These three films shed light on the rich yet often oppressive experiences of Black people in the Americas. Blueprint for My People lyrically intertwines poetry with contemporary imagery and rare 19th-century cyanotypes, offering a poignant reflection on the African-American experience. Nyanga tells the powerful story of an enslaved man's fight for freedom. How to Sue the Klan chronicles the courageous efforts of women and a young civil rights lawyer as they seek justice against the KKK for their violent crimes.
Blueprint for My People is a short film that illuminates the African-American experience by lyrically interweaving spoken-word narration of Margaret Walker’s epic poem, “For My People,” with contemporary images and rare 19th-century cyanotypes (blue photographic prints known as “blueprints”) of African Americans. Through a blend of poetry, cyanotypes, contemporary visuals, and graphics, the film captures the struggles and triumphs of a people whose lives have shaped the context of American culture.
- Runtime10 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- Genreshort, experimental, documentary
- Content WarningThis films contains racist imagery that may be disturbing.
- Social Media
- DirectorCarol Bash
- ScreenwriterMargaret Walker
- ProducerCarol Bash
- FilmmakerEditor: Carol Bash; Archival Research: Carol Bash; Executive Producer: Third World Newsreel; Music Composition and Performance: Tony jefferson; Narration/Voiceover: Bettina "Poet Gold" Wilkerson, Richard "Braf Matic" Brathwaite; Motion Graphics: Iana Amauba
These three films shed light on the rich yet often oppressive experiences of Black people in the Americas. Blueprint for My People lyrically intertwines poetry with contemporary imagery and rare 19th-century cyanotypes, offering a poignant reflection on the African-American experience. Nyanga tells the powerful story of an enslaved man's fight for freedom. How to Sue the Klan chronicles the courageous efforts of women and a young civil rights lawyer as they seek justice against the KKK for their violent crimes.
Blueprint for My People is a short film that illuminates the African-American experience by lyrically interweaving spoken-word narration of Margaret Walker’s epic poem, “For My People,” with contemporary images and rare 19th-century cyanotypes (blue photographic prints known as “blueprints”) of African Americans. Through a blend of poetry, cyanotypes, contemporary visuals, and graphics, the film captures the struggles and triumphs of a people whose lives have shaped the context of American culture.
- Runtime10 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- Genreshort, experimental, documentary
- Content WarningThis films contains racist imagery that may be disturbing.
- Social Media
- DirectorCarol Bash
- ScreenwriterMargaret Walker
- ProducerCarol Bash
- FilmmakerEditor: Carol Bash; Archival Research: Carol Bash; Executive Producer: Third World Newsreel; Music Composition and Performance: Tony jefferson; Narration/Voiceover: Bettina "Poet Gold" Wilkerson, Richard "Braf Matic" Brathwaite; Motion Graphics: Iana Amauba
