Eyes on the Prize

The late Henry Hampton, director of "Eyes on the Prize," was one of the finest human beings I've ever known. It's bittersweet to read of the licensing challenges faced by Henry's Boston company, Blackside, Inc. That might prove, however, that one cannot "keep a good man and his film down." Eighteen years ago Henry had me doing paperwork for him including transcribing the equivalent of dailies. "All Hours Typing," my Cambridge company, had other employees; but for Henry, I usurped the privilege to type, eyes on monitor, earphones on, at points where spirituals swelled up, spirits soared on screen--breath taking and moving then and now. Then to find later that Henry was one of those "still waters that ran deep"-- having been the key public information player for the broad minded Unitarian Universalist church. This documentary is not only great film making but a tribute to his memory and the Blackside team listed on IMDb plus Judy Richardson, Frank Galvin, and Josh Gordon.

I've seen the original series several times and was taken along for an emotional and intellectual journey on "modern-day" beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement. There is no way I could conceive anyone but a strident racist could not be moved by the sheer simplicity of using the churches as the center to motivate and rally black people. Dr. King is shown as a young minister developing his oratory and the narration is intense. I would have to say that my favorite segment is the at first calm eulogy offered during the funeral following the death of a marcher that becomes angered at the seeming wantoness of murder. It was so impassioned it made me guilty for not being more involved in the Movement as a teen. Buy and watch the series. It will be among the best things you will ever do!

I have seen parts of the series in no fewer than 3 academic classes of varrying topics during my time at Pepperdine University. This outstanding series is professional to the core, attracting the biggest names of the day to give interviews (from both Civil Rights fighters to pro-segregationists) and give an honest look at the moment in the 1950's and 1960's. Powerfully moving, it brings me to tears each time I watch certain scenes. As comprehensive as any documentary I've seen, Eyes on the Prize gives the low down on the movement, its highs and lows, and provides a very real perspective on why the events played out as they did. A winner in every sense, I give the PBS produced Eyes on the Prize a 10/10 without a second thought.

Kudos for the series.

This is the most comprehensive, detailed, and informative series of any covering the Civil Rights struggles from the early stages through the 1980's. This is a must see for any person looking to get information and insight on what the struggle for equality was like for black people in America. They compile actual footage from historical events, along with interviews with some of the people who were actually there. This series will make you go through a range of emotions as you actually feel of part of the history that you are viewing. Julian Bond, (who participated in many of these events) does a masterful job a narrating the entire series. This is one series that you must have in your collection.

"Eyes on the Prize" is an amazingly good and very thorough series about the civil rights movement in America from 1954-1965. While lots of shows have been made about this over the years, this one is the one to watch because of its length and breadth. Now I am not saying it's perfect--it could use an updating and doesn't really talk about the treatment of Black Americans before the mid-1950s and probably would have been better had it covered the late 60s...but it's still terrific. The shows are filled with lots of archival footage, interviews and nice narration. The shows are also very compelling--and well worth your time--and very educational. Great for kids and those not old enough to remember this turbulent time--a time we should all try to remember. See this one.