Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored (1996)

Tim Reid's wonderful film about life in the black neighborhood of Glen Allan, Mississippi, from the mid-'40s to the dawn of the civil rights movement, is thick with terrific, inspired actors and possessed of a mature, limpid visual style. The story is told from the point of view of a young boy raised by his stalwart grandfather and his kind aunt. But the collective tale of a community coming to terms with the risks it must take to fight racism and achieve political rights is equally important and compelling. Beautifully written (based on the autobiographical novel by Clifton Taubert), Reid's vision is rich in scenes of ritual and community that have rarely, if ever, been revealed on film. This is more than just a good movie; it's a watershed event in this nation's cultural history. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

A Flash of Color From the Past

This movie was very well done. From the casting of the primary actor (a handsome young boy who is groomed at his wise old grandfather's knee) to his family-loyal aunt (the already accomplished actress Phylicia Rashad), this movie invites you into a world that any modern black American would be desperate to escape. The movie starts in the harsh, back-breaking times of old (post-slavery, sweat and dust-coated, and mentally as well as physically oppressive). As one of a million people who watched Alex Haley's Roots as a child, I felt that same frustration, anger, and heartache as I watched a hate-filled Klansman grimace down at our young black storyteller who, in his world of pure childhood innocence, had mistook the Klan demonstration as a parade. A must-see as a 'pushed to the back of the closet' reminder of the past as well as a marker of where we are now and where we must go. It also reminded me of the reason why older persons (of all races) should stop and take the time to guide the children of today in life lessons that are not always displayed in books or classrooms. Again, a vivid must see, even if you have to pause it occasionally to compose yourself. April 13, 2008

GROWING UP IN THE DEEP SOUTH

ONCE UPON A TIME...WHEN WE WERE COLORED - (1995)

RATING - PG for thematic elements including mild violence, language and sensuality.

STARRING - Al Freeman, Jr., Phylicia Rashad, Leon

THEME - Racial discrimination, family, community, growing up in the South.

REVIEWS - Siskel & Ebert (4/4) 'TWO THUMBS UP'

STORY - The film begins in 1946 in a cotton field outside of Glen Allan, Mississippi. A young woman suddenly goes into labor and quickly delivers Cliff, the main character. The rest of the movie is about Cliff growing up in the Deep South from 1946-62. It's the story of Cliff's grandparents and aunt taking responsibility for raising Cliff when the family of his father refuse to have anything to do with him and his young, unmarried mother is unable to do so. It's about a community of African-Americans forced to live separately but (un)equally in a white dominated society where we see Grandad teaching little Cliff how to recognize 'W' and 'C' so he drinks from the correct fountain and uses the right bathroom. It's about a proud community that is willing to work hard and long for meager wages and still not accept charity. It's about a kind, white woman that keeps Cliff in supply of good reading when she realizes 'coloreds' aren't allowed in the library. It's about a community that worships together in a style and form that helps them overcome the daily oppression. And, finally, it's about hope that doing the right thing will eventually be rewarded. There is a feeling that this is probably very much what it was like to grow up in 1950's Mississippi. The only objectionable family scenes might be a brief fight in a bar setting where some sensual dancing between couples takes place and when Cliff and a friend sneak into the burlesque show tent at the circus. None of it is graphic or overemphasized. As one of the characters responded when asked why he returned to Glen Allan to visit, 'to remind me of why I left', so this movie should remind us of why we left discrimination 'officially' behind and why we must work to keep it behind. WWW.LUSREVIEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM
October 7, 2007

A Thoughtful look at when "we were colored"

ONCE UPON A TIME ..WHEN WE WERE COLORED is a grand and relatively sweeping look at black life in Southern rural Mississippi through the eyes of author Clifton Taulbert from the years 1946-1962.In nearly two hours, we are reintroduced to the one of if not the most degrading pieces of our history as Americans, the times when "colored" and "white" existed in a segregated community.Though there is essentially nothing new for we oldsters to learn that we unfortunately lived through, Tim Reid's treatment of Cliff Taulbert's memoirs is a great reminder of where we were as a country, how far we have come, and how far we still need to go! That which impresses the most in this film is the continued stressing of education.Without knowledge ignorance abounds.This film is suggested viewing for anyone who is a member of an oppressed minority whose civil rights are denied.It is also a strong reminder to remember to help all oppressed people who still struggle.Many of us "once upon a time" were ALL "colored" whether we were or not!

A film for great contrast would be THE NEON BIBLE which chronicles a white boy's life in the same time frame in the rural South.

Excellent companion films would be SELMA,LORD,SELMA,BOYCOTT,GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI,and MISSISSIPPI BURNING. July 25, 2007

The way they were

This is just an excellent look at growing up in rural Misissippi during the Jim Crow era. It follows a boy from the moment of birth until he has to leave the area to further his education. Mostly it centers on the extended family that supports the young man in his upbringing and the strong role models he has. Al Freeman Jr. and Phylicia Rashad are the two main leads with Richard Roundtree in the best performance of his career as Cleve the iceman and down home philosopher. Isaac hayes and Taj Mahal both make cameo appearances. I teach US History and I show this movie every year along with the Ghosts of Mississippi as counterpoints to each other. As I teach in California, most of my African-American students are totally suprised by the content of this movie. As a last note, Polly Bergen is also wonderful in her role. July 4, 2007

A People as Most of Them Really Are

I think this is a movie that everybody who has not had regular contact with African Americans should see. There isn't really much of a plot, but I wouldn't say that it lags either. Its main benefit for African Americans, especially senior citizens, would be to be reminded of how it was. For the younger ones, it would help 'flesh out' their culture's history. For those whose main 'knowledge' of African Americans is the news and television or movies, this will be a wonderful way to see that no matter what the color, people are, emotionally, basically the same. We all are just trying to make the best of whatever situation in which we find ourselves.

My father had dozens of apartments when integration became the law. When we let in the first black family in a building, virtually all the 'white trash' moved out. Very quickly, we realized that the black tenants were much cleaner and more desirable as tenants. I am also old enough to remember the 'whites' and 'colored' restrooms and drinking fountains. My cousins marched in the South's integration marches. The point is that if everyone saw African Americans as the great majority of them really are, and not as portrayed in the media, there would be much less tension between races. This is a good movie to see them as most of them really are like.

Only three (and a half) stars is due to a lack of a real plot - this shows more like a documentary biography than a drama. June 21, 2007

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