Specials - What's In A Name

DateJanuary 27 1986

Can DescriptionsSpecials X3961 What's in a Name? Rec. 1/27/86

AbstractA World of Difference special intro; Title: “What’s in a Name”; Natalie Jacobson hosting, cohosts include Governor Michael Dukakis and Dr. Samuel Betances; crowd of over 150 local students in attendance; Jacobson speaks on what is in a name, each host introduces on what their name means; topics of discussion include prejudice and stereotyping; cut to black; conversations about ethnic jokes after segment showing Jimmy Smith from the Comedy Connection performing standup comedy; conversations from kids on if ethnic jokes are right or wrong; cut to black; sketch segment of a painter named Michael Barnes who is showing his work at a community exhibition, his picture is of a sun with the Hindu swastika in the middle; a girl takes offence of his art project and its connection to Nazism which leads to protests; return to studio; conversations from kids on if the painting should be left up or not; the effects of symbolism, expression, free speech, intent and sensitivity; studio conversation between artist and holocaust survivor from sketch; cut to black; Jacobson introduces various scenes from the John Hughes film The Breakfast Club (1985); studio conversation about negative and positive stereotyping, generalization, media influences and class factors; cut to black; Massachusetts Daily Number; cut to black; sketch segment of student named Betsy who didn’t get a scholarship over a boy named Carlos, due to him being a minority; studio conversation on if this was fair, affirmative action and minority scholarships; Carlos and Betsy create talking points; cut to black; Dukakis asks the kids how they would try to change the future and the world; sketch segment (based on a true story) to show how to try and fix these issues; end credits.

OtherCredits; Hosts: Natalie Jacobson, Governor Michael Dukakis and Dr. Samuel Betances.