By Ali Grutchfield
Dress codes are a paramount component of many environments, helping to establish professionalism and organization. Sin embargo, in schools, dress codes can be manipulated to disproportionately target female black students. Mentes vestidas is a documentary focused on dress code policies for black girls in the Washington DC public and charter school systems. It seeks to explore how enforcing dress codes leads to detrimental effects on girls’ school performance and self-esteem.
Mentes vestidas from Director/Producer Carletta Hurt is an exceptional example of how documentary filmmaking captures the plight of marginalized communities. From the very beginning, the film explains how dress codes are based on “white norms,” and exclude many aspects of black culture. It explains why dress codes should be changed to accommodate the cultures of all students.
Además, the film broadens this theme beyond just an education environment, as it challenges whether the very definition of professionalism is racist. It is a thought-provoking and empowering film that I believe leaves its audience wanting to do better. As a student and aspiring professional woman, I want to work in an inclusive environment. Sin embargo, after watching this film I have a new definition of professionalism, and I no longer want to subscribe to notions that exclude some of my dearest friends and co-workers. While some people may not support the arguments presented in Hurt’s documentary, Mentes vestidas highlights that we must find ways to support and include the perspectives of these young women and girls simply trying to get a good education from our school system.
I would wholeheartedly give this film a 5/5 because of the comprehensive and compassionate insight it gives into how black girls are adversely targeted in school. The broad range of interview subjects also leaves the audience wanting to hear more about their stories and different ways we can support them.
Ali Grutchfield is a junior pursuing Film and Television Production at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She spends her time producing both visual and written content for District, the school’s online news platform, being President of the SCAD’s Film Club, producing and editing student films, reading mystery novels, and drinking coffee with her cat, Jingle.
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