OEMA Film Series

The OEMA Film Series is a quarterly presentation for APA staff designed to increase diversity awareness and sensitivity to issues of culture and ethnicity, which have been shown to improve efficiency, output, teamwork and office morale. Each presentation features a film that contextualizes the way that race and culture impact psychology, followed by an open discussion. Funding for the Film Series is provided by APA's Executive Office.

Note: These films can also be borrowed from the OEMA Film Series Video Lending Library.

August 20, 2009

Flag Wars (2003)*
In Flag Wars, the film makers invite viewers into the battle at the intersection of racism, classism, capitalism and homophobia. In this case, the battlefield is a historically Black neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio. There, established residents find themselves at odds with their new neighbors, who are predominantly White, middle class and gay. It goes beyond merely assigning blame or labeling people as "good guys" or "bad guys" to examine the relationship between housing, heritage and public policy.

A Class Apart (2009)*
A Class Apart tells the story of a small-town murder that led to a landmark civil rights case that challenged Jim Crow-style discrimination against Mexican Americans. A team of unknown lawyers took the case, Hernandez v. Texas, all the way to the Supreme Court, changing the lives and legal standing of millions of Americans.

Unnatural Causes (2008)*
Why are infant mortality and premature birth rates higher among Blacks, regardless of socioeconomic status? Why does the life expectancy of Mexican immigrants decrease every year they live in the US, even if their income increases? This PBS series investigates the social determinants of health, including racism and acculturation.

The Leesburg 33 (2008)
During the summer of 1963, dozens of young Black girls were arrested and taken to a dilapidated Civil War stockade in rural Georgia. For six weeks, the girls were forced to sleep on a filthy concrete floor, relieve themselves in corners around the cell, eat half raw hamburger, and endure daily verbal abuse. This jarring documentary by Shari Thompson uncovers their untold story of racism, illegal incarceration and survival.

Detained (2007)*
This powerful film chronicles the aftermath of the Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) raid of a factory in Massachusetts from the perspective of the families of the detained factory workers. Families, friends and community members waited helplessly for word, as their loved ones faced imprisonment, humiliation, relocation and deportation.

The Canary Effect: Kill the Indian, Save the Man (2001)*
This internationally acclaimed documentary features interviews with the leading scholars and experts on Indian issues. It delves deep into a misunderstood and frequently over-looked history of abuse and genocide, and its continuing affects on present day Indian country.

Tutu and Franklin: A Journey Toward Peace (2001)*
The film depicts the historic encounter between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and historian John Hope Franklin, PhD. The two are joined by an international, interracial group of high school students and together discover surprising truths about their personal and national struggles for racial peace.

Death of Two Sons (2007)*
The life stories of West African Amadou Diallo and American Jesse Thyne intertwine as their dreams lead them to live and die in each other's home countries. This film examines the implications of their deaths and raises challenging questions about race and global disparities of justice.

Lost Boys of Sudan (2003)*
This Emmy-nominated documentary follows the extraordinary journey of two Sudanese refugees from Africa to America. They survive lion attacks and militia gunfire to reach a refugee camp. Now, safe from physical danger, they find themselves confronted with the abundance and alienation of American suburbia.

In Whose Honor?: American Indian Mascots in Sports (1997)*
In Whose Honor looks at racism, stereotypes, minority representation, the effects of mass-media and how far one university will go to defend its mascot. It will give you a better understanding of Native Americans and knowledge on the shared experiences of racial and ethnic groups throughout the nation.

A Darker Side of Fair (2004)
This documentary sheds new light on issues of global diversity. It explores the historical and contemporary factors, including Western influences and media pressure, that contribute to Indian society’s sometimes oppressive preoccupation with "light-skinned beauty" and the European standard of beauty.

Crash (2005)
Crash, an Academy Award-winning drama, depicts several characters living in Los Angeles, California during a 36-hour period that brings them together through car accidents, shootings and carjackings. Through these characters’ interactions, the film examines racial tension in the United States.