The Learning Tree

Newton Winger is a black teenager in a 1920s mixed rural community of Cherokee Flats, Kansas with underlying racism. He follows his friend Marcus Savage to steal apples from Jake Kiner's orchard. Jake catches Marcus and whips him. Racist Sheriff Kirky shots a negro in the back for dice gambling in the woods and later arrests Marcus for putting Jake into the hospital. Judge Cavanaugh sends him to prison. Newt's respected mother works for the judge and sends him to work for Jake to atone for his transgression. He is dating sweet Arcella Jefferson and she gets raped by the judge's son Chauncey. Marcus is on parole and living with his illiterate father Booker. Growing up without a mother has left him angry. Booker kills Jake while stealing his booze. Newt secretly witnesses the incident and fears an explosion of racial reprisals.

There is so much realism in the race subject matter which has echoes of truth in today's world. It's written and directed by Gordon Parks who is better known for directing the blaxploitation icon Shaft. He uses his childhood in Kansas and the Midwest to breathe sincerity into his characters. The young lead does lack big charisma but he fits the young black man very well. Whether intentional or not, he has the sense of a normal young black man, uncertain and struggling to grow up. He and Marcus serve as two different paths into manhood dictated by their family. They're not shocked by the constant racism and are not cowed by them. The white people in the story comes in all shades. It weaves a complex tale of good and evil. It is adapted from Gordon's novel and could use some trimming. There is a lot going on. The vast tapestry of racism is almost a character in itself. It would serve the story better to expand it into a mini-series. With the ways of present day streaming, I hope somebody finds this material.