A feature on Forever Free & the Illiteracy Playbook, a documentary by Cortland Jones, Dion Johnson, and Shauna F. King that examines America’s literacy crisis, its roots in systemic oppression, and the urgent need for community-led solutions in Black and urban communities.

In the aftermath of numerous unjust deaths of Black men at the hands of white officers, Du Bois’s life’s work is a blueprint for this generation’s needed mindset. Though laws have changed, racism is still sewn into the powers that be. With this film, Coburn aims to evoke a spirit of courageand activism and to incite citizens to join the movement. Or, better yet, to start one.

Regina Jones broke barriers as the powerhouse behind Soul, the first Black music and arts newspaper. A fearless leader and mother of five, she spotlighted legends like Aretha and The Jackson 5—long before mainstream media caught on. Her story, once hidden, now rises as a tribute to resilience, culture, and the legacy of Black women in media.