Forever Free and the Illiteracy Playbook
type: Product
description: Directed by: Dion Denis Johnson Released: 2026 (educational) Year of Production: 2025 Running Time: 96 min Language: English Subtitle Options: English Closed Captions Subjects: American Studies, Children and Youth, Education System Millions of Americans—especially in marginalized communities—struggle with basic literacy, a crisis rooted in generations of educational inequity. This documentary confronts that deliberate reality head-on, weaving archival footage, expert insights, and deeply personal stories into a powerful narrative about literacy as a gateway to civic participation, economic mobility, and personal dignity. Structured as a parallel timeline, the film contrasts the enduring tactics of America’s “illiteracy playbook”—terror, political suppression, and systemic neglect—with the triumphs of those who resisted. From Reconstruction-era classrooms to modern family literacy efforts, it uncovers a legacy of defiance and innovation that forms a new “literacy playbook” for today’s educators, advocates, and policymakers. By connecting past heroism with present-day urgency, the film offers not just a history lesson, but a blueprint for change—rooted in resilience, legacy, and the transformative power of reading. DC Independent Film Festival - Best In Fest Maryland International Film Festival - Official Selection Cleveland International Film Festival - Official Selection About the filmmaker Dion Johnson, a longstanding resident of Prince George’s County, MD and Morgan State University graduate in Electrical Engineering, is an award-winning filmmaker, media entrepreneur, international speaker, photographer, and published author. After founding two successful IT businesses, Dion co-created JayMedia Group with his wife, where he established publishing processes and created the layout for the company’s first book. He has since carved out a niche in personalized magazines, web development and graphic design, photography and film. As the head of JayMedia Films - a divisio…
brand: Dion Denis Johnson
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additional property: License
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  value: University & College DVD (with PPR*), Digital Site License, DVD + DSL (w/ PPR)
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  high price: 625.00
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