PBS continues the conversation about race in America with the premiere of the new documentary, “The Talk – Race in America” premiering on February 20. The two-hour documentary highlights the increasingly common conversation taking place in homes and communities across the country between parents of color and their children, especially sons, about how to behave if they are ever stopped by the police.
In many homes, “the talk,” as it is called, usually contains phrases like this:
If you are stopped by the police:Always answer “yes sir, no sir”; never talk back; don’t make any sudden movements; don’t put your hands in your pockets; obey all commands; if you think you are falsely accused, save it for the police station. I would rather pick you up at the station than the morgue…
“The Talk – Race in America” airs Monday, February 20 at 9 p.m. on PBS. (Check local listings). The film tells six personal stories to illustrate the issue from multiple points of view: parent, child, the police and the community. Filmed across the country, in communities including Long Beach, California; Oakland, California; St. Louis, Missouri; Richland County, South Carolina; Memphis, Tennessee; and Cleveland, Ohio, the stories will include interviews with academics, police force members, community activists and family members.
Featured interviews are:
Activist Dr. Christi Griffin, creator of “Parent 2 Parent,” a series of conversations with black parents talking with white parents about “the talk” with their black sons
Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice, who was a 12-year-old boy killed by the Cleveland police while playing with a toy gun in a local park
Reverend Catherine Brown, who was assaulted by Chicago Police in front of her children in her own car
Trevena Garel, retired sergeant, New York City Police Department (NYPD), who has investigated allegations of misconduct involving both uninformed and/or civilian members of the NYPD
Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President and retired officer, New York City Police Department (NYPD)
The Ramirez family, whose 28-year-old son, Oscar, was shot and killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff in Paramount, California, a community southeast of Los Angeles
Kenya Barris, creator/executive producer of Peabody Award-winning ABC series “black-ish”
Nas, musician/activist (Illmatic, Life Is Good, Untitled)
Rosie Perez, actor/director, activist (Do the Right Thing, White Men Can’t Jump, Fearless, Pineapple Express)
John Singleton, director/screenwriter/producer (Boyz N the Hood, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Baby Boy, Poetic Justice, Hustle and Flow)
Charles Blow, New York Times columnist.
