Soulforce: The Power of Nonviolence

From the producers of such award-winning programming as Holidays for Children (VL-1/95) and Black Americans of Achievement (VL-6/92), Soulforce--a literal translation of "satyagraha," Gandhi's concept of non-violent civil disobedience--takes an honest look at teen violence and offers constructive suggestions and examples as opposed to mere platitudes. Interviews with formerly violent teens (one admits, eerily, that "violence is like a drug") are combined with thumbnail histories of effective examples of non-violent activism, and discussion questions for viewers to ponder. Teens will see how early abolitionists lobbied for the end of slavery (although the program omits the rather notably violent exception of abolitionist John Brown's bloody insurrection), Gandhi peaceably moved the masses to throw off the yoke of British rule, and Rosa Parks-by refusing to move to the back of the bus-set off a civil rights movement spearheaded by Dr. Martin Luther King, among other examples. Tying past to present, the program looks at situations where contemporary teens have marched against a gun shop, conducted a sit-in on school steps protesting the frightful amount of weaponry students were bringing to the classroom every day, and organized a program for L.A. police officers which promoted cultural awareness. The video makes no bones about the fact that "stopping violence is going to be hard," but it doesn't throw up its hands and say it's now part of the warp and woof of contemporary society. Rather, it sends a strong message to teens that the fight will continue, and they can make important non-violent contributions. In addition to the study guide, the program also points to a web site link which includes additional resources for further study. Highly recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (R. Pitman)