Documentary on the "nature of today's prejudices." Follows two men (equal in all measurable aspects, except skin color) as they particpate in a variety of "everyday" life interactions and situations to test levels of prejudice based on skin colors. Shows how two young men in St. Louis, one white, one black, but otherwise similar in background, appearance, etc., are treated differently in various situations as they go about shopping, applying for work, and looking for rental housing.
In the 1960s, black Americans were promised that this country would not judge people by the color of the their skin. Three decades later, this video investigates situations in which blacks and whites continue to be treated differently.
Video raises the question of the relation between discrimination in everyday social exchanges and what sociology calls "structural racism," the systematic exclusion of people of color from full access to social resources. Where does this program root the problem? In the individual bias of a few people? Or are individuals expressions of a society based on white privilege? Does everyone who identifies as white have a stake in upholding the racial hierarchy with its tendency for white preferential treatment? On the other hand, what responsibility do European Americans have for eliminating or helping to eliminate racial preference? How would some of the problems indicated in the film be addressed or remedied?
Descript'n 1 videocassette (19 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. + 1 discussion guide Note VHS format Performers Diane Sawyer Note Originally broadcast on ABC's Prime time live, Sept. 26, 1991 Performers Diane Sawyer Credits Producers, Mark Lucasiewicz and Eugenia Harvey
