Seminal film about race relations in 1920s America, in particular, Kansas. Based upon the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, by African American Gordon Parks, who also was the director. In fact, he is said to have been the first African American director in Hollywood. Filmed by the independent company of Winger Productions, and distributed by Warner. Filmed on location around Fort Scott, Kansas, and in the Warner sound studios. There is a fair amount of violence, at the individual level, but no lynchings. There was talk of a lynching in the court room. The Caucasian sheriff shot 2 African American teens, on separate occasions, both in or adjacent to their swimming place. An African American kills a Caucasian, although initially another Caucasian is blamed, with good reason. This African American then shoots himself, after a teen African American claims to have seen the whole incident.........It's also a story of the coming of age of one African American teen. ..........Highly recommended for all races. Available on DVD, as well as on YouTube. I saw it on TCM on Martin Luther King day.
Review of The Learning Tree
