Watertown Race Reels Film Series: Precious Knowledge

Watertown Race Reels provides a common experience, through short (~70-80 minutes) documentary films about race and ethnicity (different racial/ethnic identities will be explored each month). In providing a common experience through short films Watertown Race Reels provides a jumping off point for conversations around race that are difficult to start and develop an audience/community that embraces discussion around racial and ethnic identity, the impact of racism on our community members and our community as a whole, and goal oriented actions to make our community more aware and welcoming of differences. After viewing each film, community members, young and old, gather in a circle to meet with speakers, directors, or relevant citizens to ponder the issues raised by the film. To kick of the Watertown Race Reels program and to honor National Hispanic Heritage month we will be screening the film PRECIOUS KNOWLEDGE. The 2015 documentary PRECIOUS KNOWLEDGE "illustrates what motivates Tucson High School students and teachers to form the front line of an epic civil rights battle. While 48 percent of Mexican American students currently drop out of high school, Tucson High's Mexican American Studies Program has become a national model of educational success, with 93 percent of enrolled students graduating from high school and 85 percent going on to attend college. However, Arizona lawmakers are shutting the program down because they believe the students are being indoctrinated with dangerous ideology and embracing destructive ethnic chauvinism."