| Documentary To Improve Lives Of Black Boys - News- msnbc.com | by cyd for group blackunity |
A powerful documentary geared toward improving the lives of black boys and teens is being shown this weekend in Annapolis to try to get more men involved in the lives of young children.
The showing comes a few days after new Anne Arundel County graduation numbers were released that show a dismal graduation rate for black students -- at about 56 percent for the past year.
The numbers are a major concern for local civil rights leaders and top school officials who said they hope the film "Men II Boys" will stir debate and help generate solutions.
The documentary is the work of a Washington, D.C.-based filmmaker who is passionate about the plight of black teens.
The school system has been advertising the film for weeks with the hopes drawing families, youth and mentors to the Annapolis High School campus to watch it.
"We need to give our young boys a chance to have sustained positive relationships with men so that they can help them with issues that men deal with that women just don't have," said Anne Arundel County schools spokeswoman Carlesa Finney.
"This documentary puts faces to the problem -- real life faces to the problem," said Dr. Leon Washington, the director of the group Safe and Orderly Schools.
In light of the recent graduation numbers, the local branch of the NAACP said it's pressing the district to do even more -- but not without lending a hand.
"The NAACP is working with the Anne Arundel County public schools and we're working together to try to improve those numbers," said county NAACP President Jacqueline Boone Allsup.
Community and school leaders agreed that the real work starts now.
"We know that we can't do this alone. In order for things to move in a positive direction, we need African-American males to be involved in the lives of our young folk," Washington said.
They said they're hoping that involvement will start this weekend and serve as a first step toward progress.
The documentary is being shown Saturday at Annapolis High School starting at 2 p.m. The second showing begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $1 with a canned good.
The showing comes a few days after new Anne Arundel County graduation numbers were released that show a dismal graduation rate for black students -- at about 56 percent for the past year.
The numbers are a major concern for local civil rights leaders and top school officials who said they hope the film "Men II Boys" will stir debate and help generate solutions.
The documentary is the work of a Washington, D.C.-based filmmaker who is passionate about the plight of black teens.
The school system has been advertising the film for weeks with the hopes drawing families, youth and mentors to the Annapolis High School campus to watch it.
"We need to give our young boys a chance to have sustained positive relationships with men so that they can help them with issues that men deal with that women just don't have," said Anne Arundel County schools spokeswoman Carlesa Finney.
"This documentary puts faces to the problem -- real life faces to the problem," said Dr. Leon Washington, the director of the group Safe and Orderly Schools.
In light of the recent graduation numbers, the local branch of the NAACP said it's pressing the district to do even more -- but not without lending a hand.
"The NAACP is working with the Anne Arundel County public schools and we're working together to try to improve those numbers," said county NAACP President Jacqueline Boone Allsup.
Community and school leaders agreed that the real work starts now.
"We know that we can't do this alone. In order for things to move in a positive direction, we need African-American males to be involved in the lives of our young folk," Washington said.
They said they're hoping that involvement will start this weekend and serve as a first step toward progress.
The documentary is being shown Saturday at Annapolis High School starting at 2 p.m. The second showing begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $1 with a canned good.
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