Posted on 02/25/2014 3:40:04 AM PST by Altura Ct.
The award-winning film 12 Years a Slave, a striking and brutally vivid retelling of the true story of Solomon Northup, will be incorporated into public high school classrooms around the nation beginning in September 2014, according to a The National School Boards Association (NSBA) press release.
The NSBA is partnering with New Regency, Penguin Books, and the filmmakers to distribute copies of the acclaimed film, book, and study guide to America’s public high schools, giving students an unvarnished view of slavery in America that is seldom introduced inside the classroom.
The initiative, coordinated by Montel Williams, is modeled against an initiative Williams launched that ultimately led to distribution by The Montel Williams Show of copies of the Civil War film Glory to public high schools.
“12 Years a Slave is one of the most impactful films in recent memory, and I am honored to have been able to bring together Fox Searchlight and National School Boards Association to maximize its educational potential. When Hollywood is at its best, the power of the movies can be harnessed into a powerful educational tool. This film uniquely highlights a shameful period in American history, and in doing so will evoke in students a desire to not repeat the evils of the past while inspiring them to dream big of a better and brighter future, and I’m proud to be a part of that,” said Williams.
“Since first reading 12 Years a Slave, it has been my dream that this book be taught in schools. I am immensely grateful to Montel Williams and the National School Boards Association for making this dream a reality and for sharing Solomon Northup’s story with today’s generation,” said Steve McQueen, director of 12 Years.
“The National School Boards Association is honored to partner with Fox Searchlight Pictures and Penguin Books to ensure that every public high school student in America has the opportunity to stare the stark realities of slavery in the eye through books and film,” said NSBA President David A. Pickler. “We believe that providing America’s public high school students the opportunity to bear witness to such an unrelenting view of the evils of slavery is essential toward ensuring that this history is never forgotten and must never be repeated.”
This groundbreaking film won the 2014 Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama, the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Picture, the PGA Award for Best Picture, the BAFTA Award for Best Film and is nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Motion Picture of the Year.
they had a mock trial at my sons 8th grade history class about Andrew Jackson he was tried for genocide
my son acted as Jackson attorney
it was a split decision
I was proud of him
and before folks get started they do this in private schools too been there done that
And, before the 1800’s, several Native American tribes are documented to have enslaved other Native Americans from different tribes.
Perhaps a sequel to this film is in order?
“12 Years A Slave Owner”
It's about a cruel Black slave owner who is shamed in to freeing his slaves by a kind and loving white abolitionist.
As white's enslaved whites...thru out history!!!
When I saw the title of the thread I thought “Oh, that’s about first grade through twelfth grade in public school” because that’s how I viewed it going through the grinder. Well, eleven years, since I got kicked out...
Now I’ll read the article.
The purpose of “teaching” using this movie is to program the students to accept the government’s worldview. What decent people think of as “education” has nothing to do with it.
Best post of the thread.
Thank you.
I’ve posted on other threads that some parts of the North are worse than Southern states in this regard; in my area the whites are people who either fled the northern cities as they fell or their descendants. They have a similar reaction to blacks based solely on skin; I guess that puts racists on both sides of the equation.
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