“40 Years a Prisoner” is a documentary about the events leading up to and following the 1978 Philadelphia police department’s raid of the MOVE organization’s home. There had been a period of increasing hostility between MOVE and the police which led to the raid and a stand-off that left one officer dead and another wounded. During the confrontation, police officers beat a then unarmed member of the organization and bombed the home leading to its destruction and the death of 11 people. Resulting trials would see allegations of police wrongdoing thrown out while several surviving MOVE members would be convicted and spend decades in prison.
Tag: <span>Philadelphia</span>
If you’re interested in learning about a versatile singer who gave an amazing performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after racists prevented her from performing at Constitution Hall, my Marian Anderson Black History Short is for you.
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “The Water Dancer” was his fictional debut which told the story of Hiram, a young enslaved boy. Following the sale of his mother, Hiram finds himself struggling to remember her despite having a remarkable memory. With his craving for freedom and gifted memory, Hiram comes to the attention of the Underground, a mysterious network that helps enslaved people escape to freedom.
A profile of William Still, a Philadelphia based abolitionist who was a prodigious conductor on the Underground Railroad.