarten through high school graduation. This provocative film provides a rare look into two middle class black families as they navigate the challenges of race, class and parenting within one of the wealthiest academic communities in America. Filmmaker Joe Brewster joins Basic Black to talk about the making of American Promise.
The Panel:
- Callie Crossley, Host, Under the Radar with Callie Crossley
- Kim McLarin, cultural commentator and Assistant Professor of Writing, Literature and Publishing, Emerson College
- Peniel Joseph, Professor of history, Tufts University
- Phillip Martin, Senior Reporter, WGBH News
WMHT: New York Now: Education, Family, Race
Forty educators, politicians, parents, and community members came together for a discussion around the themes presented in POV's film American Promise. The film, nearly 14 years in the making, chronicles the lives of two African-American boys as they attend the prestigious Dalton School in New York City. Watch the powerful conversation about race, family, opportunity and privilege.
Watch more American Graduate programs from New York Now ยป
WHUT: Vocal Point: The Black Male Achievement Gap: Telling the Truth
Aired: February 18, 2014
WHUT produced an episode of it community series Vocal Point entitled Black Male Achievement Gap -- Telling the Truth the taping convened students, parents, teachers, principals and community members to discuss the challenges that black males encounter in education, and to explore the solutions and recommendations for closing the black male achievement gap.
Beverly Dorn-Steele, Education & Outreach Coordinator for WTVI PBS Charlotte discusses their participation in the American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen initiative.
Detroit Public Television: American Black Journal: A Game of Chess With The Detroit City Chess Club
Aired: April 13, 2014
The piece spurred a strong discussion on an episode of American Black
Journal, where we featured Kenneth Morris of the Detroit Institute of Arts and Catherine Martinez, a Chess Club board member and parent of two kids who have participated as guests in the studio.
PBS Mountain Lake: Career Crosswalks Forum
On April 11, 2014, Mountain Lake explored what many are calling a revolution in education, a 6-year diploma that combines high school and two-years of college, with mentoring and internships offered by area employers interested in training students for future jobs. They also looked at other classroom initiatives that aim to prepare students for careers in this new economy.
View other American Graduate programs from PBS Mountain Lake
UNC-TV: Focus on Educating Black Boys
American Promise filmmaker Joe Brewster joins a panel of local education and social science experts before a studio audience to talk about about educating black boys to improve life outcomes. They discuss implicit racism, gender roles, parenting, private schooling, and success strategies.
Kansas City Public Television: Entrepreneurship, education meet in the form of a hot dog cart
E.B. Wiltz is passionate about three things: good sausage, quality construction and creating better opportunities for young people in the urban core of Kansas City, Mo., through his organization Brother for Another.
WUCF Central Florida: Metro Center Outlook: Education
Host Diane Trees focuses on After-School programs and how they benefit kids in Central Florida.
