Sincerely, the Black Kids - n.e.Bodied Entertainment’s award winning documentary short
Across the country, universities everywhere are becoming battlegrounds for racial politics and agendas. For every loud proponent of “agreeing to disagree” that surfaces, there’s a group of black students who don’t enjoy the privilege of choosing to be moderate. Follow the stories of black student leaders Miles Iton, Jaren Stewart, Delmar Fears, Devontae Torriente and more in Sincerely, the Black Kids, a documentary of triumphs and tribulations that prove sometimes it IS because you’re black.
The voices that brought you Sincerely, the Black Kids.
From left: Paul Loriston, Jaren Stewart, Raina Nelson, Miles Iton, Giulia Heyward, Cheikhou Kane, Leen Al-Fatafta, Shakira Refos.
Director’s statement - miles iton
In the fall of my junior year, my best friend Paul Loriston and I began our first term as the first black student body co-presidents of New College of Florida. Three months later, the Student Court threatened us - and every black/brown member of our Cabinet - with impeachment. The baseless case was quickly defeated, but our indignation was not.
The time came to address the situation for what it was: mad racist. However, our small liberal arts population had long since thought themselves exonerated as allies(TM). It had not seemed to cross many minds that racism is not solely the product hot button left/right wing politicking. Racism is an ongoing concern for the black and brown bodies whose identities become career fodder for campus provocateurs.
Shakira Refos, Eduardo Correa and I created this film to show just a sliver of questionable actions taken against black student government leaders on racially tense campuses. Students and administrators from Clemson, Cornell and American University join the conversation with New College and contribute their own unique perspective on their experiences as well. Unfortunately our stories happened to collage together quite well - cinematically well, even.
Ultimately, it was our goal to give black and brown students their own opportunity to share their unbridled truth. There need be no sensationalism of their voices for any political gain. All this film hopes to offer is genuine insight into the lives of those who bear the brunt of how deep political climates have affected campuses across the country. Signed, sealed and delivered, this is a message inspired by all of the unbreakable future leaders and scholars I've met throughout this journey. In an ideal world, this film would not have to exist. Yet our greatest successes are often borne of our greatest struggles.
Sincerely,
The Black Kids.
““There were audible moans, groans and shouts put forth on behalf of the audience that were so emotionally charged that it was difficult to hold back the tears. This is one powerful piece of filmmaking.””
“Sincerely, The Black Kids exposes the golden rule; as long as good Black kids graciously and quietly accept the gift of acceptance and don’t stir the pot, good Black kids CAN achieve everything in life, be anything they want to be, except freedom from racism and racial bias.”
Suncoast View - May 24, 2018
““Our film shows that you can very well find racism in progressive spaces, as well as conservative ones. It’s really a bipartisan issue. There is more to this documentary than, ‘Something racist happened on a college campus.’””
Side note: if I do refer to an anonymous someone using "snow bunny" as a titular phrase in this article, don't be salty as that was literally the name I was told to use when asked. Twice.