LaLee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton (TV) (2001)

For as long as she can remember, LaLee Wallace's family has picked cotton. It's the main reason why they continue to live in poverty, but as this great-grandmother and her family know, the legacy of cotton is not an easy one to shake. Nominated for a 2001 Best Documentary Feature Oscar®, this poignant, compelling film follows three generations of African Americans from the Mississippi Delta as they live with extreme poverty and illiteracy. Paralleling LaLee's struggle is Reggie Barnes, the superintendent of the West Tallahatchie schools, who is trying to raise school standards, attract qualified teachers and acquire supplies.