I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

Writer James Baldwin tells the story of race in modern America with his unfinished novel, Remember This House.

Director:

Raoul Peck

Writers:

James Baldwin (writings), Raoul Peck (scenario)

Stars:

Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 31 wins & 49 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Narration (voice)
James Baldwin	...	Self (archive footage)
Martin Luther King	...	Self (archive footage)
Malcolm X	...	Self (archive footage)
Medgar Evers	...	Self (archive footage)
Robert F. Kennedy	...	Self (archive footage)
Harry Belafonte	...	Self (archive footage)
Paul Weiss	...	Self (archive footage)
Dick Cavett	...	Self (archive footage)
H. Rap Brown	...	Self - Black Panther Party (archive footage)
Bob Dylan	...	Self (archive footage)
Leander Perez	...	Self - White Citizens Council (archive footage)
Sidney Poitier	...	Various Roles (archive footage)
Ray Charles	...	Self (archive footage)
Doris Day	...	Various Roles (archive footage)

Storyline

In 1979, James Baldwin wrote a letter to his literary agent describing his next project, "Remember This House." The book was to be a revolutionary, personal account of the lives and assassinations of three of his close friends: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. At the time of Baldwin's death in 1987, he left behind only 30 completed pages of this manuscript. Filmmaker Raoul Peck envisions the book James Baldwin never finished.

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Plot Keywords:

malcolm x | police brutality | african american | racism | archive footage | 

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Taglines:

The most important civil rights documentary of our time.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing violent images, thematic material, language and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Facebook Instagram

Country:

Switzerland France Belgium USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

17 February 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Remember This House

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$686,378, 5 February 2017

Gross USA:

$7,123,919

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,345,298

Company Credits

Production Co:

ARTE, Independent Lens, RTBF (Télévision belge)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The word "negro" is used 78 times in the film.

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Quotes

James Baldwin: For a very long time, America prospered. This prosperity cost millions of people their lives. Now, not even the people who are the most spectacular recipients of the benefits of this prosperity are able to endure these benefits. They can neither understand them nor do without them. Above all, they cannot imagine the price paid by their victims, or subjects, for this way of life, and so they cannot afford to know why the victims are revolting. This is the formula for a nation or a kingdom ...
[...]

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Connections

Features In the Heat of the Night (1967)

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Soundtracks

Route 66
Performed by Nat 'King' Cole (1946)
Capitol Studio, Universal Music
Written by Bobby Troup
Published by Troup London Music
Under license from Music Asset Management, Inc.
(c) Bobby Troup, Edwin H. Morris & Co Inc.
Administrated by Warner/Chappell Music Belgium N.V.

User Reviews

A Vital, Poetic and Groundbreaking Film

There are many films which don't live up to their promise. This isn't one of them. Over the past few years, there has been a renewed interest in the breadth and scope of James Badlwin's incredible work. A complicated public figure from the 50s through the 80s, Baldwin's writings especially unraveled the narrative of a sameness within the Civil Rights era. He was a black gay man who felt passionately about the Civil Rights movement and who served as a major intellectual voice. In this film, Baldwin's work--which you get the sense the world wasn't yet ready for back when he was alive- - is forthright, intricate, rich with humanity and compelling in its case for inclusiveness, equality and for America to not become a hypocrite in its love for liberty. It is undeniable that the public conversation on race in America has once again resurfaced as a crisis. In every dimension of public life, we see and hear complaints of injustice, and we also witness the pushback. The purpose of this film-- as evidenced by its tapestry of older and contemporary clips alongside each other-- is to give new eyes and ears to the Baldwin asked us to see the world. It is a beautiful, touching and politically critical piece of work, and one that is long overdue for such a brilliant mind.

I am well aware of how divisive conversations about race have become in the last 2 years. I suspect that much of the negative views voiced about this film are from people who are not willing to even watch it and who have decided that to shut their minds out from its message, or to even be challenged by a work of art. It's a disgrace that large swaths of people are trying to bring down the user reviews of this film by giving it only one star. It speaks of their gross immaturity and barbarism. If anything, everyone should watch this film. Not just judge it. But watch it.