Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise

Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. presents this PBS-aired four-part series chronicling the African-American struggle for equality, beginning with the passage in 1965 of the Voting Rights Act, after which blacks found that merely having the vote wasn't enough. Following the devastating murders of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., America's cities burned, reflecting feelings of anger and hopelessness. For African Americans, integration wasn't enough without accompanying economic opportunity. The series discusses the rise of the Black Panthers, white flight from the cities, the school busing crisis of the 1970s, black feminists, and the black cultural awakening in music, TV, movies, fashion, and literature. As the song in the hit show The Jeffersons put it, blacks "finally got a piece of the pie," and a new generation of black political leaders would emerge. However, old problems such as poverty and new scourges like drug addiction took a toll. Gates deftly explores the O.J. Simpson murder trial for insights into black-white relations, and the coverage of Obama's election is inspiring, celebrating hope and possibility. Examining a wide range of issues (although, surprisingly, no mention is made of the gun violence epidemic), Black America Since MLK features powerful archival footage, sharp editing, and keen insights. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)