And being 1963, there was plenty of footage on many social issues, here just from Birmingham alone, showing children being attacked by dogs for their own protest, with the town fat cat using passive/aggressive manipulation to stop peaceful protests, then resorting to violent attacks to suppress the cry for freedom. It's the era of Kennedy and Johnson where the promises of one administration becomes the fulfilled one of the next, but not without more protest and legal fighting. MLK (Paul Winfield) keeps his vow of peace, but bigotry unfortunately doesn't want peace, and for white protestors for freedom, they are seen getting even worse treatment.
First Jack, then Robert, and it is established why the mighty Kennedys remain heroes in the black community. The actors aren't going for dead on impressions (and the casting directors didn't pick well known actors to play them), but along with the actor playing Johnson, they get the job done. The triumphant moment comes from the Birmingham fire department refusing the orders of the obnoxious "Bull" (Kenneth McMillan), leading to integration. Tragedies along the way (church bombings, assassinations), and yet Martin and Coretta (Cicely Tyson) persevere, perhaps with broken hearts, but not beaten souls. Lots of emotional moments in this part that leads to a conclusion that history has marked as a world tragedy.
First Jack, then Robert, and it is established why the mighty Kennedys remain heroes in the black community. The actors aren't going for dead on impressions (and the casting directors didn't pick well known actors to play them), but along with the actor playing Johnson, they get the job done. The triumphant moment comes from the Birmingham fire department refusing the orders of the obnoxious "Bull" (Kenneth McMillan), leading to integration. Tragedies along the way (church bombings, assassinations), and yet Martin and Coretta (Cicely Tyson) persevere, perhaps with broken hearts, but not beaten souls. Lots of emotional moments in this part that leads to a conclusion that history has marked as a world tragedy.