Africans in America: America's Journey Through Slavery (2 Disc Set)

Starring:Angela Bassett, Jeremy Rabb, Andre Braugher, Eric Foner, Avery Brooks, Kemp Harris, Rosalyn Coleman, Colin Powell
Director: Susan Bellows, Llewellyn Smith, Noland Walker, Jacquie Jones, Orlando Bagwell
Studio: Wgbh Boston
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

"Everything you thought you knew about slavery is about to be challenged." So says WGBH about its six-hour series Africans in America, and they are absolutely right. Interviews with historians and luminaries such as General Colin Powell, dramatic re-creations of important events, and beautiful photography create a vivid and compelling story of over 400 years of tragedy. Ten million Africans died on the journey to America alone; they and the countless numbers whose lives were wasted in servitude find a voice in Angela Bassett's outstanding narration. At once scholarly and moving, Africans in America should be required viewing for anyone interested in the American condition. --Rob Lightner

Description

Africans in America is now available on DVD! Everything you thought you knew about slavery is about to be challenged. Africans in America: America's Journey Through Slavery is the groundbreaking series that makes history by sharing it from a new perspective. Nearly ten years in the making, this landmark six-hour set exposes the truth through surprising revelations, dramatic recreations, rare archival photography and riveting first-person accounts.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Companion to the Book.......2007-05-13

Reading the book of the same name prompted me to purchase this DVD and I was not disappointed. It provided the same atmosphere, despair, anger, amazement, etc however I highly suggest you read the book first. As with all movies made from a book, you lose a little something because of the time constraints but this is a good way for the kids/teenagers to wet their American/Black history appetite. It is also a good way for the family to view it together and to discuss it, after, each chapter and get immediate feedback. One way or the other, you can't watch this movie and not be moved. The movie is a must in your DVD collection.

Massive Amount of Information.......2007-03-24

I am absolutely NOT a history buff, so when I didn't have to take a bunch of history classes in high school, I was okay with that. But when I got to Northern Michigan University and realized how some locations can completely snub African American literature by not teaching it, it annoyed me. It also made me want to learn more. Since then, I have found interesting ways to learn more about my own history. An Amazon friend gave this DVD such a high rating (and he doesn't like much of anything) so I had to check it out. I picked it up at the library figuring it was going to be pretty dry but educational. Wrong! Not only was it educational, but it was the most interesting way to ever learn about African American history for someone like me. Bassett has a wonderful storytelling voice, there were enough anecdotes to make it feel heartwrenching, the information was endless, and it was so well documented. I am completely impressed and bought a copy for myself. It's such a satisfying feeling to be able to back up emotions with actual facts and this DVD gave a lot of hidden information that we'll never find in "American" history books. Great job!

a documentary that everyone needs to see........2007-03-08

I love history to death also. Looking back and studying history can help you find out who you are and where the world is going due to history often repeats itself. This six hour dvd is packed with information about slavery and its history. The documentary goes so deep into detail that it will have unknown information for the most scholarly historian. Features like this are important for children of afrikan descent due to the fact it seems that the school system isn't teaching this aspect of history and making sure our youth understands the importance of the events that happened. This documentary is highly recommended for your collection.

wow.......2005-12-05

This DVD is great. It talks and tells alot of stuff I didnt know nor had any idea. Like exactly how Haiti became... Haiti, Our presidents... how the north and south were different and how they were the same at one point... USA fighting for independence and at the same time, Africans in America fighting for independence as well... and it talks about Native Americans as well. This is very very helpful for those who are actually interested in American history.

The book was better........2004-12-26

I read the book based on this documentary and can honestly tell you there is no contest here, the book is far better. I could not help but notice as I watched this film how under developed it was, I mean if I had not read the book I would have been confused about the persons being mentioned in this film. The book made me feel for the slaves because of the details and extensiveness of the person's personality being mentioned. when the same character was mentioned in the film it did nothing or added anything to the film itself. I understand that it is impossible to put the whole content of a book into a documentary but a little more character development would have helped this piece a lot more.
The historians really saved this documentary for me, it was their comments and insights that kept me interested and having Collen Powell comment was pretty cool too.

Another gripe I have about this film are the voices being used incorrectly, for instance I was listening to a man who sounded like a big black southern man quoting Thomas Jefferson as a portrait of Jefferson was displayed on the TV screen. Not very convincing.

Do not get me wrong this film was good, but it can not be compared to the caliber of a Ken Burns type documentary.

Bottom line, it was good but could have been a lot better.
*** out of *****

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