F.R.E.E. Film Forum
Up the RidgeNick Szuberla and Amelia Kirby, 2008, 60 min.Up the Ridge is a one-hour television documentary produced by Nick Szuberla and Amelia Kirby. In 1999 Szuberla and Kirby were volunteer DJ's for the Appalachian region's only hip-hop radio program in Whitesburg, KY when they received hundreds of letters from inmates transferred into nearby Wallens Ridge, the region's newest prison built to prop up the shrinking coal economy. The letters described human rights violations and racial tension between staff and inmates. Filming began that year and, though the lens of Wallens Ridge State Prison, the program offers viewers an in-depth look at the United States prison industry and the social impact of moving hundreds of thousands of inner-city minority offenders to distant rural outposts. The film explores competing political agendas that align government policy with human rights violations, and political expediencies that bring communities into racial and cultural conflict with tragic consequences. Connections exist, in both practice and ideology, between human rights violations in Abu Ghraib and physical and sexual abuse recorded in American prisons.Panel:Kathie Cheng, October 22nd CoalitionLee Sinovoi, F.R.E.E.Representative of Families for FreedomRepresentative of the Center for Constitutional RightsRepresentative of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Rais Kikwete akizingumza na aliyekuwa Rais wa Ireland Mary Robinson ambaye sasa ni Rais wa Taasisi ya Realizing Rights, wakati Robinson alipomtembelea Ikulu jijini Dar es Salaam leo mchana
Picture a scene that every Black parent dreads just outside the school gates! ‘Mum, my school teacher says Black people only enter history as someone else’s slaves! Is this true?’When you have recovered from the initial shock, panic turns to reasoned thought. As you contemplate some clever answer to placate your child, he adds a couple of sentences that give you a little more thinking time. They also dig you into an even bigger hole.
‘I had to ask you because nobody else has an answer. I know that you would know. Mums know everything!’ Thinking time has just run out and you still don’t have an answer! Worse than this, other parents are around and some can hear the conversation. They want to hear your answer too!
So what do you say?
Do you (a) Change the subject as quickly as you can, hoping that your child will forget the question? (b) Mumble some vague statements that you know you cannot prove claiming that ‘Africa was once great’ and hope that you are not questioned further? (c) Style it out? OR (d) Come clean and admit that you don’t know?
Take action NOW!! Invest in the education of your child by purchasing the book. Click here
Written with parents in mind, we published Before The Slave Trade to get the Community to learn more about their history and heritage. We also have a Learning Resource available for parents to use with their children. We even run Adult Education classes where adults can learn more about their history and heritage.
If you would like to purchase the book or require more information, please contact Black History Studies on 0208 881 0660, email http://uk.mc245.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=info@blackhistorystudies.com or visit our website http://www.beforetheslavetrade.com/
Spread the word - please forward this email to your email address book so that we all benefit from this research.
Check out these short trailers for the book
Before The Slave Trade Part 1- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SqPT3eTVekA
Before The Slave Trade Part 2- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VqQNZPPL1fg
Before The Slave Trade Part 3- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xljZ9bTC4jI
Take action NOW!! Invest in the education of your child by purchasing the book. Click here
Black History Studies
Educating the community to educate themselveshttp://www.beforetheslavetrade.com/
