Professor
Eugene Martin offered a viewing and discussion of his film, Bloodlines.
The film explores the intersections of family, schools, violence,
media, and the community as they affect the lives of young teens in
Philadelphia. Over the period of one school year (2005-2006), two
Philadelphia children ages 13 and 14 years old, Ebony Graves and Dennis
Midiri of Philadelphia, were given video cameras to record their lives.
Both a visual essay and personal diary, the children directed their
segments of the film. Ebony lives in North Philadelphia and attended
St. Malachy School; Dennis lives in Kensington and attended Community
Education Partners School. Both are in 8th grade. The diaries created
by Dennis and Ebony show us the obstacles they and other children face
in urban American schools and cities today.