Negotiating America: Vegetable Soup and Television’s Attempt to End Racism is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of one of the most ambitious and culturally revolutionary children’s television shows of the 1970s. Born in an era of heightened racial tension and social change, Vegetable Soup was designed to teach children about diversity and empathy in a country still grappling with the realities of racial integration.

This groundbreaking show was not just a product of its time, but a forward-looking experiment in racial re-education that aimed to shape future generations’ views on race and identity. At its core, Vegetable Soup was an urgent response to America’s deep-rooted racial divisions, emerging at a critical juncture in American history—when racial prejudice and systemic inequities threatened to undermine progress made in the Civil Rights Movement.  The documentary posits that America is at a similar juncture today.  In this context, Vegetable Soup demands exploration and reflection.

Through excerpts from the original episodes, in-depth interviews with those who created and contributed to the show, and expert analysis, Negotiating America will chart the rise and fall of Vegetable Soup. At its core, Negotiating America is more than just a story about a children’s television show; it is a reflection on the power of media as a tool for social change and the ongoing struggle to address racism in America. This documentary paints a portrait of the moment where television became a battleground for the hearts and minds of young viewers, and where the fight against racism was waged not just in the streets, but on the screens in America’s living rooms.

Negotiating America will challenge audiences to reflect on the lessons of the past and consider the importance of independent media in today’s fight for racial justice and equality. In the MAGA era, the story of Vegetable Soup has never been more relevant.