Oakland, CA — A multi-city tour of the new documentary film Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity comes home to Oakland with a film & community dialogue event on Thursday, November 8th at the Grand Lake Theater. Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity, asks America to talk about the causes and consequences of systemic inequity. The film includes moving personal accounts that illuminate the system that perpetuates structural inequity. The film was developed in Oakland and features 23 leaders in the equity movement including many from the Bay including Josh Begley, Aeeshah Clottey, Ericka Huggins, Elena Featherston, Connie Heller, Ise Lyfe, and Hugh Vasquez. A critical mass of stories is supported by original music by local recording artist Amikeayla Gaston and spoken word by Oakland Poetry Slam finalist Y. Jelal Huyler.
“Cracking the Codes is designed to deepen and shift the framing of racial disparities in this country,” said Shakti Butler, PhD, director of the film and founder of World Trust Educational Services in Oakland. “The current conversation is not only shallow, but actually harmful. When we talk about solving the issues of violence and poverty in Oakland, we often focus on individuals, when institutional and structural inequities are the bigger problem.” Cracking the Codes is Shakti Butler’s fourth documentary film with cinematography by her husband, EMMY award-winner Rick Butler. Her films reach both head and heart with a critical mass of stories intertwined with music, art and poetry.
Shakti Butler will also be facilitating a follow-up Cracking the Codes workshop on November 9th for health and education partners in Alameda County. This day-long forum will focus on deepening the experience of the film-dialogue event and examining how systems of inequity effect health and education. “School Health Services is sponsoring this film and workshop for our provider community to deepen our conversation about how to achieve health and education equity in Alameda County, and design strategies to transform our work in schools and communities. We are privileged and honored to partner with Dr. Butler, who will facilitate a transformative dialogue,” says Tracey Schear, Director of the Alameda County School Health Services Coalition.
Shakti Butler, PhD is Founder and Creative Director of World Trust Educational Services, a nonprofit based in Oakland, CA. Through education rooted in love and justice, World Trust is a catalyst for racial equity. Using the powerful combination of film, dialogue, and transformative learning World Trust strives to create new understanding and build community. World Trust produces programs and seminars based on Dr. Butler’s acclaimed documentary films such as “The Way Home: Women Talk About Race in America” and “Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible.” World Trust’s film-based conversation/study programs are in continual use at hundreds of schools, universities, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and government institutions nationwide. World Trust’s films, learning events and programs engage thousands of new people in racial equity each year. More information at www.world-trust.org.
The film is 75 minutes long and includes Spanish and English subtitles. A downloadable conversation guide is available online. To learn more about the Cracking the Codes project or purchase the film visit www.crackingthecodes.org .