"By being courageous we actually transform ourselves--we exercise our agency and we begin the process of changing our world."
Patricia McFadden, PhD
African Feminist/Activist/Educator
Laura & Johnnetta Betsch Cole, PhD
pictured with Sis. President of Spelman College & Bennett College for Women Emerita
during production of Broken Social Contracts
"We screened your documentary, Broken Social Contracts, with the hopes of raising awareness and consciousness around sexual violence on college campuses. Our hopes were not only realized, but also exceeded. Due to your ability as a filmmaker to connect sexual violence to its socially-constructed scaffolding, members of our campus community were challenged to question our campus climate; to question commonly held beliefs and myths about sexual violence; and to question their own feelings, values and assumptions surrounding the more nebulous, or gray areas, of sexual violence. Your film’s message and expose¢ of Spelman’s and Morehouse’s struggles with responding to campus sexual violence deeply resonated with our viewers and helped to foster our new fall programming initiative, The Red Zone Awareness Campaign, which is aimed at reducing relationship abuse and promoting healthy relationships in our community."
-Michelle L. Clonch
Director, Women’s Center & Women’s Programs
Western Carolina University
"The film [Broken Social Contracts] is so powerful, moving, and striking. It forces its audience to truly grapple with the issues presented during a little more than an hour. Most of all, I appreciate the filmmaker's objectivity throughout the film. The balanced, fair, and wide views discussed throughout the piece make it the perfect catalyst for discussions surrounding sexual terrorism, violence, and other gender issues. The more people who are priviledged to see this work, the more progression will be destined between men and women's gendered politics. A true must see!"
-Angela J. Boudreaux C'2009
Spelman College
"She [Laura] effectively uses film as a lens to tell the stories of women and has a sophisticated ability to apply sociological theoretical concepts to her discussions of social phenomena."
- Cynthia Neal Spence, PhD
Spelman College, Associate Professor of Sociology
Director of UNCF/Mellon Programs
"Broken Social Contracts brings to surface universal issues that are screaming to be addressed. While Laura Rahman’s documentary depicts the social conflict between the Spelman and Morehouse campuses, their situation is not unique to themselves. Rahman’s film forces us to examine ourselves and the role we play in enforcing the unspoken, intangible social contract between genders. Personally, the film provoked me to better my relationships and dialogues with not only the males in my circle of influence, but the females as well."
-Kristy Green C'2009
Western Carolina University
"I am impressed by her [Laura's] determination and her grasp of the complex subjects she has chosen to tackle. [Her work] never fails to illuminate the subject at hand and never falls over into propaganda."
- Pearl Cleage
- Playwright, Activist & Author- We Speak Your Names
( used for Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball)
“It [Broken Social Contracts] immediately resonated with me because as an Alumnus of Morehouse it documents and challenges many of the standing sanitized commentaries on rape in the Black community, particularly between Morehouse and Spelman. I love the metaphor that is developed in the trailer, …of a social contract that positions Spelman in silent service and allegiance to Morehouse and any rupturing of that contract somehow is heretical, anti-Black male or even really anti-Black.”
- R. L’Heureux Lewis, PhD
- Assistant Professor of Sociology and Black Studies at The City College of
New York - CUNY
http://www.uptownnotes.com/broken-social-contracts-and-silent-consent/
"Laura, you have wisdom beyond your years! After thinking about the issue of violence against women on college campuses...you can bet that it is happening on campuses across America and should be brought out into the open. [A] powerful documentary that should be required viewing by all...in order to raise the awareness of this shameful issue."
- Robert E. Donald
-Author, Successful Career Management: Strategies Beyond Technical
Preparation
President/Owner, The Donald Group
"Broken Social Contracts was an insightful and informative film, immense with details concerning an era that was very controversial in the history of the AUC [Atlanta University Center]. Laura Rahman's film made me feel as if I was in the center of everything that happened. I thoroughly enjoyed viewing it and look forward to more of Laura Rahman's films in the future."
-Jon Wall C'2012
Morehouse College
