If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band 1972

The story of ghetto boy and girl trying to raise money for the girl to visit her father in prison.

Directed by Fred Coe

Life in a black ghetto isn't easy for 14-year-old Billie Jean Sims, who has a father in jail, a blind grandmother, and a brother with a drug habit. Growing up among drug pushers, prostitutes, and pimps, Billie Jean still has some things going for her: fierce pride, a loyal friend named Fish, and, at last, enough savings to visit her father 1200 miles away in prison.