An insightful look into the life and ascent of legendary, iconic, and mystic Gospel Singer Mahalia Jackson. This film focuses on her search to balance her gift, love, and her activism during the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Mahalia broke racial, gender, business, and musical barriers and participated fully in the civil rights movement. She influenced such singers as Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, Nina Simone, and many others. She was an advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and was his favorite singer. When Dr. King was depressed and feeling low, wherever he was in the world and no matter what time it was, he would call Mahalia and ask her to sing a song. As a civil rights activist she was conscious of her power in the movement, among the people and with Dr. King. An example of this mystical connection between her, the people and Dr. King is when Dr. King was giving the keynote speech at the 1963 March on Washington in front of 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial and millions of people watching on television worldwide. As he soared into his oratory, Mahalia can be heard saying “Martin, tell them about your dream.” He seamlessly soared into his dream which had an electrifying effect on the multitudes who were present and listening from around the world. The speech became the famous, iconic “I Have a Dream Speech,” considered one of the greatest speeches ever given.
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- Year2020
- Runtime94 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- PremiereWorld
- DirectorDenise Dowse
- ScreenwriterEricka Nicole Malone
- ProducerVince Allen
- Executive ProducerEricka Nicole Malone, Phillip E. Robinson
- CastLedisi, Columbus Short, Janet Hubert, Keith David, Wendy RaQuel Robinson, Vanessa A. Williams, Corbin Bleu, Keith Robinson
- CinematographerEduardo Ramirez
- EditorDina McCrary, Brian "Buddha" Pratt
- Production DesignDeleray Wagener, Spencer Collins
- Sound DesignRay Gaona
- MusicPaul Wright III, Melvin "Maestro" Lightford
An insightful look into the life and ascent of legendary, iconic, and mystic Gospel Singer Mahalia Jackson. This film focuses on her search to balance her gift, love, and her activism during the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Mahalia broke racial, gender, business, and musical barriers and participated fully in the civil rights movement. She influenced such singers as Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, Nina Simone, and many others. She was an advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and was his favorite singer. When Dr. King was depressed and feeling low, wherever he was in the world and no matter what time it was, he would call Mahalia and ask her to sing a song. As a civil rights activist she was conscious of her power in the movement, among the people and with Dr. King. An example of this mystical connection between her, the people and Dr. King is when Dr. King was giving the keynote speech at the 1963 March on Washington in front of 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial and millions of people watching on television worldwide. As he soared into his oratory, Mahalia can be heard saying “Martin, tell them about your dream.” He seamlessly soared into his dream which had an electrifying effect on the multitudes who were present and listening from around the world. The speech became the famous, iconic “I Have a Dream Speech,” considered one of the greatest speeches ever given.
.
- Year2020
- Runtime94 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- PremiereWorld
- DirectorDenise Dowse
- ScreenwriterEricka Nicole Malone
- ProducerVince Allen
- Executive ProducerEricka Nicole Malone, Phillip E. Robinson
- CastLedisi, Columbus Short, Janet Hubert, Keith David, Wendy RaQuel Robinson, Vanessa A. Williams, Corbin Bleu, Keith Robinson
- CinematographerEduardo Ramirez
- EditorDina McCrary, Brian "Buddha" Pratt
- Production DesignDeleray Wagener, Spencer Collins
- Sound DesignRay Gaona
- MusicPaul Wright III, Melvin "Maestro" Lightford