USA,
1995, 116 min
Shown in 1996
CREDITS
- dir
-
Louis Massiah
- prod
-
Louis Massiah
- scr
-
Toni Cade Bambara, Amiri Baraka, Wesley Brown
- cam
-
Michael Chin, Arthur Jafa, Larry Banks
- editor
-
Monica Henriquez
- source
-
Scribe Video Center
- gga award
-
Certificate of Merit—Biography
-
COMMENTS
Louis Massiah in person.
OTHER
One of the most influential 20th-century political thinkers, W.E.B. DuBois, is profiled by noted documentarian Louis Massiah. DuBois laid the groundwork for urban sociology, cofounded the NAACP and was considered the father of Pan-Africanism. Dr. DuBois used his scientific brilliance to struggle for the souls of African people throughout the diaspora. Narrated by four contemporary essayists—Wesley Brown, Thulani Davis, Toni Cade Bambara and Amiri Baraka—the film combines interviews with priceless archival images that illuminate not only the life of DuBois but the evolution of Black consciousness from the post–Civil War Reconstruction through African decolonization. DuBois was a fiery man unafraid to speak for oppressed people everywhere, a Black man who got even those who would prefer to see him tap dance to listen to him speak. From a tenacious young academic fighter to a demoralized old man and accused Russian spy, he would say in later life: “I speak with no authority, no assumption of age, of rank. I hold no position, I have no wealth. One thing I have is my soul. In my own country for nearly a century I’ve been nothing but a nigger.” By steadily mounting historical evidence of the racial and social injustices suffered by DuBois and his people, the film gives a very good indication as to just why, at the age of 93, he would join the Communist Party and leave the U.S. in search of a better home.
—Nicole Atkinson
FACTOID #7
Governor Pat Brown welcomed the crowd at Opening Night of the Festival October 30, 1963. Other attendees included George Peppard, Willie Mays and the governor’s wife Bernice; it also happened to be the couple’s 33rd wedding anniversary.
