LAUNCH // The R Word Fundraising Party

  • Type: event
  • Location: DCTV 87 Lafayette St. Studio, 3rd Fl. 10013
  • Starts: Jun 30 2016 at 7:00AM
  • facebook link ↱
Available to the public for the first time and to announce our online fundraising campaign, 22 Months Productions will screen a sample of The R Word and unveil our fundraising video.

This documentary is in the making thanks to the continued support and effort from many generous friends who believe in removing Native American mascots, icons and names from high school, college and professional sports teams. Funds raised from this campaign will support final production costs.

Doors Open ……………….6:30pm
Screening ………….............7:00pm
Discussion ………………...7:30pm
Fundraiser Launch …… 8:00pm
Celebration ………. until 9:00pm

ALL EVENING
Filmmakers in attendance
Sangria in the house
Music TBA

FREE TO ATTEND

Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/launchthe-r-word-fundraising-party-tickets-25751535536
Follow us here: https://www.facebook.com/therwordfilm/

Change the Mascot!

SYNOPSIS

When the editors of a high school newspaper ban their racist mascot in solidarity with a concerned Native American mother, the school administration silences them and forces them to comply. In a community that claims this 80-year old tradition honors Native Americans, community allies join and rise against a pervasive status quo to change a racist mascot.

PROJECT SUMMARY

The R Word: A Battle for Native American Representation follows Donna Fann-Boyle, a Cherokee and Choctaw mother and long time resident of the Neshaminy School District - the home of the R-skins. In the past two years, she has repeatedly confronted the school board, raising the issue that the mascot perpetuates and promotes a damaging image of Native Americans. Her testimony effectively inspired Neshaminy High School newspaper editors to ban the printing of any mentions of the mascot in their publication, The Playwickian. In response to this student editorial decision, the principal imposed a directive to force the editors to print all mentions of the mascot, using the r-word in full, insisting that the word honors Native Americans. This issue captured the attention of ESPN and ACLU.

In response to the surprising actions against the Playwickian and inaction towards Donna by the Neshaminy School Board, the film follows community and educational support that arise outside of the formal schooling system.

The R Word endeavours to combat the school administration’s committed effort to silence Donna, and discusses Native American histories with regards to current representations and interpretations in sports culture.

Donna’s protest points to the prominent and contentious national issue of Native American representation in sports culture across the country. In June 2016, Donna and the Neshaminy School Board will face each other again at a final hearing with the PA Human Relations Commission to determine the fate of Neshaminy's mascot.

This documentary has garnered the attention and support of groups lobbying their high schools to change similar racist references, indicating a potential to build on Neshaminy as one case within a nation-wide conversation among high schools that maintain disparaging Native American mascots. The R Word has received letters of support from activists, including Amanda Blackhorse, a Navajo social worker who is fighting to change the NFL Washington Redskins brand, and is under the advisement of policy advocate and writer, Suzan Harjo.