Unchained Memories (2002)

A truly powerful work.

I bought this for use in my middle school classroom, and am so glad I did. It was so much more powerful than I ever expected. I did not think I could be so affected by what I considered "just more information about slavery". I definitely picked my jaw up off the floor a few times. Having the perspective of actual former slaves, voiced by someone, with actual photos truly made this so touching and educational for myself and my classes, and brought the reality to slavery that nothing I've experienced before was able to. Just amazing.
(A side note for any teachers looking to use it: I showed this in 2 class periods, using the the majority of the period to watch and a few minutes to discuss. I will do it differently from now on. 10-15 minutes each day, it keeps the kids more interested and increases their anticipation to see and learn more.)
July 14, 2008

Unchained Memories

This is an amazing video that has famous African-American actors reading the narratives of former slaves as they retold their experience during the American slave movement. The pace is perfect and narratives are intertwined with photos and re-enactments that bring the slave experience to life. Whoopi Goldberg is amazing as the narrator. This video is not only informative, but chilling in its retelling of one of our most traumatic times in American history. September 4, 2007

Unchained Memories

I love this DVD it is an excellent representation of the plight of African Americans from slavery until present. May 16, 2007

Slavery Commentaries

Spoken history from those who lived it. Very good book. Interesting. Educational. The facts from the slaves themselves. Awesome reading. February 8, 2007

voices from the past

The end of the Civil War in 1865 freed about 4 million slaves in America, a significant number of whom lived into the 1940s. During the Depression, the Federal Writers Project hired people to interview and record first person narratives from these former slaves, the last first-hand resource that could document their experiences. Today the Library of Congress houses 2,000 such interviews, in their original "dialect" and broken English, in the simply-titled Slave Narratives. This film uses original still photographs, contemporary re-enactments, slave music, a running commentary by Whoopi Goldberg, and, most notably and thus the film's title, dramatic readings of those original slave narratives by contemporary African-American actors and actresses like Oprah Winfrey. In just over an hour you learn about the daily horrors of slave life from those who lived to tell of it--relentless work, horrendous housing and diet, the denial of education, sexual violence, and how the "masters" used Christianity to keep their slaves passive. This is a deeply moving film about our nation's very recent past. I recommend watching it in conjunction with the seven-part PBS documentary on the civil rights movement called Eyes on the Prize. January 25, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...