KIDS FIRST! / IN THE LOOP Film Festival

RACE RELATIONS IN A DIVERSIFYING NATION

Expired September 27, 2021 3:45 AM
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11 films + livestream in package
BLACK LIVES MATTER (SONG)
This catchy tune encourages inclusivity amongst kids and teaches them to stand up against discrimination based on the color of one's skin.
BREATHE
One young man’s journey to find inner peace days after George Floyd’s televised murder. Be witness to this spoken word visual testimony about the power of the human spirit, and the unapologetic resilience of our youth.
LAST WORDS
On his way to school on a snowy day, Billy is rehearsing his speech on rampage shootings. "Help me” were his Last Words.
HUMAN RACE ISM
A teenager stationed on Mars with his family gets a lesson in racism
LOVE IS LOVE
Encouraging inclusion and acceptance, this catchy song shows children how colorful and different families can be.
THE TRUTH OF BEAUTY
This is a film about the diverse nature of beauty and learning to accept yourself.
CLOTHED MINDS
This documentary addresses how dress code policies negatively impacts black girls in DC public and charter schools.
NOISE
Demarco is hearing voices. He’s stalled at the crossroad of a major decision in his life. He’s forced to look himself in the face and be his own encouragement.
THE CATCHER
The Catcher is a cinematic youth to youth mirror showing how young people view homelessness and their peers.
75° WEST
Civilization has fallen after a prolonged pandemic. Two brothers wander through a post-pandemic world, trying to survive as they travel across the US countryside. They journey toward 75° West, surviving as best they can on what they can find as they try to avoid human dangers along the way.
JOE BUFFALO
Joe Buffalo is an Indigenous skateboard legend. He’s also a survivor of Canada’s notorious Indian Residential School system.
Discussion of Race Relations in Today's World
Race Relations Discussion
Recorded
This virtual screening is eligible for audience awards! Unlock it to cast your vote.

Panelists include a group of directors, writers, and film subjects from films in this group.

This documentary addresses how dress code policies negatively impacts black girls in DC public and charter schools. With the help of the National Women's Law Center, twenty one girls co-authored a report, Dress Coded: Black girls, bodies, and bias in DC Schools, which lead to the making of the film. 


Juror comments: This short film gives us a window on what school dress code policies do to self-esteem and cultural perceptions in Washington DC schools where black girls are more than 20 times more likely to be suspended for inappropriate dress than white girls.  


The film follows a diverse group of black girls speaking telling stories about how discriminatory forced uniform wearing is that neither fits their cultural style or their body types.


Each girl explains why the uniforms are a tough call for them – from being overweight to sexy and curvy. The girls speak about how they feel judged and the frustrations they have trying to buy new shirts and tone down their “eye catching” figures to fit into the mainstream. I love the powerful women shown here and hats off to the director for giving a voice to this issue; it’s one that crosses state lines to the gender issue at large. The production values of this film are good; lots of steady camera close-ups of girls in various spaces around the school. The audio varies a little, but it’s entirely watchable. The music softly weaves in and out of the interviews and fits perfectly, never competing.


The message is that dress code policy needs to serve the function of making all students feel comfortable at school and not compete with studies or social discourse. There are solutions such as the administration talking with the students about why they are uncomfortable and work out a solution.


I give Clothed Minds 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Nancy K., KIDS FIRST! 

  • Year
    2021
  • Runtime
    29:35
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Director
    Carletta S. Hurt
  • Producer
    Lauren Evanglista
  • Executive Producer
    Carletta S. Hurt
  • Co-Producer
    Stephanie Powers