Steve McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave will be packaged into a high school curriculum on slavery, along with the book it was based on and a study guide created by the National School Board Association. Television personality Montel Williams spearheaded the effort to bring the film to classrooms, which combines the efforts of the NSBA, New Regency, Penguin Books, and the producers of the film.
Director Steve McQueen is quoted in the press release: “Since first reading 12 Years a Slave, it has been my dream that this book be taught in schools.”
Williams did the same thing with the 1989 film Glory, as part of an curriculum about the Civil War. He’s also quoted:
12 Years a Slave is one of the most impactful films in recent memory, and I am honored to have been able to bring together Fox Searchlight and National School Boards Association to maximize its educational potential. When Hollywood is at its best, the power of the movies can be harnessed into a powerful educational tool. This film uniquely highlights a shameful period in American history, and in doing so will evoke in students a desire to not repeat the evils of the past while inspiring them to dream big of a better and brighter future, and I’m proud to be a part of that.
We’re not sure about the word “impactful,” but everything else sounds good to us.