The program, which aired on Tavis Smiley Reports, examines one of the most disturbing aspects of the education crisis facing America today — the increased dropout rate among Black teenage males. The broadcast is currently streaming on PBS.org a part of American Graduate, a public media initiative supported by CPB to help local communities across America find solutions to address the dropout crisis.
In this episode of Tavis Smiley Reports, Tavis travels across the country, speaking to education experts, as well as to the teenagers themselves about the challenges they face and how education can be redirected to address their needs. He profiles individuals who are making a difference in the lives of young Black males and looks at the schools that are best serving them.
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“The Week’s Guide to What’s Worth Watching: In 
Documentary filmmaker Avon Kirkland didn’t follow the typical path to filmmaking – earning a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis and working as a research scientist and educational publishing executive before starting a career in television in 1972.
Today marks the 42nd anniversary of the most unknown tragedy in the history of the civil rights movement. On 1968, police opened fire on the campus of South Carolina State University, leaving three young African American men dead and 27 wounded. Unlike a similar incident at Kent State, the incident did not make national headlines and there has never been an official investigation into what occurred that night. The film investigates the continued cover-up of the tragedy and follows ongoing efforts to seek justice.
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ITVS programs regularly explore the rich and vibrant history and cultural contributions of African Americans. In fact, three ITVS films ––