‘Homeroom’: The Importance of Youth in Positions of Power
The new Sundance documentary written and directed by Peter Nicks follows the Oakland High School class of 2020, depicting their struggles, triumphs, and failures while navigating the world of young people in politics. This film reminded me of my own high school experience in a diverse group of youth of all races, ethnicities, values, religions, thoughts, and creative endeavors. Contemporary middle and high schools with diverse populations deal with the same social and political issues. Concepts such as violence against black and brown teens and the abuse of power in schools show up in every community nationwide. Throughout the film, I noticed myself smiling alongside the students as it felt as though I was having a conversation with them. Furthermore, as a member of Teen Council, I find value in community activism programs for youth, and seeing teens my age on the screen fighting against the same injustices that I do hundreds of miles away and winning, is hopeful. For this reason, ‘Homeroom’ showed a particular relatability I have yet to find in any other documentary.
Writer and director Peter Nicks takes the individual lives of the teens of Oakland High and merges them with the collective fight for the social issues in their school and community. In 2019, the Oakland Education Board rejected the student’s proposal to cut the funding of the school’s police force and use the money to fund their actual education instead. The students’ activism was predicated on the belief that the police inside schools do not protect students, they threaten them. This is personally a significant issue for me as I constantly see police inside my school, yet most of the student body do not feel safe with them. The fact that adults make decisions for students in a place where children getting an education should be the focus is problematic. Youth need to be in spaces where decisions are being made about their safety, access to education, financial support, and healthcare. This film perfectly explores how oppression can turn into power when members of a community activate their voices.
As we all know, the world shutting down in mid-March due to Covid-19 forced us to adapt. I remember the joy my peers and I felt as schools shut down for a few weeks, only for that joy to turn into fear months later that we didn’t know when we would be able to return to school. We watched as the education system attempted to continue as much as they could, and worried about what that new struggles and stress that would bring for us. In Summer 2020, the newly graduated Oakland High School class of 2020 continued to fight for equality in the streets after the Black Lives Matter protests against the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more. They continued to challenge the School Board as new alumni, causing the Oakland School Board to officially defund and cut the school’s police force on campus. This win for the teens was consequential as it showed youth of color taking a position of power and claiming their autonomy. This film used moving cinematography and effective personal interviews to show how important this issue is for young people. It made me extremely hopeful of the fact that these children are the future; and I'm excited for my future.
- Written by Marley Robinson
