America Beyond the Color Line

Over 140 years have passed since Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and over 40 years since the Civil Rights era March on Washington: where are black Americans now and how are they faring in society? Harvard's Chair of Afro-American studies Henry Louis Gates Jr. travels across the country interviewing blacks in all walks of life, trying to determine the status of W.E.B. DuBois' “color line” in America in this new PBS-aired series. Divided into four 55-minute programs, America Beyond the Color Line opens with Gates visiting the major cities where significant events of the Civil Rights movement occurred to see how things have changed, as well as examine why blacks are returning to the South in droves. In the second hour, Gates stops in at housing projects on Chicago's South side to explore the reasons behind the fact that more than 20% of blacks still live below the poverty line, even though significant strides have been made by black Americans in nearly all areas of society. In the third episode, Gates heads for the Northeast, where he meets with notable black government officials and members of the corporate elite to chart their paths to success and the larger impact on black Americans nationwide. The final segment focuses on black actors and actresses, and asks if Hollywood--a harbinger of change in the popular culture--has finally become color blind. Talking with a wide variety of notable figures, including Colin Powell, Quincy Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Maya Angelou, Morgan Freeman, Jesse Jackson, Alicia Keys, and Russell Simmons, as well as professional and blue collar black Americans, Gates does an outstanding job of interpreting the contemporary black experience. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)