"Eyes on the Prize" (1987) TV series

Director:

Henry Hampton

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Documentary | History

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Civil Rights Movement | Boycott | Freedom Rider | Racial Tension | Heroism

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Julian Bond

...

Narrator (14 episodes, 1987-1990)

Also Known As:

Eyes on the Prize II (USA) (second season title)

Runtime:

360 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Company:

Blackside

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)_.)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Critic: Eyes on the Prize (#1.6)" (1994)

One Of The Best Documentaries Ever Made

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.