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4 Films Every Educator Teaching Black Students Should Watch

SAN DIEGO VOICE AND VIEWPOINT — So, where can teachers see accurate and empathetic representations of the struggles, successes, and joys of teaching Black kids in deliberately underfunded and disenfranchised schools? And, most importantly, where are films that present possible suggestions and solutions for educators?
The post 4 Films Every Educator Teaching Black Students Should Watch first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

March 14, 2024

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By Aziah Siid, | Word in Black | San Diego Voice and Viewpoint

Racial prejudice and bullying, a lack of funding, inadequate mental health support, and inexperienced teachers — those are just some of the challenges Black students face in America’s K-12 public schools. We see some of these issues show up on television on “Abbott Elementary,” but representations of Black students and schools are a mixed bag on the big screen. Some films — we’re looking at you, “Dangerous Minds” — dive right into the stereotype of the white savior teacher who rescues bad Black kids from their terrible neighborhoods and families.

So, where can teachers see accurate and empathetic representations of the struggles, successes, and joys of teaching Black kids in deliberately underfunded and disenfranchised schools?

And, most importantly, where are films that present possible suggestions and solutions for educators?

Here are four films every educator teaching Black students should watch. They’ll give folks an idea what the challenges are, what solutions people are trying, and sometimes they make us smile:

1. The Great Debaters

Featuring Hollywood A-listers like Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, and Kimberly Elise, the 2007 hit movie, “The Great Debaters,” is based on a true story about historical Wiley College’s first debate team.

Portrayed by Denzel Washington, professor Melvin B. Tolson inspires the 1935 team to perform at their highest level as they go through a nearly undefeated season. The Southern heat, a lynch mob, Jim Crow, and sexism, all the while working tirelessly to make it to the championship match against Harvard University’s debate team.

Whether it’s opportunities not being presented, being judged harsher than their white counterparts, or simply the prejudice they receive from simply being Black, the film is a modern-day parallel to the challenges Black students, teachers, and coaches face when pursuing excellence.

2. Teach Us All

In 1957, nine African American students were escorted to the doors of Little Rock Central High School, three years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision deemed it illegal to segregate schools. During their first few attempts to enter, the students were spit on, blockaded, and forced out of Arkansas high school. But eventually, they would walk into the building.

Decades later, the discrimination and inequalities Black students faced then have taken on new shapes and forms all over the country. The 2017 documentary, “Teach Us All,” produced by Ava DuVernay’s film distribution company ARRAY, puts what happened in Little Rock as the backdrop to looking at education in three different cities – New York, Los Angeles, and Little Rock. The film looks specifically at the roles of teachers in creating educational change, as well as how the community and students themselves are demanding justice.

3. Building Bridges

Being the first Black student to attend an all-white elementary school couldn’t have been easy in 1960 Louisiana? But that was the reality for 6-year-old Ruby Bridges, who had to be protected by federal marshals as she entered William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans.

The 1998 Disney-produced film about Bridges, who is now 69, was recently banned from a Florida school because a parent worried it would make her child feel guilty about racism. Given that school segregation jumped 35% from 1991 to 2020 in the 100 largest school districts, the depiction of Bridges’ journey is a reminder of the role teachers can play in counteracting disrespect and racism in schools.

4. Waiting for Superman

School choice has been helpful for some families, harmful for others, and life changing for a select few.

The 2010 documentary, “Waiting for Superman,” follows the five young New York City students during the high stakes lottery selection to get into one of the city’s charter schools. Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim puts faces and names to education statistics and gives us a look at the education system from a parent and child perspective. It also sparks plenty of reflection on the lengths families will go to ensure their child has access to an excellent education, regardless of societal or economic status.

The post, “4 Films Every Educator Teaching Black Students Should Watch” first appeared on San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.

The post 4 Films Every Educator Teaching Black Students Should Watch first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.