Black History: A Retrospective

Disappointing
I was hoping for a more solid collection of documentaries here. Instead, most of the videos on the first disc were biased 1950s news reels with that typical propagandistic happy male voice so prevalent back then. Slaves were depicted as happy servants eager to make their white masters happy. And the slave owners were all depicted as soft-spoken, gentle men. We all know that there were many incidents in our past of bloody slave uprisings and violent repressions of our blacks.

Some of the videos were made by the War Department, whose primary mission in the 1950s was to make everything more optimistic so that people didn't lose the urge to fight against the Communists. I therefore doubt the truth and accuracy in some of these videos.

The second and third discs get a little better. One sees and hears the real figures in interviews and newsreels. But even then interviews were scripted and blacks were told to smile and talk only of the positive things in their...

Black History - A Retrospective
I purchased this documentary on the premise that I will learn something about black history and culture. This doc. certainly surpassed my expectations and the price is an absolute bargain. This package offers the viewer a chance to identify with the great Afro-Americans of the past who strongly rebutted the status quo of black inferiority and denigration. Their committment to change the political landscape of their day established the order that we now take for granted.

These men were the messengers or prophets who came to change things for us. I believe that every household should have this documentary.

If you are someone who doesn't like reading, then purchase this documentary, I assure you, that you will not be disappointed. There is lots to learn without reading dozens of books. I am from the Caribbean and Black American History is also our history!

Black History DISREPECT
My cousin purchased this dvd from Walmart for her granddaughter during Black History Month. They sat down together with other family members to view the dvd. Everyone who was watching was horrified at the content to the extent that they could no longer watch it. I pride myself on being able to be objective in matters of this type and borrowed it to view for myself before accepting their viewpoint. It was disgusting. I couldn't finish it either. This was obviously put together by someone who believes that black people appreciated slavery and was dancing the jig in gratitude. It was unbelievable,that someone could misrepresent history in this matter and put on the market as history. They should be ashame. I looked up ashame and it is a word, from old English, not used and pertinent today, the same as this dvd.

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