13th
Project LEARN Category
A- Acknowledge
Intended Audience(s)
Theme/Focus
History
Racism
Activism
Documentary Details
Director: Abby Ginzberg, Frank R. Dawson
Year: 2016
Running Time: 1 hour 6 minutes
Rating: TV-MA
*BIPOC Director Designation
Documentary
Synopsis
Agents of Change explores the protests that occurred on San Francisco State University’s campus in 1968, as well as the student takeover of Cornell University in 1969. The individuals involved were fighting for a more inclusive campus environment that would hopefully employ a variety of black and ethnic studies programs, as that was severely lacking otherwise. The reason I feel as though Agents of Change would be a beneficial addition to the Learn to be Antiracist website is that, similarly to White Homework, it explores the real-life experiences of people of color. Many students may be able to form a deeper connection to the fight for an antiracist and unbiased learning environment after seeing what has already been done and forming a consequent attachment to the cause. Another intriguing aspect of it is the fact that similar issues are still occurring on collegiate campuses across the country as we speak. If it is currently happening in our society, that means that it still needs to be discussed, and Agents of Change affords that privilege to these student audiences.