Eyes on the Prize - Fighting Back (1957-1962) [Part 2 of 14] (1987)

Starring:

• Lindsay Almond Jr.
• Mel Baily
• Ross Barnett

IMDB.com
"Eyes on the Prize" is an exceptional series--mostly because instead of the typical hour or half hour documentary, it's VERY thorough and very detailed---covering not just an event but the civil rights movement from 1954 through 1965--and a LOT happened during that time. This isn't surprising, as PBS has made tons of interesting and well-crafted documentaries over the years.

This episode has to do with Brown vs. Board of Education as well as the repercussions of this desegregation decision. As a result, the crazy notion of 'separate but equal' was abolished--mostly because it was incredibly unequal. However, despite the Supreme Court's decision, several Southern states decided to try to subvert this and prevent Blacks from attending previously Whites-only schools. Also, perhaps surprising to many, is President Kennedy's poor reaction to this situation, as he was loathe to enforce the law. There is some overlap with this second episode and later ones, as this second one only has to do with the integration of schools. Other topics, such as the sit-ins and Dr. King's work, would be dealt with in other shows--though they were occurring concurrently. As with all the episodes, the show did an exceptional job--using interviews, file footage and narration to tell the story. Well made and fascinating.

Transcript of "Fighting Back": PBS.org

Eyes on the Prize - Awakenings (1954-1956) [Part 1 of 14] (1987)

Starring:

• Ralph Abernathy
• Unita Blackwell
• Julian Bond

IMDB.com
"Eyes on the Prize" is an exceptional series--mostly because instead of the typical hour or half hour documentary, it's VERY thorough and very detailed---covering not just an event but the civil rights movement from 1954 through 1965--and a LOT happened during that time. This isn't surprising, as PBS has made tons of interesting and well-crafted documentaries over the years.

This first episode gives a very brief overview of the pervasiveness of lynchings and other mistreatment of Blacks in America. Then, most of the episode centers on two important events in the mid-1950s--the Emmett Till murder trial and the incident when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus--thus leading to the Montgomery bus boycott and the beginning of Martin Luther King's career as a civil rights leader. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that life for Blacks in America prior to the 50s is really not mentioned very much--and it seemed like they went through this a bit too quickly. Still, it was an otherwise excellent show--and well worth seeing.

Transcript of the documentary: PSB.org

Miracle in Harlem (1948)

Starring:

• Sheila Guyse
• Stepin Fetchit
• Hilda Offley
• Kenneth Freeman 

Storyline
Julie Weston and her aunt, Hattie, own and operate a candy-store in Harlem. A wealthy business man, Albert Marshall, and his wayward son, Jim Marshall, swindle the women out of the store. Later, Albert Marshall is found murdered, and there are several suspects, including Marshall's secretary and a blackmailer.

Available at archive.org