NYA and Negro Youth: Empowering through Education and Work

This silent documentary from the National Youth Administration (NYA) focuses on the impact of NYA programs on African American youth in Georgia and Alabama, showcasing educational, vocational, and agricultural initiatives:

Reel 1: In Boligee, Alabama, and Dorchester, Georgia, the film captures young African American boys engaged in agricultural work, feeding livestock, operating tractors for plowing, and performing maintenance on dormitory facilities. At the same time, girls are seen learning practical skills like meal preparation, serving, basket weaving, and mattress making, highlighting the NYA's commitment to both genders in providing diverse vocational training.
Reel 2: The focus shifts to Atlanta, where boys at a high school are involved in a woodworking class, constructing chairs, which demonstrates the emphasis on craftsmanship and skill development. In Georgia State College, the film shows a broader spectrum of education with home economics classes, radio instruction, and shoe making, underscoring the NYA's efforts to equip youth with a variety of employable skills. Additionally, in Slossfield, Alabama, girls are depicted cooking, sewing dresses, and participating in nursing classes, illustrating the comprehensive approach to education and vocational training aimed at empowering African American youth for future employment and self-sufficiency.

"NYA and Negro Youth" serves as an important historical record of how federal programs during the New Deal era sought to address economic and educational disparities by providing opportunities for skill acquisition and community service among young African Americans.