Actor Felton Perry | Folks (1987)

This episode of the series “Folks” from March 29, 1987, focuses on Louisiana’s 45% high school dropout rate, the highest in the country. Rob Hinton first profiles Northdale Magnet Academy, an alternative high school for high school dropouts and potential dropouts, which offers counseling services and vocational education. He interviews: Harold Suire of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce; Leroy Helire, principal; Arthur Thomas, junior; Lettimarie Deemer, sophomore; Diana Gonzalez, sophomore; Maxie Bowlin, senior; David Wingard, sophomore; and Sherrie Spivey, instructor. Sonya Masingale then conducts an in-studio interview with Rebecca Hutichinson, the project director for Northdale, and Fred Guillot, a math instructor at Northdale. They discuss: the reasons why students drop out of school; the benefits of the smaller class sizes at Northdale; students getting lost in a traditional environment; the signs of a potential dropout; the chances that Northdale students will pursue higher education; and the counseling services offered at Northdale.

This segment from the June 28, 1987, episode of the series “Folks” features Sonya Masingale’s interview with actor Felton Perry of “L.A. Law” during his visit to Baton Rouge to teach an acting workshop at Southern University. He discusses: his start as an actor; success following risk-taking; his work with aspiring actors; the opportunities for black actors; and the peaks and valleys of an acting career.

This segment from the June 28, 1987, episode of the series “Folks” features an additional performance from jazz pianist Joe Sample’s concert with the Southern University Jazz Band in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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