Have You Heard From Johannesburg?

Connie Field's excellent documentary traces the rise of the 1980s anti-apartheid movement in the United States, focusing on the extraordinary work of TransAfrica, a small, somewhat poorly financed policy center blessed with an indefatigable spirit that brought racist apartheid practices to the forefront of American awareness. Despite efforts from the South African government's lobbyists and a strangely hostile Reagan administration (which had no problems maintaining an embargo against Cuba but refused to consider one for South Africa), the anti-apartheid movement spread from protests outside the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C., ultimately bringing colleges, unions, and local and state governments into the fray, until Congress—in a rare act of independence—overrode Reagan's veto on South African embargo legislation in 1986. Combining extensive interview clips and archival footage, Have You Heard From Johannesburg? is not only an excellent history lesson, but also a stirring reminder that a small group of dedicated people working together can make a profound impact. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (P. Hall)