Black and White Together
Black and White Together
Very young white child, boy, toddler aged, saying he does not go to school. African American man talking to camera, asks if they can hear him, then yells (possibly angry or making statement?).
Black and White Together
Waves (tide) rolling in on shore, Sandy Beach, New Jersey, day; sun is low (rising or setting?) Buildings along shore. Some wood pilings in sand, large building with rounded roof. Opening titles/credits.
Black and White Together
Exterior, day, Traymore Hotel. 72 Atlantic City High School students will come to this hotel to take part in Atlantic City’s Project WILL.
Black and White Together
African American man (Edgar Harris, Project WILL Director) talking passionately' says he was born and raised here, educated here (Atlantic City). He knows what attitudes are in Atlantic City (regarding race), what attitudes that black and white people have towards each other.
Black and White Together
Young African American teenage girl sitting on couch, talking to camera, candid, smiling. “Am I black?” Talks about describing the color of someone’s skin (suggesting if it is relevant or even possible). Is she brown, black, etc. Points to her knuckle, describes her own skin tone. Informal discussion group, African Americans, adults, some younger, some middle aged. Black (wearing long pearl necklace) woman talking about race in the future: there will be no black or white; 20-40 years we will be light brown (mixing of races, interracial).
Black and White Together
Handmade sign on wall outside office doorway: “Project WILL Office” Three mixed race men seated in office, wearing business suits for meeting. African American man discusses purpose and goals of Project WILL: getting students from all ethical and religious groups to live together; to show the students that they can live together and learn together, without building stereotypes, myths, or prejudice.
Black and White Together
Day exteriors Atlantic City High School, large clock on building (roman numerals, 3:20pm). Sign above main entrance “Atlantic City High School.” Overcrowded, outdated. Students exiting school-- dismissal, mixed race, wearing cold weather coats. School has contrasting demographics: 40% African American students from Atlantic City (urban, inner-city students) and white students from all white middle-class suburbs.
Black and White Together
High school students in classroom: African American and Caucasian, male and female. White male student yawning. African American male student sleeping in class (head down on desk). All students in class seem generally disinterested, sleeping, yawning, heads in hands, slouching at desks, blank disinterested expressions. Students talk about poor quality of education at their school (Atlantic City High School). Say teachers are bad, school can’t get decent teachers, school curriculum is outdated. Old white female teacher lecturing on literature, playing with pen in hand; seems to have no regard for whether students are paying attention or learning. Students saying that teachers don’t care; students talking about not liking school or wanting more out of school.
Black and White Together
Teenage African American male high school student seated at desk; seems to be isolated in classroom (detention?). Bored, looking out window.
Black and White Together
Male African American teenager (high school student) picking up scattered playing cards in school suspension room at Atlantic City High School. Students in suspension are mostly African American boys. Two black girls. No white students in suspension. One white female teacher supervising students in detention. Students can be isolated in in-school suspension for up to two weeks; supervised, but not educated. Some students read, others write or draw. Black male students talking about in-school suspension: compare it to being isolated from other students in a box, “like animals”; most student are in suspension for being late to class. One African American teenage boy points out there are no white students in suspension.
Black and White Together
White teenage girl and mother walking down city sidewalk, both wearing winter coats; trash, large junk piles along the sidewalk (urban decay). Teenage girl is Susan, a senior at Atlantic City High School, one of the students participating in Project WILL. Susan and her mother discuss difference in opinion on what a school needs; evolves into an argument with Susan raising her voice at her mother. Susan’s mother prefers the “old way”: students need and crave strict discipline, school uniforms. Susan disagrees, says high school needs to change: “if the old ways were so good, then why are students rebelling?”
Black and White Together
African American Woman in rocking chair, drinking from cup w/ straw. She is a mother who moved from South Carolina to Atlantic City with her two daughters. Black teenage girl in kitchen at fridge, then stove; has spatula, slices butter from stick, puts slices of bread in frying pan (grilled cheese, grilled bread). Girl is Mary Chapman, a junior at Atlantic City High School, and one of the students participating in Project WILL.
Black and White Together
Three African American teenage boys, high school students, walking down city sidewalk with suitcases, luggage. Some snow on the ground, not fresh. Entering Traymore Hotel. Large group of Atlantic City High School students moving about lobby; mixed race and sex crowd, teenagers, Project WILL Participants. Luggage piles on floor, students moving about, conversing. Group of teenagers in hotel elevator, mixed group, African American teenage boys and white teenage girls, playing, laughing, joking, messing around, on elevator, running in and out.
Black and White Together
Director of Project Will, Edgar Harris, junior high school teacher, member of Atlantic City Civil Rights Movement. Assistant Director of Project WILL, Rod McDonald, high school teacher. Harris and McDonald disagree on issue of race, among the students participating in Project WILL. Harris believes race is the biggest issue coming between the students. McDonald says there are many issues besides race, that students have opened his eyes too.
Black and White Together
Edgar Harris speaking from podium to Project WILL students in conference room or auditorium; mixed race and sex student audience. Harris informs students of compulsory workshops; students must attend or leave Project WILL. Students in audience seem generally bored.
Black and White Together
Students (High School, teenagers, African American and Caucasian) in Project WILL workshop (discussion group) with Dr. Samuel Sanderson, Director of The Office of Evaluation for the New Jersey Department of Education. Rod McDonald is also present in the group. Students voice their concerns on the quality of their education with Dr. Sanderson. Both black and white students rally together on the quality of their education and the motivation of their teachers. Students all generally agree and express that the high school needs to change for the better; it needs to start changing now; say they need something to work for to stay motivated; quality of education and teachers needs to change. Dr. Samuel Sanderson discusses what will happen if school administrators ignore grievances; the levels of confrontation ignoring grievances can cause:pParents don’t have as much of an effect on their children. Parents backing the school does not matter as much anymore. Students don’t like their parents because of the battles their parents didn’t fight.
Black and White Together
Project WILL workshop. Three adults sitting at a table, seen from behind: two white men, one African American woman. Man lectures on marriage-- how do you determine if the person you like is the person you want to marry? Says person must be compatible; you are not only marrying someone who is attractive, but is going to have to be a good friend. Students in audience generally appear to be bored and disinterested, not fully paying attention. Students fidgeting with fingers, heads propped in hands, one African American boy dozing off. Voiceover: Project WILL promised unique, positive experiences that will change old patterns. Instead the pattern was too familiar; same pattern of school.
Black and White Together
Project WILL workshop. Female teacher giving presentation on female reproductive system (sex ed, sex education) in hotel room; points to diagrams of female reproductive system (organs). Talks about fertilized eggs moving into uterus, or getting stuck in Fallopian tubes. African American teenage girl sitting on top of dresser, watching and listening. African American teenage boy listening but intently looking away (feeling uncomfortable, awkward). Older African American woman listening to black teenage boy talking in discussion group about what could happen if he were to get a girl pregnant (unplanned teenage pregnancy): "If I get a girl pregnant, I should marry her, so the baby has a good father. But what if I am a worse father for sticking around? I might not like being tied down. I might hate the baby. I might hurt it more by being around." Woman asks girls in room if they have anything to say about his statement. Sanderson (VO): “The program was written by adults under the guise of letting youngsters make their own decisions, but it didn’t happen that way. Blacks and whites don’t live together. It’s pretty impossible to live together under the present system.”
Black and White Together
Project WILL workshop. Susan (white, Jewish, teenage girl) says she would not go out with (date) a colored (African American) boy. Says she would lose all her friends; she is Jewish, doesn’t like to go out with people who aren’t Jewish. Other students in discussion group are largely African American. Susan’s black peers question her statements. Discussion becomes heated, argumentative, somewhat hostile. Susan says she would not hang around with (be close friends with) a African American girl. Talks about cliques. Black teenage girl confronts Susan about her statements: “I feel I am just as good as you.” Susan is questioned about what she knows about colored boys; Susan mentions the way she was raised.
Black and White Together
Susan (white teenage girl) talking about incident from previous Project WILL workshop (discussion group where Susan said she would date an African American boy). Caucasian male adult question her about the social impact the incident has had on her. She says it proved that people have the wrong idea about Project WILL; many classmates couldn’t believe she felt that way. Says she is glad she said what she said, that certain people talk about her, but will not talk to her. She has been called prejudiced against “negros” at school (in the form of graffiti in the school Senior lounge). Says Project WILL has not been what she expected, does not feel it is working out for her.
Black and White Together
African American teenage girl talking about classmate Susan: “Mr. Harris (Edgar Harris, Director of Project WILL) caught me in the hallway as I was going home. I told him that you are paying too much attention to that girl. You can’t be partial to one child." Susan and other Project WILL students and Rod McDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) discussing Susan’s statement about not wanting to date African Americans. White teenage girl tries to explain Susan's statement: did not mean that she herself would not go out with a black boy, she meant that as a person in this society, living at home with her parents, she could not go out with a black boy. Susan says that she did not mean to say that she would not go out with an African American boy because of the color of his skin; she could go out with a colored boy and lose her friends if wanted to; she’s not the type person that could handle the social pressure and anxiety. Susan defends her statement, says it brought something out in the project. McDonald talks to group about the impact of Susan’s statement.
Black and White Together
Project WILL students dancing-- informal dance of African American and Caucasian high school students. Live band playing late 1960s dance, rock music. White teenage girl (Susan) dancing. Hands of African American man playing drums. Many African American teenagers dancing. Susan dancing. End of the first five weeks of Project WILL, twelve students including Susan will not be returning for the second five weeks.
Black and White Together
African American teenage girl talking about not coming back to Project WILL. She says she just does not want to come back, looks off camera. Group of teenage, high school, students can be heard yelling, screaming, giggling (horse play, joking, teasing, making fun, messing around, playing around.). African American girl disapproves of actions going on off camera, says they (teenage peers) are acting “simple” (being stupid, immature, ridiculous, etc.).
Black and White Together
African American teenage girl reading aloud a letter to her friend, another black teenage girl. States the girl’s intent to leave Project WILL. The letter is directed to the directors (organizers) of Project WILL. Girl says Project WILL could benefit from better counselors, that she is “tuning out.”
Black and White Together
Ocean waves (tide) rolling onto shore. Sea foam, white caps on waves (rough water). White teenage boy, African American teenage girl, and Rod McDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director, hand in white cast sticking out of his coat) walking along empty Atlantic City boardwalk, late winter, early spring; businesses, shops on boardwalk appear to be closed (off-season). Teen boy talks about why he joined Project WILL, wanted to get away from strict parents; talks about curfew and combing his hair, disagreement with parents. Talks about educational system molding you for the larger system, school teaches lies, no motivation. Black teen girl says “teachers and cops can’t do nothing.”
Black and White Together
Interior of Atlantic City Convention Hall, Association of School Administrators meeting. Assistant Professor of Education at Ohio State University speaking from podium to audience on rights of public high school students to make demands: emerging picture of high school students as group activists, collective protests, that sometimes lead to violence, contrast with the role typically ascribed to high school students. Students should not be just punished as rule breakers; high school community needs to change so students can express their demands freely, treated like mature citizens. VS audience members, men taking notes. Old Caucasian man appears to be falling asleep. Professor concludes speech, applause.
Black and White Together
African American man speaking with Rod MacDonald (Assistant Director of Project WILL) about creating lead time before “springing new ideas in the public." What should education and its administrators be doing vs what has not been done? The student organization (demand) movement is spreading from the college to the high schools.
Black and White Together
African American woman (wearing long pearl necklace) speaking at meeting for concerned parents, Dr. Sanderson and Rod MacDonald (Assistant Director of Project WILL) in attendance. Woman expresses concern on school over-crowding and the government officials’ preoccupation with race. All parents at the meeting are African American. MacDonald is the only Caucasian. Heated discussions regarding being poor, race, the lack of attention given students by teachers. (the effects race and economic status on quality of education). 80% of the students at Atlantic City High School are reading below grade level. African American woman (mother of student) talks about how the Reading teacher blamed parents for low reading levels. MacDonald begins to make a statement to the group when he is called out by black man: “You are making your point from a white man’s perspective.” MacDonald and man argue before Macdonald makes his point (racial tension): “When I came to the school I didn’t want to teach college prep. I want to teach general students. They (school administrative staff?) told me I would only be able to entertain general students.” (suggesting general students are “unteachable or not worth teaching”). Mother talks about the lack of encouragement teachers and counselors provide for her son. Woman talking about Atlantic City High School’s poor curriculum (inner city school).
Black and White Together
Continuation of meeting for concerned parents of students at Atlantic City High School. All attendees are African American except Rod MacDonald (Assistant Director of Project WILL, also a teacher at Atlantic City High School). MacDonald speaking to parents about “revolution” and “being radical”; talks about organizing with this group of parents to win “small victories” first then work on bigger change. African American parents disagree with MacDonald’s plans for organization. “African Americans fight for survival. Rod MacDonald is talking form a white man’s value” (social economic divide between whites and African Americans, racial tension). Sanderson concludes: “The program was written by adults under the guise of letting youngsters make their own decisions, but it didn’t happen that way. Blacks and whites don’t live together. It’s pretty impossible to live together under the present system.”
Black and White Together
Meeting for concerned parents of Atlantic City High School students. All parents (attendees) of the meeting are African American, except for Rod McDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director and Atlantic City High School teacher). Dr. Sanderson explaining to MacDonald what the “real issue” is for African Americans in the urban cities.
Black and White Together
Meeting for concerned parents of Atlantic City High School students. All parents (attendees) are African American, except for Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director and a teacher at Atlantic City High School). MacDonald speaking: “What if you get someone like myself (a white man), who is committed to the cause (African American cause) from a white point of view.” MacDonald is cut off by group. Black man criticizing Project WILL (a project to bring African American and white students together). “Project WILL is a dis-service to the community.” Macdonald agrees that Project WILL is not achieving what it is attempting to.
Black and White Together
Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director, note his hand is in a cast), returning home, walking through front door. MacDonald’s wife meets him, takes his coat (domestic, husband and wife scenes). MacDonald and wife talking in their kitchen about what happened at the parent meeting (for Atlantic City High School). MacDonald talks about how he does not know where, how, or if he can fit into the African American community as a white man.
Black and White Together
Second Half of Project WILL begins (February 1969) -- Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) and parents of Project WILL students meeting to discuss issues at Atlantic City High School. One older white man talks about how students these days don’t have the same respect for teachers as they used to. (“kids these days,” rebellious, generational differences).
Black and White Together
Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) brings up the issue of interracial dating to parents at Project WILL meeting. White woman says she told her daughter she does not approve of interracial dating, not because of prejudice but because if a “negro boy dates a white girl, the (African American) boy will make himself unpopular with his own people." A black man agrees with most of the white woman’s views on interracial dating, but does ask the woman “why would your daughter want to date a negro (African American) boy?” (race, racial issues, interracial relationships, social issues).
Black and White Together
Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director) talking to Project WILL students in conference hall at Traymore hotel. Beginning of the second half of Project WILL. Harris tells students they have a job and that job is to change things at Atlantic City High School (regarding race relation and quality of education). Harris tells students that if they decide to pack their bags and leave (Project WILL) no one will try to chase after you. Harris says students can no longer bring sub sandwiches to their hotel rooms.
Black and White Together
Large group of Project WILL students (African American & Caucasian, boys & girls, teenagers) sleeping on hotel floor; students have organized a “sleep in" . Edgar Harris (Project WILL director) and Rod MacDonald (Assistant Director) enter room and are amused by non-violent protest. One black girl reads the group’s demands to the Project WILL staff-- would like the privilege to order sub sandwiches. Macdonald says the Project WILL staff does not agree to the students’ demands. Arguing between Project WILL students and staff. Blonde white teenage girl standing with blanket wrapped around herself.
Black and White Together
Interior Traymore Hotel, night. Project WILL students gathered in hotel hallway-- loud, angry, frustrated, lots of talking, disorganized. Students debate what actions they need to take to get Project WILL staff and educational officials at Atlantic City High School to treat them more fairly. Most students are in their pajamas, suggesting this emotional debate was unplanned. White teenage girl wearing a hair net and curlers and African American teenage boy argue. White students seem to be gathered on one side of hallway, while African American students seem to be gathered on other side. Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director) watches students. Hotel security guard comes through crowd to tell them they are disturbing the other hotel guests.
Black and White Together
Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director), Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director), and another Project WILL staff member (older African American woman) discussing Project WILL student recent behavior and actions (the “sleep-in,” arguing in the hotel hallway, disobedience, etc.). Woman and MacDonald have a brief argument (disagreement) about how MacDonald is “motivating” the students (radicalizing them).
Black and White Together
Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director) and Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) talking with other Project WILL Staff. Macdonald talks about “upsetting the static condition that exists” (upsetting the “status quo”), to create change. Harris talks about the right of students to evaluate teachers. Macdonald says Project became less of an educational experiment and more of the same style education and the same problems as the high school; parents and students must stand up to the educational system. MacDonald talks about how Project WILL has lost its freedom, having to conform more to what the educational officials (administration) wanted. Atlantic City Board of Education took more control of Project WILL from MacDonald and Harris.
Black and White Together
Project WILL comes to an end, Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director) and Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) have an evaluation meeting with Jack Eisenstein (Atlantic City Superintendent of Schools) and William Fonce (Principle of Atlantic City). Eisenstein thinks Project WILL accomplished a great deal, sees racially diverse boys and girls living together, trying to solve their own problems. Discussion of student involvement (in school and education) leads to activism. Talking about what forms of student activism can be tolerated by educators. Eisenstein talking about the negative impact of destructive activism (such as the destruction of property).
Black and White Together
Project WILL evaluation meeting. Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) talks about “lack of change in the system." “Are we (educators) ready to criticize o, are we ready to change the way we listen (to students or parents?). MacDonald: “Is the system (educational) structured so that so that it can change?”
Black and White Together
Project WILL evaluation meeting. Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director) talking about how he wants students of all races to become “color blind”, to develop positive attitudes, to not look at one another as “black” (African American) or white (Caucasian). Harris says if he did not believe students could look past race, he could not be a part of Project WILL. Harris and Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) have a disagreement over how integration between students in Atlantic City High School and Project WILL should (or will) be achieved by the students.
Black and White Together
Project WILL evaluation meeting. Jack Eisenstein (Atlantic City Superintendent of Schools) and William Fonce (Principle of Atlantic City High School) talk about the limitations on changing the educational system: “how far and how quickly” do they want to change the educational system? Money, staff and time all influence the educational system. Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) shares his “gripe” with the “system” and fellow educators: “Nowhere in the American educational system can the teacher make his first loyalty to the children.” Eisenstein and Fonce disagree with MacDonald. “Teachers are loyal to the students, they just can’t students do whatever they want, teachers have a responsibility.”
Black and White Together
Last night of Project WILL. Workshop inside Traymore Hotel, mixed group of students, led by Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director). MacDonald has been alienated by rest of the Project WILL staff and is in conflict with Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director). Students are evaluating Project WILL with MacDonald. In general, students say Project WILL did not go the way they were originally told it would. Students had less control and freedom, talk about how Harris had too much control and staff did not take what the student had to say into account. Project WILL was not the students’ project any more.
Black and White Together
Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director) enters room where Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) is leading a group of students (teenage, African American & Caucasian, boys & girls) who are expressing their feelings (opinions) on Project WILL. Harris tells the students to go downstairs (ends discussion group). Harris asserts his authority as project director (very stern, upset)-- “I’m telling you all to come down stairs now.” Harris will not give a reason why, Rod MacDonald to stop talking. Students leave hotel room.
Black and White Together
Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) explaining why Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director) broke up his discussion group with the students. Edgar Harris gave Rod MacDonald a list of students that were allowed to take part in the discussion group. One student who was not on the approved list joined in, Harris and MacDonald had a disagreement (dispute) over whether the student should have to leave the discussion group. Harris became angry with MacDonald. Mixed group of WILL students (teenagers, high school aged, African American, white, boys, girls) listening to Rod MacDonald’s explanation of the situation. The students don’t understand why Edgar Harris broke up the group.
Black and White Together
White teenage boy (Project WILL student) sharing his thoughts on Project WILL. He does not like all the disagreement and corruption, feels students and staff need to work together. Students have the ideas, staff (teachers) have the experience; they need to bring these two things together. Very emotional (crying).
Black and White Together
Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) saying the he “does not need to be told he has an obligation to the students.” (frustrated and annoyed with Project WILL colleagues).
Black and White Together
Caucasian male child walking on shore (tide, waves, ocean). Boy is wearing a jacket and jeans, has left his bicycle on the ground. Boy picks up rocks. Voice over “black (African Americans) and Whites will have to get together (accept each other) naturally.”
Black and White Together
Dr. Sanderson (African American man) holding cigarette, sitting on couch. Dr. Sanderson talks about his association with Project WILL and shares his thoughts on the project. Project WILL was a typical educational project was written by adults for “youngsters”. Claiming to let students make their own decisions, Project WILL became an extension of the school system, which was repressive in dealing with students. Adults (educators) made decisions for “youngsters”, without regarding the students. School system really runs projects like Project WILL. Edgar Harris (Project WILL Director) and Rod MacDonald (Project WILL Assistant Director) standing together in crowded room. Dr. Sanderson talking about people getting along (working together).
Black and White Together
Sunset over beach. Orange Sky. Clouds. Ocean
Black and White Together
End Credits