I'll Make Me a World

A survey of the contributions of African-Americans to the arts over the past century, I'll Make Me a World, from the late Henry Hampton (whose brilliant Eyes on the Prize series is--or should be--a core holding of any self-respecting video collection), traces notable achievements in writing, painting, sculpture, acting, and dancing, from Bert Williams' blackface vaudeville act to Saul Williams' slam poetry. Narrated by Vanessa Williams, the notable list of interviewees in the series includes Alice Walker, August Wilson, Nat Hentoff, Bill T. Jones, Sonia Sanchez, Wynton Marsalis, Julie Dash, Amiri Baraka, Ossie Davis, Cornel West, Quincy Jones and Melvin Williams. While drawbacks common to survey-type explorations of multifaceted topics are plentiful here (a tendency to hop around; odd omissions--Ralph Ellison, for instance, barely rates a mention, while a contemporary ballerina is featured in numerous interview clips; the occasional "grocery list" approach to highlighting key figures), the series rises--overall--above these limitations with its consistent exploration of, in particular, one poignant, heartbreaking theme: the struggle black artists continually faced in trying to be true to their own visions while being acutely conscious of the fact that their work would be seen as a reflection of, and ultimately have an effect on, African-Americans in general. That black artists did indeed create enduring works of universal art--often under oppressive conditions--is a testament to the determination, spirit and genius of the many landmark figures, including Charlie Parker, Zora Neale Hurston, Paul Robeson, James Baldwin, Spike Lee, and Alice Walker, among others, profiled here. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)