View Episode 3 of When They See Us and the kanopy documentary The Souls of Black Girls first. Make notes for yourself of 5 talking points that you want to share with the class based on what you’ve viewed.
Submit your 5 ideas here as a document file.
Discussion Questions:
1. When They See Us was directed, produced, and co-written by African American creator Ava DuVernay, The Souls of Black Girls was produced by African American media professional Daphne Valerius, while Black Boys had some African American producers and was directed by a woman who self-identifies as white. Why is it important to have media that is about communities resisting oppression that is made by those same communities? What are some of the things that can be important for those who are coming from outside communities to attend to when making media a community which is not their own?
2. What are some of the roles that media created and controlled by Black artists can play in creating positive social change? Think about media that includes not just documentaries but also music, art, literature, superhero films, and more.
3. What is your main takeaway from The Souls of Black Girls or Black Boys?
4. What are some of the specifically gendered ways that media images of Black girls and women affect African American girls? What about media and Black boys and men?
5. In When They See Us, we see the young men returning from incarceration. Re-entry can be difficult for individuals leaving incarceration due to a number of barriers related to having a felony conviction. What barriers did Kevin, Ray, Yusef, Korey, and Antron face upon release?
6. How should prosecutor Linda Fairstein have balanced seeking justice for the victim with holding someone accountable? Were her actions appropriate?
7. What else did you notice while watching these films?
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