Legacies

Synopsis

The pioneering approach of Jubilee School in West Philadelphia seeks to empower its students (mainly black, and from low-income households), via a curriculum which highlights the arts, social justice, and Black History. In an approach reminiscent of Frederick Wiseman’s (though more modest in scope), Legacies surveys this institution from top to bottom. Filming over several months, the filmmaker present in the daily life of the school; footage of everyday classroom interactions and staff meetings mixes with interviews with students, past students, teachers and parents. The result is a fascinating examination of critical pedagogy, and what it takes to enact it on a day to day basis.

Director Clair Maleney will attend this screening and take part in a Q&A.