Shoot The Messenger

Drama directed by Ngozi Onwurah. Upon learning that black pupils at inner city schools are being failed by the education system, IT consultant Joe (David Oyelowo) decides to become a teacher. After starting work at a school in South London, he is falsely accused of assaulting one of his black pupils. He is suspended from work and then the community turns against him, branding him a racist, after which he loses his job and slips into depression. When his marriage breaks up, he finds himself homeless. Because of this, he starts acting in a racist manner towards other black people. When a local gospel church takes him in, he finds a new job and meets Heather (Nikki Amuka-Bird) who helps him to deal with his complex feelings about race.