Eyes on the Prize 

A documentary about the American Civil Rights Movement from 1952 to 1965.

Creator:

Henry Hampton

Stars:

Julian Bond, Coretta Scott King, John Lewis

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Julian Bond	...	Narrator 14 episodes, 1987-1990
Coretta Scott King	...	Self 6 episodes, 1987-1990
John Lewis	...	Self 4 episodes, 1987-1990
C.T. Vivian	...	Self 5 episodes, 1987-1990
Andrew Young	...	Self 6 episodes, 1987-1990
Burke Marshall	...	Self 4 episodes, 1987
Jesse Jackson	...	Self 6 episodes, 1990
Ralph Abernathy	...	Self 6 episodes, 1987-1990
Unita Blackwell	...	Self 3 episodes, 1987-1990
Stokely Carmichael	...	Self 5 episodes, 1987-1990
Harry Belafonte	...	Self 4 episodes, 1987-1990
Nancy Jefferson	...	Self 3 episodes, 1990
Melvin Bailey	...	Self 2 episodes, 1987
James Bevel	...	Self 2 episodes, 1987
Myrlie Evers	...	Self 2 episodes, 1987
James Forman	...	Self 5 episodes, 1987-1990

Storyline

This is a documentary series about the glory years of the American Civil Rights Movement, starting in 1952 with the murder of Emmit Till and the subsequent trial and ending with the civil rights march to Selma in 1965. Along the way, the series touches on the major figures of the movement such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks and major incidents such as the Little Rock school riots and Montgomery, Alabama Transit Boycott.

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Plot Keywords:

american history | black history | civil rights | civil rights movement | boycott | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The segment about the murder of Medger Evers states that Evers' killer has never been brought to justice. In 1989, a few years after this documentary was made, attorney Bobby DeLaughter reopened the murder case and brought Evers' killer Byron de la Beckwith (who had been tried twice resulting in a hung jury) to trial for the murder. Beckwith was convicted and sentence to life in prison. He died in prison of heart failure in 2001. (These events were dramatized in Ghosts of Mississippi (1996).)

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Malcolm X/Bram Stoker's Dracula/Traces of Red/Love Potion #9 (1992)

User Reviews

Hope captured on film

In a world where black children search for pride on street corners, and find their idols in drugged out athletes, absent fathers, idiots and zombies, in these television hours lie little glimpses of hope, shining examples of the people who fought and died for love of the future. I make it a point to watch this program at least once a year and show it to anyone who seems to have even a passing interest in tomorrow. Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Fannie Lou Hamer, The black Panther Party, busing in Boston, political mobilization in Chicago, the fight for freedom has never been given such a detailed depiction. This film is an encyclopedia of black pride and should not only be seen, but should be seen as often as is necessary to restore freedom and democracy to this country.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eyes on the Prize II

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blackside

Technical Specs

Runtime:

360 min

Color:

Black and White Color