Deborah Wang reports that minority workers are underrepresented in the advertising industry. Wang interviews Bink Garrison (Ingalls, Quinn and Johnson) about the lack of minority workers in the industry. Wang's report includes footage of workers in the offices of Ingalls, Quinn and Johnson (advertising firm). Wang reports that Ingalls, Quinn and Johnson is participating in industry efforts to attract students into the industry. Wang notes that the Ad Club at English High School teaches students about advertising. Wang reports that Ad Club students wrote and acted in a public service announcement last year. Wang's report includes footage of the public service announcement produced by the Ad Club. Wang's report also features footage of Pam Piligian (Ingalls, Quinn and Johnson) working with students in the Ad Club. Piligian and Michelle Wilcox (11th grade student) talk about the Ad Club. This tape includes additional footage of workers at the offices of Ingalls, Quinn and Johnson.

Angela Paige Cook, founder and director of Paige Academy, talks about the inherent racism of standardized tests for assessing intellect.

Christopher Lydon interviews in-studio guests Dr. Virgil Wood (Pond Street Baptist Church) and Dr. Helen Edmonds (Visiting Professor, MIT) about King's legacy and progress in the civil rights movement since King's death. Wood says that society has regressed in the areas of racism, war and poverty since the death of King. Wood and Edmonds talk about African American students at white universities. Wood and Edmonds discuss the gap between the African American middle class and the African American underclass.

'Ellis Island (a work in progress)' is a haunting, reflective piece on Ellis Island and the immigrants who passed through there. Black-and-white, near-static shots of actors and actresses realistically portraying turn-of-the-century immigrants are combined with color shots of a modern-day tour guide conducting a tour of the buildings. Re-creations of the medical examinations the immigrants underwent and the conditions they lived through are filmed in the run-down buildings of Ellis Island before restoration was started. "Ellis Island' was created with the New Television Workshop. Segments of it were broadcast as part of the 'Frames of Reference' showcase specials 'Landscape in Motion' and 'Dance Journeys.'

David Boeri reports that the Massachusetts Advocacy Center released statistics indicating that the student failure rate in the Boston Public Schools has increased by 24 percent. Boeri notes that school officials have raised promotion standards but that students are unprepared. Boeri interviews Anne Wheelock (Massachusetts Advocacy Center) and Robert Schwartz (Director, Boston Compact) about the failure rate in the schools. Wheelock says that the schools must create a climate which allows all students to succeed. Wheelock says that non-promotion will cause an increase in the drop-out rate. She adds that schools must provide remedial services for at-risk students. Schwartz says that a high school diploma must signify a minimum amount of achievement on the part of students. He adds that students should not be promoted unless they meet achievement standards. Schwartz admits that schools need to do more to help at-risk students. Boeri analyzes that failure statistics for African American and Latino students. Boeri's report is accompanied by footage of students exiting a school and by footage of students in a classroom.

Deborah Wang reports that 86 African American students attend the Imani Institute. Wang notes that the Imani Institute is a private school where students learn about their African heritage. Wang interviews Ozzie Edwards (Director, Imani Institute). Edwards says that parental involvement is key to a child's academic success. Edwards adds that the students learn about their heritage at the Imani Institute. Wang reports that the school is housed temporarily in the Elliot Street Congregational Church. Wang notes that many students formerly attended Boston public schools and area Catholic schools. Wang interviews Sadiki Kambon (President, Parents' Council). Kambon says that many African American students are not receiving a good education in the public schools. Wang reports that the Imani Institute needs to raise additional funds in order to make it past its first year. Wang's report is accompanied by footage of Imani students outside of the school, in a morning assembly and in classrooms.

African American, Asian American, Latino, and white kindergarten children work on art projects, read and play in an integrated classroom in the Jackson Mann School. Meg Vaillancourt sets up an interview with the teacher.

Barbara Barrow comments on Judge Garrity's altered desegregation plan. Program explores the impact of the modified desegregation plan that went into effect in Boston, Massachusetts, in May, 1976. Host Barbara Barrow visits the students and faculty of the William Monroe Trotter School in Roxbury's District 9 to explore the intent of Judge Garrity's altered desegregation plan via conversations with Lillian Wood (a learning center coordinator for the Trotter School), Dennis DeCoste (teacher at the Trotter School), and students. Topics include the enforcement of racial diversity, how the school curriculum has changed with the implementation of the plan, and how students and teachers feel about their new learning workspaces. At the time of the program, the Trotter School had an excellent reputation as a magnet school. Additional program segments include a previously aired in-studio performance from the musical 'Raisin' (with Darren Green singing 'Sidewalk Tree') and the 'Community Calendar.' Produced by Barbara Barrow. Directed by Conrad White.

Excerpt from the program exploring three schools identified by the community as viable alternative choices to Boston's public schools: Roxbury Community School, St. Joseph's Community School (supported by the Archdiocese of Boston), and Paige Academy (a private school operating via tuition). Dr. Philip Hart, professor at the University of Massachusetts and former director of the Federation for Boston Community Schools, the parent organization for Roxbury Community School, talks about the dissatisfaction with public schools on the part of Black parents in the 1960s. Parents were pulling their children out of school and educating them at newly formed freedom schools and tutoring centers. In 1966 the New School for Children and Roxbury Community College were incorporated as private non-profit educational institutions set up as an alternative to Boston public schools.

Dorothy Jones, of Model Cities of Boston, discusses plans for the forthcoming restructuring of the Boston School committee.

Christopher Lydon introduces a Ten O'Clock News special broadcast marking the birthday of Martin Luth King, Jr. (civil rights leader). Lydon reviews King's life and accomplishments. This report features footage of King during the civil rights movement. Paul Solman reports on unemployment in the African American community. Solman notes that many young African Americans are not given the training, education, and support necessary to succeed in the workplace. Solman's report includes footage from interviews with Paul McLemore (Boston resident), Sarah Flint (McLemore's aunt), and Tom Jones (Vice President, John Hancock Mutual Insurance). Gail Harris reports on development in the Roxbury/Dorchester/Mattapan neighborhoods. Harris reports that the area is becoming more attractive to developers and that property values are expected to rise. Harris adds that many residents are suspicious of development plans by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and fear being displaced from their homes. Harris' report features footage from interviews with Mamie Mabine (tenant, Orchard Park Housing Project), John Cruz (developer), Ken Guscott (developer), Byron Rushing (State Representative), Otto Snowden (co-founder, Freedom House), Muriel Snowden (co-founder, Freedom House), and a BRA official. Meg Vaillancourt reports on the long-term effects of school desegregation on the Boston Public School system. Vaillancourt notes that attendance and test scores have dropped since 1974. Vaillancourt reports that many African American parents support a 'freedom of choice' plan in which a certain number of seats in each school are set aside for students of each racial group. Vaillancourt interviews Robert Peterkin (Former Deputy Superintendent, Boston Public Schools), Robert Spillane (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools), Kenneth Haskins (Harvard School of Education), Charles Willie (Court Appointed Master for Desegregation), Mildred Reid (Jamaica Plain resident), and Kim Reid (student, Brighton High School) for the report. Vailancourt's report also includes footage of students at Brighton High School, Jackson/Mann Elementary School, South Boston High School, and English High School. Dr. Virgil Woods and Dr. Helen Edmonds discuss civil rights. Christopher Lydon interviews in-studio guests Dr. Virgil Wood (Pond Street Baptist Church) and Dr. Helen Edmonds (Visiting Professor, MIT) about King's legacy and progress in the civil rights movement since King's death. Wood says that society has regressed in the areas of racism, war and poverty since the death of King. Wood and Edmonds talk about African American students at white universities. Wood and Edmonds discuss the gap between the African American middle class and the African American underclass. Callie Crossley (WGBH reporter) talks about her memories of King as a teenager growing up in Memphis, Tennessee. The newscast closes over footage of Stevie Wonder (pop singer) and Jesse Jackson (African American political leader) at a celebration in honor of King in Washington DC. Produced by Glenda Manzi. Directed by Heather Aveson.