Documentary: American Promise

[Anonymous]

His college outcomes make me wonder what his GPA was like. The kid must've been a C student. Because I'd think that even a "B" with Dalton, legacy and being an AA male would've at least gotten him waitlisted.

That is ridiculous. Even at prep schools like Dalton, you need better than a B average to get wait listed at ivies and the most competitive SLACs. Even as a legacy and AA male, you're not getting waitlisted at Stanford with those grades. A-/high B+ student from Dalton, maybe. But the leg up for legacies and under-represented minorities is not nearly as huge as people think on here--we're talking about 3.6 GPA students from prep schools rather than 3.8. Times have changed in terms of how competitive college has gotten.

Given that he got into several good schools--Occidental is a nice, fairly selective liberal arts school where he can get a great education. It seems like he only failed inasmuch as he failed his parents unrealistic expectations. It reminds me of my friend's sister (who had overbearing chinese tiger parents) who was pissed because she was choosing between Duke and University of Chicago rather than Harvard and Yale. He was probably a solid B student.

[Anonymous]

Even if it was $150,000-250,000, that should not qualify you for aid. I think it was more race based aid and I just don't get why a parent would want to send those boys to a school like that. It seemed like a pure set up for failure. They seemed like great kids that were probably smart in their own way but the parents were missing other factors that if caught early on would have helped (along with the right school setting). I would have preferred my child (regardless of race) to go to the high school the one child transferred to that seemed much more down to earth and ultimately providing a better education.

There was an article in the New York Times not too long ago about how independent schools in New York give aid for families making up to 350,000 since the full tuition at places like Dalton is now over 40K. New York is an expensive city. You can argue about the fairness of this, but it is not unheard of to get aid at those incomes at the top schools in new york.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://medium.com/race-class/3e6c6b713840

American Promise, therefore, is really a film about two African American boys who attend an elite private school and struggle there, not primarily because of socio-cultural issues, but because they have clinically diagnosed learning disabilities. The problem: filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson do not seem to understand that this is the central issue in their son’s story.

Thanks PP for posting this link, the review is spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://medium.com/race-class/3e6c6b713840

American Promise, therefore, is really a film about two African American boys who attend an elite private school and struggle there, not primarily because of socio-cultural issues, but because they have clinically diagnosed learning disabilities. The problem: filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson do not seem to understand that this is the central issue in their son’s story.

Thanks PP for posting this link, the review is spot on.

+1

[Anonymous]

Do you think, if Idris had been white, he would have been counselled out of Dalton when it was clear he wasn't thriving AND he wasn't getting help for his ADHD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think, if Idris had been white, he would have been counselled out of Dalton when it was clear he wasn't thriving AND he wasn't getting help for his ADHD?

No. His grades probably weren't great but not bad enough to be counseled out. Lots of kids like this at private schools. Someone has to be in the bottom half and nice if they help with "diversity".

[Anonymous]

There is something very sobering about this film - a reminder that even in the best of circumstances, parents can make missteps on behalf of their kid. I am assuming that is one of the messages that the filmmakers (the Brewsters) wanted to send - even though its a negative critique of their own parenting. I have to think that they approved the final edits of this movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is something very sobering about this film - a reminder that even in the best of circumstances, parents can make missteps on behalf of their kid. I am assuming that is one of the messages that the filmmakers (the Brewsters) wanted to send - even though its a negative critique of their own parenting. I have to think that they approved the final edits of this movie.

I agree. The critiques were brutal about their parenting. Even if they did not do a good job with Idris, I admire their bravery for showing the rest of us by their example of "what not to do."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is something very sobering about this film - a reminder that even in the best of circumstances, parents can make missteps on behalf of their kid. I am assuming that is one of the messages that the filmmakers (the Brewsters) wanted to send - even though its a negative critique of their own parenting. I have to think that they approved the final edits of this movie.

I agree. The critiques were brutal about their parenting. Even if they did not do a good job with Idris, I admire their bravery for showing the rest of us by their example of "what not to do."

If that review on medium is true! the parents don't think they did anything wrong...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is something very sobering about this film - a reminder that even in the best of circumstances, parents can make missteps on behalf of their kid. I am assuming that is one of the messages that the filmmakers (the Brewsters) wanted to send - even though its a negative critique of their own parenting. I have to think that they approved the final edits of this movie.

I agree. The critiques were brutal about their parenting. Even if they did not do a good job with Idris, I admire their bravery for showing the rest of us by their example of "what not to do."

If that review on medium is true! the parents don't think they did anything wrong...

This is true--and perhaps the reason the assessments of them have been pretty brutal.

The Brewsters truly believe this is a story about private, elite, predominately white schools failing to educate black boys.

I can't help but wonder if they showed the nagging scenes to prove that they were doing all they could at home--but still the school failed these black boys. OR, perhaps they were showing how difficult it is for parents at home when the school is failing the child. The fact that they still don't get it in hindsight is staggering.

They actually had petitions at the speaking engagment, asking others to join them in the fight to ensure black boys receive proper education and nurturing at those predominately white schools. Bless their hearts.

[Anonymous]

Wonder how Idris' black AA friend, Brandon??, did at Dalton and beyond. That would suck for the Brewsters if he did well and went to an elite college.

[Anonymous]

Brandon's facebook page says he's at Elon.

[Anonymous]

I guess when the Brewsters started this project, they never thought this was going to be about their two subjects having learning disabilities rather than that AA boys are treated in a way that makes achievement at a white prep school difficult. So they released their documentary anyway because those 13 years of investment and filming would have gone to waste. What they believe may be true in some environments but I think they need to acknowledge successful AA boys who go onto do well at college and in their professional careers.

[Anonymous]

^Yeah, and one of those AA boys who attended an elite prep school is the current President of the United States.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is something very sobering about this film - a reminder that even in the best of circumstances, parents can make missteps on behalf of their kid. I am assuming that is one of the messages that the filmmakers (the Brewsters) wanted to send - even though its a negative critique of their own parenting. I have to think that they approved the final edits of this movie.

I agree. The critiques were brutal about their parenting. Even if they did not do a good job with Idris, I admire their bravery for showing the rest of us by their example of "what not to do."

If that review on medium is true! the parents don't think they did anything wrong...

This is true--and perhaps the reason the assessments of them have been pretty brutal.

The Brewsters truly believe this is a story about private, elite, predominately white schools failing to educate black boys.

I can't help but wonder if they showed the nagging scenes to prove that they were doing all they could at home--but still the school failed these black boys. OR, perhaps they were showing how difficult it is for parents at home when the school is failing the child. The fact that they still don't get it in hindsight is staggering.

They actually had petitions at the speaking engagment, asking others to join them in the fight to ensure black boys receive proper education and nurturing at those predominately white schools. Bless their hearts.

The school did not fail those children. They offered extra supports for free and had conversations with the parents who should have gotten them more help or found a better fit for a school. A lot of white child I know, including when I was a child, would not have thrived at a school like that. It is set up for a specific population and their education is geared to it. They did their best to help the boys but it takes a partnership with the parents who would rather blame shift than take action. The psychiatrist had the attitude of it cannot be my child and he absolutely failed him but not getting him more help or changing his parenting approach to make it work for his child. As a parent of a special needs kid, it is heartbreaking to watch your child struggle, but I will do what it takes from therapies, to tutoring to any other support to make sure my child is successful. It sucked accepting it, but I knew the sooner I did and got help, the better outcome.