The Whole Staircase: Films Celebrating 400 Years of African American History & Culture
The Blind Side (2009)
This film will be presented by Dr. Karen Balcanoff. As Dr. Balcanoff explains, "In The Blind Side, the underdog achieved unimaginable success in football. It is a true story of Michael Oher whose mother was a drug addict and his father was murdered. A family takes him in when he is admitted to a private school based on his athletic skills. Critics said The Blind Side was a product of “white guilt,” where white people feel ashamed of themselves over how their ancestors may have mistreated ethnic minorities in the past. There are undertones of racism but it is a feel-good movie."
This film is rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references
Dr. Balcanoff received her M.B.A from the University of North Florida and D.B.A. from Walden University.
Screening Date and Location
Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. at the St. Augustine Campus Library, room L-112
All are welcome to this free event!
Resources for Further Exploration - The Blind Side
Online Resources
The Ballad of Big Mike - New York Times article written by Michael Lewis who went on to write the book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game"
Beyond 'The Blind Side,' Michael Oher Rewrites His Own Story
Books at the SJR State Library
Books may be checked out by community patrons as well as SJR State students faculty and staff. If a title is located at another campus, the book may be sent to another campus upon request.
White Parents, Black Children: experiencing transracial adoption by Call Number: Orange Park & Palatka -- HV875.64 .S628 2011ISBN: 1442207620Publication Date: 2011-10-27Looks at the difficult issues of race in transracial adoptions -- particularly the most common adoption demographic of white parents with children from other racial and ethnic groups.
- publisher
In Their Voices: Black Americans on transracial adoption by Call Number: Orange Park Circulation -- HV875.64 .R66 2015ISBN: 0231172206Publication Date: 2015-11-03While many proponents of transracial adoption claim that American society is increasingly becoming "color-blind," a growing body of research reveals that for transracial adoptees of all backgrounds, racial identity does matter. Rhonda M. Roorda elaborates on that finding, studying the effects of the adoption of black and biracial children by white parents. She incorporates diverse perspectives on transracial adoption by concerned black Americans of various ages, including those who lived through Jim Crow and the Civil Rights era. All her interviewees have been involved either personally or professionally in the lives of transracial adoptees, and they offer strategies for navigating systemic racial inequalities while affirming the importance of black communities in the lives of transracial adoptive families. "In Their Voices" is for parents, child-welfare providers, social workers, psychologists, educators, therapists, and adoptees from all backgrounds who seek clarity about this phenomenon. The author examines how social attitudes and federal policies concerning transracial adoption have changed over the last several decades. She also includes suggestions on how to revise transracial adoption policy to better reflect the needs of transracial adoptive families. Perhaps most important, "In Their Voices" is packed with advice for parents who are invested in nurturing a positive self-image in their adopted children of color and the crucial perspectives those parents should consider when raising their children. It offers adoptees of color encouragement in overcoming discrimination and explains why a "race-neutral" environment, maintained by so many white parents, is not ideal for adoptees or their families. - publisher
Movies in the Age of Obama: the era of post racial and neo-racist cinema by Call Number: Palatka Circulation -- PN1995.9 .N4 M68 2015ISBN: 9781442241299Publication Date: 2014-08-26"The historic election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States had a significant impact on both America and the world at large. By voting an African American into the highest office, those who elected Obama did not necessarily look past race, but rather didn't let race prevent them for casting their ballots in his favor. In addition to reflecting the changing political climate, Obama's presidency also spurred a cultural shift, notably in music, television, and film. In Movies in the Age of Obama: The Era of Post-Racial and Neo-Racist Cinema, David Garrett Izzo presents a varied collection of essays that examine films produced since the 2008 election. The contributors to these essays comment on a number of films in which race and "otherness" are pivotal elements. In addition to discussing such films as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Black Dynamite, The Blind Side, The Butler, Django Unchained, The Help, and Invictus, this collection also includes essays that probe racial elements in The Great Gatsby, The Hunger Games, and The Mist. The volume concludes with several essays that examine the 2013 Academy Award winner for best picture, 12 Years a Slave. Though Obama's election may have been the main impetus for a resurgence of black films, this development is a bit more complicated. Moviemakers have long responded to the changing times, so it is inevitable that the Obama presidency would spark an increase in films that comment, either subtly or overtly, on the current cultural climate."--Publisher's description.
Celebration • Education • Reflection
H.R.1242/Public Law 115-102, the 400 Years of African American History Commission Act, establishes 2019 as a year of "commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies, at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619." The commemoration is intended “to recognize and highlight the resilience and contributions of African-Americans since 1619; to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States; and to educate the public about the arrival of Africans in the United States; and the contributions of African-Americans to the United States.” In recognition of this commemoration and with the Act serving as a guide, the SJR State Library has organized a year-long series of events that will provide educational experiences and resources to students and the community that celebrate the history and culture of African Americans.
Site created and maintained by Dr. Christina Will. Pages will be added and maintained throughout 2019.
Maintenance will cease at the end of 2019 but this site will remain accessible.