Black Soul 2000
Distributed by National Film Board of Canada, 1123 Broadway, Suite 307, New York, NY 10010; 800-542-2164
Produced by Martine Chartrand
Directed by Martine Chartrand
VHS, color, 10 min.
Jr. High - Adult
African American Studies
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Eric Acree, Library Instruction Coordinator, Oscar A. Silverman Undergraduate Library, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New YorkBlack Soul is an animated journey of the Black experience from Africa to America. This short piece, filled with colorful sounds and images, from ancient Egypt to the rhythms from the talking drum, reminds one of Africa. The thing that is missing from the video is narrative.
The constantly changing music and visuals provide a nice historical overview of the contributions that people of African descent have made. For example, there are Africans being captured and placed on slave ships, women working in slave fields picking cotton, and Africans escaping from slavery. Not only does the viewer hear traditional African songs, but also gospel and jazz, nicely blended, to create a harmony between African and American music. A short audio clip of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I had a Dream Speech" reminds us of the struggle that people of African descent still have to encounter.
This video is recommended for all audiences.