New documentary at 2024 Freep Film Festival reexamines civil unrest in Detroit and other cities
Several films are making their Michigan debut at the Freep Film Festival, including one about Detroit and its history of racial tensions and unrest. “The Riot Report” takes a look at the work of the Kerner Commission and the cause of the civil uprisings that erupted in the summer of 1967 in cities across the nation, including Detroit. Watch a preview of the documentary.
Michigan’s higher education experts discuss college access, equity for communities of color
A sobering reality persists for many...
From Detroit’s Walk to Freedom to the March on Washington: 60 years of civil rights legacy
As the nation commemorates the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, attention turns to the significant role that the Detroit Walk to Freedom played in shaping that civil rights march. One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota explains the tie between these two historic events and how they changed civil rights in America.
Will Detroit’s I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project restore a once thriving Black corridor in the city?
Detroit’s I-375 is the shortest highway in the country. When it was constructed, it led to the destruction of two thriving Black communities. One Detroit and BridgeDetroit team up to break down the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project in Detroit and whether the plans will benefit the community.
Examining Michigan’s AAPI Community: A roundtable on the issues, activism and legislative developments
Michigan’s AAPI community finds itself at the forefront of advocating for change, with potential new state legislation, efforts to include AAPI history in public schools, and an outpouring of advocacy and activism shaping the present-day Asian American narrative. One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota leads a roundtable discuss the issues.
Black Leaders Detroit gears up to support Black entrepreneurs during weeklong Ride for Equity
A nonprofit that supports Black-led businesses is gearing up for its annual weeklong bike ride to Mackinac Island. Black Leaders Detroit’s annual “Ride for Equity” will raise money for Black entrepreneurs in Detroit and spread awareness about the importance of equitable funding practices.
Local environmental advocates step up to fight climate’s impact on Black Detroiters
In a roundtable discussion, Detroit environmental advocacy groups discuss how climate change impacts every aspect of life for Detroit residents and the importance of residents speaking out on environmental issues to bring change.
PBS NewsHour Presents - Race Matters: America in Crisis
The Talk - Race in America
FRONTLINE: Policing the Police
The FRONTLINE Dispatch: Race, Police and the Pandemic
More to watch about issues of race:
- Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise on American Masters
- The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution on Independent Lens
- Winnie on Independent Lens
- I Am Not Your Negro on Independent Lens
- Tell Them We Are Rising on Independent Lens
- Rat Film on Independent Lens
- Policing the Police on FRONTLINE
- John Lewis: Get in the Way
- Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
- The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
Exploring Anti-Racism with Children
Sesame Street/CNN Town Hall – Standing Up To Racism
At-Home Learning
Help Students Understand the Relationship between the Police and the Military
Read the news summary, watch the video and answer the discussion questions. June 4th, 2020 video and resource materials from PBS NewsHour.
Protest and Politics
The stories from across America have been disturbing, with clashes between protestors and police. Sadly, it’s not the first time protestors have raged against governments from democratic to autocratic–and in each case, the state raged back. This classroom resource provides background information about the Civil Rights movement in the U.S., the Vietnam War, societal shifts, the media, and events around the globe.
Civil Rights: Then and Now
This collection of videos, documents, and primary sources lends context to the events and leaders that defined the Civil Rights Movement’s first three decades (1954-1985). These resources also capture the issues and activists involved in the struggle today—those making headlines, stirring debate, and trending on social media.
The education staff at WXXI, a public media services company in Rochester, New York pulled together an extensive list of activities from PBS LearningMedia to support educators and families while discussing race. The list explores race, anti-racism, protests, civil rights, Black history, bias, and more.
