Dear Friends & Fans,
As the countdown to Christmas is on, I hope you will take a moment to support my
first feature-length film. I'm sure you're tired of being asked, and I am tired of asking, but this is the reality of doing work that is—first and foremost—a labor of love.
I launched
Loudspeaker Films over ten years ago to share stories that can help illuminate the reality and consequences of racial inequality.
Why do I, a white woman, feel so strongly about these issues that I have dedicated my entire career to them?
Here's why:
- As a teacher in South Central, Los Angeles, I was part of a community left reeling after the shop owner who shot teenager Latasha Harlins in the back of the head, killing her, was only given a sentence of community service. Latasha's death played a large role in the L.A. Riots, but it was barely covered in the national news. Why? My young students were quickly learning their value in America.
- I witnessed my students, friends and boyfriend being harassed by police over and over again: pulled over, illegally searched, body frisked, handcuffed, etc.....it didn't matter where they were, what they were wearing, or what they were doing. American 'law enforcement' has been getting away with extrajudicial harassment, planting evidence and even murder of Black men long before the horrific torture and death of George Floyd opened more eyes to it. (And a reminder that that's only because someone took a video of it).
- I have also seen again and again and again how our education system tells students of color that they have no value. They that are lesser than. That they are dangerous. That they do not deserve what wealthy/white people have. We tell them this in myriad ways, then blame the students and their families for not somehow rising above the system almost perfectly designed to ensure their failure.
I had been working in Washington, DC on strategic education policy and philanthropic solutions for well over a decade when I lost my favorite human being on the planet, Malik Smith, just before his ninth birthday. (Our intern program is named after him, a bit about that below).
Soon after, I left DC and started filming, deciding I would use my creativity, my experience, my (loud) voice, my reach, and everything else I've got to motivate more people to care about and fight for race equality.
Will you join me?
