Private Project

Sincerely, the Black Kids

"Across the country, universities everywhere are becoming battlegrounds for racial politics and agendas. For every loud proponent of “agreeing to disagree” that surfaces, there’s a group of black students who don’t enjoy the privilege of choosing to be moderate. Follow the stories of black student leaders from American University, Cornell University, Clemson and New College of Florida in Sincerely, the Black Kids, a documentary of triumphs and tribulations that prove sometimes it IS because you’re black."

  • Miles Iton
    Director
  • Shakira Refos
    Producer
  • Eduardo Correa
    Editor/Videographer
  • Miles M.W. Iton
    Key Cast
  • Leen Al-Fatafta
    Key Cast
  • Paul E. Loriston
    Key Cast
  • Cheikhou A. Kane
    Key Cast
  • Jaren Stewart
    Key Cast
  • Delmar Renee Fears
    Key Cast
  • Raina Nelson
    Key Cast
  • Miles Iton
    Writer
  • Eduardo Correa
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Nonfiction
  • Runtime:
    35 minutes 1 second
  • Production Budget:
    4,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • New College of Florida - A Documentary Premier
    Sarasota
    United States
    May 12, 2018
    Test Screen premiere
  • Atlanta Black Gay Pride Film Festival
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    September 1, 2018
    Film Festival Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Social Justice Film Festival
    Seattle, Washington
    United States
    October 6, 2018
    West Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Awareness Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    September 27, 2018
    LA Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Miles Iton

Miles Iton is a recent graduate of New College of Florida, Iton supplemented his studies with a term as the co-president of NCF’s student government. His work has since been focused throughout both education and creative industries; he founded the production imprint n.e.Bodied Entertainment and has performed/lectured at institutions such as the Ringling Museum, TED, and the Harvey Milk Festival. Currently a songwriting instructor with the Association of Florida Teaching Artists, Iton is a Fulbright award grantee to National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan, where he will be studying Creative Industries Design. (mw.iton@nebodiedent.org)

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Director Statement

In the fall of my junior year, my best friend Paul Loriston and I began our first term as the first black student body presidents of New College of Florida. Three months later, the Student Court threatened us - and every black/brown member of our Cabinet - with impeachment. The baseless case was quickly defeated, but our indignance was not.

The time came to address the situation for what it was: implicit racism. However, our small liberal arts college had long since called heralded themselves as allies. It had not seemed to cross many minds that racism is not solely the product hot button left/right wing politicking. Racism is an ongoing concern for the black and brown bodies whose identities become career fodder for campus provocateurs.

Shakira Refos, Eduardo Correa and I created this film to show just a sliver of questionable actions taken against black student government leaders on racially tense campuses. Students and administrators from Clemson, Cornell and American University join the conversation with New College and contribute their own unique experiences as well.

Ultimately, it was our goal to give black and brown students their own opportunity to share their unbridled truth. There need be no sensationalism of their voices for any political gain. All this film hopes to offer is genuine insight into the lives of those who bear the brunt of how deep political climates have affected campuses across the country. Signed, sealed and delivered, this is a message inspired by all of the unbreakable future leaders and scholars I've met throughout this journey. Our survival and success is a revolution in itself.

Sincerely,
The Black Kids.