Don't we all wish we could be mayor for a day? Yes, if I could have one day of his salary and he makes $365 million per year. And if that day happened to be Game 7 of a Phillies-Yankees World Series and I could use his box at Citizen's Bank Park.
Anyway, the kids in today's featured video have much more practical ideas for what they would do with their newfound, albeit temporary, power. My favorite idea: free ice cream on Saturdays. When asked by the woman in the video, apparently some sort of caretaker or recreation organizer, if that would make a brighter future, the little boy who suggested said replied yes without hesitation.
This is my favorite video so far. What can I say? The kids are cute. They keep saying "President" when they mean "Mayor." And they like to play baseball. It's a very simple film. A group of very young kids, probably 6-8 years old, are basically asked what they want the next mayor to do for them. The film makers also talk to a few adults who seem to realize just. how. important. it is for the future of the city (for the country even) for these kids to be raised right and to have as many opportunities as possible. A young woman asks how the kids can have any hope if the adults in their lives don't have any. An older woman very bluntly says that she's "on her way out" and the kids are "on their way in." She fears for what they'll become if they just spend their time on the corner and wonders how many of them won't even live to see their 21st birthday.
And that's what I found most compelling. To realize that as I watch these little kids - so happy, having so much fun, just enjoying life - that, statistically, at least one of them, if not more, could be dead in ten years. No... will be dead in ten years.
Meanwhile, a middle-age woman takes charge of these children, never letting them get away with their president/mayor mix up and holding them accountable for coming up with good suggestions. She's tough but she's a good teacher. She takes them to the field to play softball. For at least a day, the grim reality of their possible future is of no concern. For at least a day, each of them is a potential major league baseball player or a college professor or ... a mayor. Make that... President.
Click on continue reading to check out the film by Alison Crouse, with Tracy Periera and Mee-Lin Youk; all of Philadelphia. Crouse is an MFA film student at Temple as is Pereira. Mee-Lin Youk is an urban spoken word artist, whose work, I assume provides the background narrative to this film.
It's 10 minutes long so give yourself some time.
Comments (2)
I could do without the overbearing narrative but the raw footage of the kids is brilliant.
Posted by Patricio | December 5, 2007 10:42 PM
Good work! Young boys are always cast in a negative light. This shows their innocence, their need for guidance and attention. I applaud the caregiver for giving her time and love to these boys. It will be their time with her that will encourage them to do better. We need more "elders" like her to extend their time and wisdom to this falling generation. As a mother of three sons, I weep for their generation, for it must be a hard life for them to bear on a day to day basis. I can imagine their fear and confusion. I can only imagine what they dream to become, seeing so many boys who look like them fall in the streets. I consistantly pray for their deliverance, our deliverance and take every opportunity to give encouragement to not only my sons but anyone's son who will listen.
Posted by Nina | December 6, 2007 7:31 AM