Here is an excellent suggestion from our reader Laura Chapman, whose original research and writing will always find a home here. We have already missed the first Thursday but perhaps TCM will do reruns:
For adults who are fans of Turner Classic Movies, TCM has introduced programing to examine stereotypes in films. This is in addition to programing on women who have and are making films, and many rarely seen films for Black history month.
The TCM experts for the current effort do not mince words and they use clips from many films (older and newer) that depict, for example, male violence against women as if perfectly acceptable, the slaughter of American Indians and ersatz appropriations of native clothing, black actors cast in yes-suh roles, white actors pretending to be black and so on.
This link shows which movies have been selected, the schedule for critical commentary about them, and introduces the experts in film and film studies who will be on camera for the series.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-03-04/tcm-problematic-films-reframed
New Hampshire’s House Bill 544 would prevent educators from.even mentioning this project.
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0732&sy=2021&txtsessionyear=2021&txtbillnumber=hb544&sortoption=&q=1
https://neanh.org/2021/03/04/if-nh-gop-has-its-way-we-wont-even-be-allowed-to-talk-about-racism/
What’s the language in the bill that would prevent teachers from mentioning this project?
The bill bars teachers from teaching defined “divisive concepts” and from engaging in “race and sex stereotyping or scapegoating.” I don’t see how a discussion of racism in Hollywood would be banned.
Text below.
II. “Divisive concept” means the concept that:
(a) One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;
(b) The state of New Hampshire or the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist;
(c) An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;
(d) An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex;
(e) Members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;
(f) An individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex;
(g) An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;
(h) Any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex; or
(i) Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.
(j) The term “divisive concepts” includes any other form of race or sex stereotyping or any other form of race or sex scapegoating.
III. “Race or sex stereotyping” means ascribing character traits, values, moral and ethical codes, privileges, status, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of his or her race or sex.
IV. “Race or sex scapegoating” means assigning fault, blame, or bias to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because of their race or sex. It similarly encompasses any claim that, consciously or unconsciously, and by virtue of his or her race or sex, members of any race are inherently racist or are inherently inclined to oppress others, or that members of a sex are inherently sexist or inclined to oppress others.