Free Angela and All Political Prisoners

Thanks to Jada Pinkett Smith, Sidra Smith and their staff for this information and fact-filled story. Free Angela & All Political Prisoners fills in all the blanks you might have had about Angela's journey. For those who know nothing about who Angela Davis is and what she's been through, let the awakening begin! Grab your social calendars and add Free Angela now...check for dates and times; as it is only showing in selected cities nationwide as of April 5th. I saw a premiere in Miami at the Women's International Film Festival 2013, and found myself chanting "Free Angela" right along with the movie! You've gotta see this...just do it!(I gave it a 9 out of 10 because the only thing missing is more cities showing it!)

Seems strange now, but once there was a revolutionary movement in USA. To the left, that is. Angela Davis was a black communist philosophy teacher at UCLA and very medial. Therefore or in spite of that she was accused of conspiracy. Four people were killed in connection to a trial. And the weapons were registered on her.

Davis tells herself what happened. She for a while risked capital punishment. It was maybe the beginning of the political backlash in USA, which still is going on.

Lots of clips in this documentary, showing a time which seems so extremely distanced from our present.

This is now one of my favorite documentaries of all times. I am a big history and documentary buff. It is an epic story, much more so than I ever knew. There are so many facets of the story revealed in this doc that I was not aware of before. The way it combines archival film, rare photography, interviews, historical documents, and graphic art is very compelling. It is really masterful in terms of storytelling. This production brings the complexity of this historical moment to life. It conveys a historical moment that is very important to understand in the history of the struggle against racism in America. And yet it is such an ultimately hopeful and inspiring film! Excellent production. I wish everyone could and would see this documentary!

Shola Lynch is constant as the northern star and on point in her telling of the Story of Angela Davis. While primarily perceived as a symbol of "Black Power", her rally-cry of Power to the People revealed her true allegiance to the communist party. The film is a wonderful journey through the "way-back machine" for a bird's eye view of the climate of that time. The winds of change were fresh and palpable. Compared to today, what we see now seems cliché and stale due to cooptation, redirection, subversion and self dealing. I had greater confidence in the so called justice system at the time of Angela's trial, before the proverbial new Jim Crow Esq. I would like to see this film widely distributed! Free Angela Davis and all Political Prisoners gets my STAMP! of approval.

Years ago when I worked for the phone company I had a repair ticket for Angela Davis. I remember seeing the name and thinking, "That sounds familiar." I remember the light-skinned Black woman with natural hair and a big dog (a lab or something, I only remember because I was afraid of dogs). I only had a faint idea who she was. I was young and very uninformed back then.

Of course, now I know why I even had a faint idea who she was and "Free Angela" goes into that why. This documentary hones in on Angela Davis's pursuit, arrest, and trial regarding the Jonathan Jackson failed breakout attempt of his brother George Jackson. That melee left a judge and two hostage takers dead with a couple of others wounded. Because a gun or two were purchased by Angela Davis AND she was an open communist, she was wrangled into that quagmire. She even had the dubious distinction of being on the FBI's ten most wanted list. She may have even been the first woman ever on it.

"Free Angela" is an informative walk through a tumultuous time in U. S. history. A lot was happening in the late 60's and with so much going on some things get missed or overlooked. "Free Angela" was an ICYMI (in case you missed it).