{"id":85643,"date":"2022-10-05T14:36:36","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T18:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/?p=85643"},"modified":"2022-10-05T14:45:23","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T18:45:23","slug":"pbs-socal-and-our-l-a-present-bridging-the-divide-tom-bradley-and-the-politics-of-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/pbs-socal-and-our-l-a-present-bridging-the-divide-tom-bradley-and-the-politics-of-race\/","title":{"rendered":"PBS SOCAL and OUR L.A. Present ‘Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and The Politics of Race’"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Oct. 5, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — \u201cBridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race\u201d reveals the life and legacy of the first African American mayor elected in a major American city, with an overwhelmingly white majority, and will be broadcast on PBS SoCal on Thursday, October 6 at 8:30 p.m., Our L.A. announced today. The encore presentation of the award-winning documentary is being released during another historic Los Angeles mayoral race occurring now. It is also available on PBS.org, and on PBS and World Channel\u2019s Saturday Playlist Initiative on race.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
PHOTO CAPTION: Mayor-elect Bradley at the victory celebration on May 30, 1973. Photo courtesy of the Tom Bradley Legacy Foundation.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race\u201d tells the little-known story of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley whose 1973 election was a remarkable political first in the history of race and politics in America. The documentary raises important issues about race, identity, and coalitions, and is especially relevant at this time when the nation is still at a tipping point in the struggle against racial injustice and police brutality.<\/p>\n

Featuring never-before-seen historical footage and photographs, \u201cBridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race\u201d examines the creation of Bradley\u2019s extraordinary multi-racial coalition of African Americans, Jews, white liberals, Latinos, and Asian Americans, which redefined Los Angeles, transformed the national dialogue on race, and set the foundation for sustainable coalitions that encouraged the elections of minority candidates nationwide, most notably President Barack Obama. At the same time, the film examines the complexities and contradictions of Bradley\u2019s career as a bridge builder.<\/p>\n

Produced by Academy Award\u00ae-nominated filmmaker Lyn Goldfarb and multiple Emmy\u00ae Award-winning filmmaker Alison Sotomayor, \u201cBridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race\u201d also brings into sharp focus the issues of police brutality in minority communities and the challenges of police reform, and shows how Tom Bradley, a former police officer whose political aspirations were shaped by the Watts Rebellion, could not break the cycles of poverty and despair that would ultimately spark the 1992 Los Angeles civil unrest, and mark the end of his era.<\/p>\n

Narrated by Emmy\u00ae Award-winning actress Alfre Woodard, with an original score composed by Stephen James Taylor, \u201cBridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race\u201d is a human story about struggle and success, conflict, and community. It is a classic, American story of determination against seemingly insurmountable odds; the story of a black man, the son of sharecroppers and grandson of a slave who fought poverty, prejudice, and bigotry to bridge racial divides. It is the story of the pressures which face our cities, the challenges of diversity, and the complexities of coalitions in a changing America.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are honored to return to PBS SoCal, during a mayor\u2019s race with many parallels to Tom Bradley\u2019s breakthrough campaign,\u201d says Lyn Goldfarb, the documentary\u2019s director, writer, and producer. \u201cWe believe in the power of storytelling and the value of our shared history. Tom Bradley\u2019s story is part of a critically important narrative for the City of Los Angeles and the nation in how he transformed American politics by bridging racial and ethnic divides.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRemarkably, Tom Bradley\u2019s story is still not being taught in our schools, and our history books often exclude his significance in the national political landscape,\u201d remarks Alison Sotomayor, the documentary\u2019s producer, writer, and research director. \u201c\u2019Bridging the Divide\u2019 will provide a unique, historical perspective to illuminate our understanding of race and multi-ethnic coalition building in America. The story of Tom Bradley, no doubt, will encourage thoughtful reflection and conversation that will deepen our awareness of our lives and our world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race\u201d is streaming on Kanopy.com for free with a library card thanks to the support of participating libraries, colleges, and universities.<\/p>\n

The documentary is also available on pbs.org. The website, https:\/\/www.mayortombradley.com\/<\/a>, provides an extensive look at Tom Bradley\u2019s life and legacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cBridging the Divide\u201d Festivals & Awards: Grand Prize, Best Documentary Feature, Golden State Film Festival, 2019; March on Washington Film Festival, 2017; Pan African Film Festival, 2016; Los Angeles Emmy Award Nomination for Best Documentary Feature, 2016; Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, 2015; World Premiere, Los Angeles Film Festival, 2015.<\/p>\n

Learn more:<\/strong><\/p>\n