Reviews and Festivals
"Black girls’ voices are centered as they provide intersectional critiques of K-12 school culture. A colorful mixed-methods tapestry rooted in Black Language is created, where narratives of adultification, over-policing, and stereotyping are interwoven with data calling for humanization and healing."
— Sierra J. Austin-King, Films for the Feminist Classroom
"For educators of any experience level, this film is likely to spark discussion and a closer look at the status quo, to ensure that school and district norms and expectations are not tied to values of a specific culture or income level."
— School Library Journal
"Examine the disproportionate degree of punitive, rather than restorative, action to which black girls are subjected...Recommended."
— Video Librarian
"Starred Review. Thought-provoking documentary...Especially poignant are the interviews with girls who have faced bullying and unkind treatment from both teachers and students...This is sure to prompt thoughtful discussion among educators. Teens facing similar issues will be comforted by these stories."
— Booklist
"How the film uses the girls' stories as they navigate the education system, and the struggles they face within it, is both heartbreaking and revealing and, at the end, hopeful...This mix of stark reality and hopeful optimism is highly recommended for collections in Sociology, Education, Gender Studies, and African American studies for use by general audiences."
— Educational Media Reviews Online
"A new documentary, Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools takes viewers into the journeys of five black female students who have confronted, and overcome, the school “pushout” phenomenon, which is most often associated with black boys. Throughout the film, you hear from young black women who explain how their treatment in school pushed them to the edge. One young girl describes contemplating jumping onto a freeway after being mistreated by her teacher in the second grade."
— New York Times
"We demand that our young black girls are treated as national treasures. If you haven't heard of Monique W. Morris' incredible film yet, you will. Do yourself a favor and add Pushout to your watch list immediately."
— Lily Eskelsen Garcia, President, National Education Association
"Narrated by Black girls and teens (aged 7 to 19) who share heartwrenching true stories, the feature-length film examines educational and disciplinary disparities around the country...The documentary weaves in the voices of educators and fellow experts such as law professor Kimberle Williams Crenshaw who provide context about educational equity, gender equality and social justice."
— Essence
"Documentary explores pattern of violence against black girls in schools"
— CBS News
"Groundbreaking"
— BroadwayWorld
"[Pushout's] nucleus is rooted in the work of civil rights and education advocate Monique W. Morris, Ed.D., who has championed an alternative approach towards guiding African-American girls through childhood over the past decade...The filmmakers give educators, social services professionals and others space to weight in, and wisely allow the children to speak for themselves."
— Our Weekly
"Encourages a robust conversation about how to reduce the criminalization of Black girls in our nation's learning environments. An eye-opener!"
— TheClutchGhurl
"So powerful and educational. Highly recommend to all."
— Ally Chakroff, Regional Outreach Coordinator, HelpLine
SCREENED AT
New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art
NOMINATED
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special), NAACP Image Award
WINNER
DTLA Film Festival, Audience Favorite
California Women's Film Festival, Best Feature Documentary
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Women's Film Festival
Diversity Film and Script Showcase
California Women's Film Festival
DTLA Film Festival
iGen Film Festival
San Diego Black Film Festival
The Impact DOCS Awards
Pan African Film Festival
Toronto Black Film Festival
Detroit Women of Color International Film Festival
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