‘America to Me’ Documentary Series About Oak Park; The 1968 Democratic National Convention
Kartemquin
On the 21st: Steve James tells us about his ten-part documentary series 'America to Me,' which explores race, education and high school through the lens of a handful of students at Oak Park and River Forest High School. But first, we look back at how the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago changed American politics.
'America to Me' is a ten-part documentary series from Kartemquin that explores race, education and high school through the lens of a handful of students attending Oak Park & River Forest High School in the 2015-2016 school year. Oak Park is a western suburb of Chicago, bordering the city’s Austin neighborhood.
Academy-Award nominated director Steve James has turned his filmmaking eye from everything from Hoop Dreams to Roger Ebert’s life. He’s the director and executive producer of 'America to Me' and he joined us to talk about it.
America to Me will air on STARZ starting this weekend, Sunday, August 26th at 8pm.
James says that in his experience, talking about race often comes easier to people of color than to white people.
— The 21st (@21stShow) August 23, 2018
"Race is such a central and primal part of their lived experience," James says. "They have a lot to say about it when you give them an opportunity to speak."
Steve James hopes one of the unique takeaways from his series is that "there are deep-seated reasons why change is so hard in this country, even in the best of circumstances."
— The 21st (@21stShow) August 23, 2018
But first—
50 years ago this summer, the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago changed the course of American politics, both at home and in the Vietnam War. The violence that erupted between police and protesters remains one of the convention's most significant historical moments.
To help us look back, we were joined by Marsha Barrett, an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Illinois. Also with us was Rick Kogan, a longtime journalist and a columnist with the Chicago Tribune—who witnessed much of this firsthand.
There was a lot of tension in Chicago leading up to the 1968 DNC, in the wake of Dr. King's assassination, with "growing discontent over the Vietnam War" and Mayor Daley determined to demonstrate he has control over the city, "law and order." -@MarshaEBarrett @HistoryatIL
— The 21st (@21stShow) August 23, 2018