African American Featured Lists

A three-year documentary odyssey through the bloody social upheaval of 1960s Africa, this film from the directors of Mondo Cane is just as unflinching as its predecessor in its visual catalogue of atrocities. Topics include the violent civil war in the Congo, the final days of colonial rule in Kenya, revolutions in Zanzibar and Angola, racial strife in Dar es Salaam, the Bahuti slaughter of the Rwandan Watusi, and the mass extermination of thousands of animals in game enclaves. The considerable political content was greatly reduced when exploitation maven Jerry Gross released the film in America in 1970 as Africa, Blood and Guts, a version running 37 minutes shorter than the original and emphasizing gore over historical perspective. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Motown Records created one of the most distinctive sounds in the history of rock and roll. Based in Detroit, Michigan, the label created, along with the British invasion, the soundtrack of the cultural upheaval that was the 1960s. This documentary captures a 1987 reunion concert featuring some of Motown's biggest stars including Martha Reeves, Mary Wells, David Ruffin, and Eddie Kendricks. They perform over two-dozen songs including "My Guy," "Nowhere to Run," "Heat Wave," "Just My Imagination," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and "The Way You Do the Things You Do." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Per its title, the 60 minute documentary Oprah: Unauthorized offers an uncensored and decidedly unvarnished look at Oprah Winfrey. As one of the most omnipotent and eminently successful women in the world of entertainment, this television pundit, publisher, businesswoman, writer and actress (an Academy Award nominee for her work in The Color Purple) burst onto the scene in 1984 and permanently altered the landscape of filmed entertainment with her presence. Oprah: Unauthorized explores Winfrey's accomplishments, with a strong dual emphasis on her rise to fame and an exploration of the many scandals that cropped up over the years and threatened to tarnish her image. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Bill Cosby narrates this story of Captain Bill Pinkney, the first African-American to sail around the world alone, completing his trip in 22 months. During his journey at sea he kept in touch (via state-of-the-art technology) with students in Boston and Chicago, teaching them about math and geography and teaching them to reach for their dreams. Upon his return from sea, Bill Pinkney was recognized by President George Bush (the Elder). ~ Linda J. Shriver, All Movie Guide