Shorts Program: Preschool to Prison
Filmmaker: Dr. Karen Baptiste
Runtime: 16 mins 31 sec
Program Block Title: Solo Short
Screening Date & Time: Saturday 2:00p
Location: Elegba Folklore Society 101 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219 [map]
Country: USA
Year: 2023
Pre-school to Prison is a compelling examination of how the United States public school system is built and operated like prisons. Zero-tolerance policies are used to justify suspension and arrests that set up a pathway to send children of color and children with special needs to go from school to prison. Children are being suspended, restrained, dragged, physically manhandled, and subsequently arrested for minor offenses such as throwing candy on a school bus. These personal accounts from people affected by the school to prison pipeline give riveting tales about the generational impact on society.