Terkel comments and delivers Francis Parker high school commencement address

Content Warning: This conversation includes racially and/or culturally derogatory language and/or negative depictions of Black and Indigenous people of color, women, and LGBTQI+ individuals. Rather than remove this content, we present it in the context of twentieth-century social history to acknowledge and learn from its impact and to inspire awareness and discussion. Fourteen year-old Johnny attends Harrison High School. When asked if he were God & what changes he would make, Johnny replied he'd see to it that Black people remain on the their side of town.

Studs Terkel interviews Fred Christy about how he hopes to change the young lives of African-American. He also travels with Fred to places of African-American community.

Lois Wille caused an uproar with the story she wrote for the Chicago Daily News, "Inside a Slum High School." According to Wille's investigation, a lack of money, over crowding of students, lights that don't work in the school and no books were among some of the problems that Wille found at Crane High School. Students also had a pessimistic view, explained Wille, as she found students didn't believe the teachers and counselors cared what theyd do after they got out of high school but they just wanted them to get out and leave Crane.

In part two of the six part series Joy Street, Studs focuses on the life of one particular young man. Eighteen year old Jimmy shares with Studs his daily routine, his triumphs and tragedies, and what he would hope to accomplish during his life, if he ever gets that chance.

Studs Terkel listens in on Evanston Township High Schools', soul choral group, "The Spirit of Soul" as they rehearse for an upcoming concert. Musical director, Avon Gillespie, describes how the vocal improvisation of "The Spirit of Soul" singers brings an on the spot sense of joy. This reflection of African Heritage through song closes the gap between Africa and American shores and teaches Black people that their heritage is real, alive, and strong!

Studs Terkel interviews the members of the Walawa Basies: Kelvin Strong, Orlando Lucas, Levon Campbell, and Justine Cordwell. This is an Interview done in two parts

Studs Terkel interviews the members of the Walawa Basies: Kelvin Strong, Orlando Lucas, and Levon Campbell.

Metro High School on the Near North Side of Chicago is only one of three high schools in the country that operates without walls and uses the resources of the city for learning. Four students convey how marine biology is taught at the Shed Aquarium, radio production at WIMD, TV production at Dick Barnett studio WMAQ, drafting at architectural firms and blue collar jobs at factories.

Studs Terkel discusses life in the Vietnam era with children from Father Charles Pond's St. Timothy Episcopal Church Parish in Chicago. Rose is the featured speaker at 16 years of age she is no longer in school but is very well spoken. Acknowledging that people with mental illnesses are not always able to make sound decisions which are needed for individuals to make group decisions. She sees one of the problems in the world being that people are losing their individuality to a group mentality.