"One of the things we talk about is windows and mirrors. A Black child in a typical school in America, they get windows...from the literature that's put in front of them, from their teacher, from all the messages, they get windows to other people's world, like this other world where people are better than you. Not a shared humanity, but a separate level of humanity. White children typically get the mirror...who's in front of them, the literature that they read, the posters on the wall. Everything reinforces their whiteness and their superiority." - Sharif El-Mekki

The timely, thoughtful and provocative documentary Black Boys exposes the dehumanization of Black boys and men in America at the intersection of sports, education and criminal justice in a nation still struggling to rectify its past. The story is anchored by Greg Scruggs, a 2X Super Bowl champion and young father who recently returned to his hometown of Cincinnati to impress upon young Black athletes the importance of education first. Supporting storylines follow Sharif El-Mekki, a principal at a nearly all Black charter school in West Philadelphia, and Malcolm London, a young poet activist fighting for criminal justice reform in Chicago. Other notable voices in the film include Malcolm Jenkins, Carmelo Anthony, Jemele Hill, Dr. Harry Edwards, former Secretary of Education John King, and more. Ultimately, the film serves as a rare glimpse into the emotional landscape of Black boys and men, illuminating their full humanity, vulnerability and resilience. Keme Nzerem returns to OT to moderate this show, and will host a Q&A with Sonia Lowman, Sharif El-Mekki, and Quan Cosby.

Speakers: Sharif El-Mekki, Quan Cosby, Sonia Lowman

Film: Black Boys (95 min)

Moderator: Keme Nzerem