The George Floyd murder and the failure to immediately arrest the offending police officers sparked protests worldwide against injustice and systemic racism. Produced by white allies of anti-racism, Spark is an educational documentary that focuses on the origins of systemic racism, suggests solutions, and offers information to individuals who feel they are not racist, but may in fact have had little or no contact with African American individuals to understand a black person’s point of view, community circumstances, or history. Many experts speak out on this issue from both sides of the political spectrum and from a variety of professional fields. The film is balanced and viewers hear from Tim Scott, Republican Senator, Cory Booker, Democratic Senator, Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, President Obama, Jon Stewart, and others. Spark highlights role models with photos and descriptions of eminent African American individuals across the professional spectrum.
Spark traces systemic racism back to the abominable enslaving of millions of African American men and women from 1525-1866 that culminated in the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. While white Americans can trace their roots to specific countries and celebrate their heritage, Black Americans are not able to do so, as records were not kept on the slave ships for country of origin.
Although the 13th amendment ended slavery, Jim Crow laws furthered systemic racism by denying the right to vote, to obtain jobs, or get an education. When the Supreme Court passed Plessy Vs. Ferguson calling for separate but equal facilities, systemic racism was allowed to continue as segregation kept the races apart. Other government actions such as zoning and redlining kept African American communities apart from white communities. Black individuals were denied loans and homesteading opportunities. With the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1966, Jim Crow ended, but black individuals still had to fight for their rights. In the 1980s the Sentencing Reform Act, passed to counter the use of cocaine and other drugs, led to harsh sentencing and the incarceration of black people disproportionately. The law raised bail requirements which many African American individuals could not afford to pay. After leaving prison, individuals had trouble obtaining jobs, getting student loans, and renting property.
Systemic police racism involves police and police unions supporting their colleagues regardless of offenses. Criminal Justice solutions are offered and include a national registry for police misconduct. One policeman points out officers should not have to solve every problem. Redirecting funds to mental health counselors, violence interrupters, youth community development, and updated 911 call centers are non-policing ways to address issues. Spark is a call to action and several options are presented for individuals to become mentors, support black-owned businesses, protest peacefully on issues of bigotry and racism, donate to black candidates, and influence educators to develop anti-racist courses. Useful for initiating classroom discussion, this short film is highly recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P.