Description:
Marcus Jones interviews Eugene Rivers of the African Peoples Pentecostal Church about his community work in the greater Roxbury neighborhood. Jones notes that Rivers is an outspoken critic of the religious establishment. He adds that Rivers spends a lot of time counseling troubled youth and acting as a legal advocate for them. Rivers talks about his work with neighborhood youth. Rivers says that many troubled teenagers come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Rivers talks about the need for churches to do more to reach out to young people. Rivers says that churches must provide alternatives for young people. Rivers talks about violence in the community and about his commitment to young people in the neighborhood. Jones notes that violence is a problem in the neighborhood. He adds that Rivers is committed to fighting the problem. Jones' report is accompanied by footage of Rivers talking to young people on the street and footage of Rivers' church van, damaged from gunfire.
1:00:06: Visual: Footage of Eugene Rivers (Pastor, African Peoples Pentecostal Church) talking to two young African American men in front of a courthouse. Marcus Jones reports that Rivers is not a social worker; that Rivers spends a lot of time counseling troubled youth. Jones reports that Rivers is the pastor of the African Peoples Pentecostal Church; that Rivers' church holds its meetings at the Freedom House in Roxbury. V: Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones. Jones asks how much of Rivers' time is taken up by troubled youth. Rivers says that his wife thinks that he spends too much time. Jones asks Rivers how often he is in the courthouse. Rivers says that he is in the courthouse three or four days per week. Rivers says that a large number of teenagers end up getting into trouble for legitimate reasons; that many these teenagers get into trouble stemming from their socio-economic backgrounds. Rivers says that he tries to make himself available to help these people. Shot of Rivers walking on a sidewalk with a young African American man. Jones reports that Rivers is an outspoken critic of the religious establishment. Jones reports that Rivers believes that religious leaders have failed the young people of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. Jones notes that Rivers believes that religious organizations need to provide alternatives to drugs, gangs, and violence. V: Shot of a group of African American teenage boys standing in front of a house. Another group of African American teenage boys rides by on bicycles. Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones. Rivers says that churches are the premier institutions in the African American community. Rivers says that churches, including his own, are not doing enough to reach out to young people. Rivers says that the absence of the churches on the street is more conspicuous than the presence of drugs. Shot of Rivers walking on the street with another African American man. Rivers stops an African American teenage boy. Rivers starts talking to the boy. Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones. Rivers says that many young men are involved in illegal activities because no other form of activity was available to them. Rivers says that many young drug dealers never had adult role models; that many young drug dealers never had access to any kind of significant alternative. Shot of Rivers walking down the courthouse steps with another man. Jones reports that Rivers speaks from experience when he talks about role models. Jones reports that Rivers was a gang member and drug dealer in Philadelphia before he enrolled at Harvard University. Jones notes that Rivers is trying to make a difference on the streets of a neighborhood where gang violence is commonplace. V: Shot of bullet holes in the windshield of Rivers's van. Footage of Rivers counting the bullet holes on his van. Rivers points out the damage done to his van. Close-up shot of a bullet hole on the side of the van. Jones reports that gang members fired dozens of bullets into the home of Rivers's next-door nieghbor last month. Jones reports that many of the bullets hit Rivers's church van; that two bullets pierced the wall of his home. V: Shot of Rivers and Jones outside of Rivers's home. Shot of a bullet hole in the window of a home. Shots of the broken windows of the church van; of broken glass inside of the van. Shot of a bullet hole in the wall of Rivers's home. Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones outside of his home. Jones comments that Rivers's neighbors have moved out of their home. Rivers says that he feels a commitment toward the community; that he wants to make something happen here. Shot of Rivers and Jones framed by the broken window of the van. Jones reports that Rivers, his family and his congregation want to make the African American community aware of its responsibility to change things. Jones reports that Rivers wants the community to work at making improvements instead of blaming outsiders. V: Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones. Rivers says that kids will participate in legitimate acitivities if those activities are provided. Jones asks who will provide the activities. Rivers says that African American churches need to come up with alternatives for youth; that the churches should close shop if they fail to provide alternatives. Rivers says that African American churches should become employers, educators, advocates; that the churches should be in the courts and in the jails. Rivers says that the churches have failed to understand the meaning of the gospel if they fail to take up this challenge.
Date Created:
08/15/1990
