Directed by Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster • 2013 • United States

Beginning in 1999, filmmakers Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster turned their cameras on two families—including their own—as they grappled with the ups and downs of preparing their sons for academic success. In what would ultimately become a thirteen-year project, AMERICAN PROMISE follows Idris and Seun, two Black boys and best friends from Brooklyn, from the ages of five to eighteen as they navigate the complexities of the American educational system and seek admission to the prestigious Dalton School. In a country where Black boys face significant educational hurdles, can these fiercely committed families defy the odds?