General information

Call No.:

392-1-1:2/1

Part of series

HU OSA 392-1-1 Video Recordings of WITNESS: Activist films of Witness: Documentary films and promotional videos of Witness

Located at

DVD-ROM #2 / No. 1

Digital ver. identifier

HU OSA 392-1-1_002

Date of production

2001

Date

2001

Level

Item

Primary Type

Moving image

Language

English

Duration

21 min.

Content

Form/Genre

Documentary film

Contents Summary

"Books Not Bars" documents the inspiring youth-led movement against the massive prison industry in the U.S. With music by Dead Prez and Sweet Honey in the Rock, the film reveals the truth about the criminalization of youth, especially youth of color, and highlights the relationship between increases in prison spending and decreases in education spending. Youth activists featured in the video challenge audiences to explore alternative options to detention, and debunk public misperceptions about youth crime rates. Examples of peer activism, youth organizing, and mobilization around prison issues, provide young audiences with tangible ways to get involved with the movement to reform the U.S. prison system. In California, young activists convince the Board of Corrections to deny pre-approved state funding for Alameda County's effort to build the biggest per capita juvenile hall in the state.

Context

Associated Names

WITNESS (Producer)