Thanks to Roman May
What started out as a typical movie night at a girlfriend’s house, ended up in a historical lesson neither of us will ever forget. That night the Public Broadcasting Station began the airing of the documentary “Eyes on the Prize”. This is an award winning documentary about the American Civil Rights Movement and covers the period from 1954 to 1985.
The documentary is a series lasting 14 hours. My girlfriend would record the program from her directstartv.com and we would parcel it out over seven viewings. Be prepared, it will hook you and you will find a way to watch all 14 hours.
There were so many aspects of the documentary that fascinated the history buff in me, naming one is impossible. The power of one to ignite action as shown through the footage of the Montgomery Bus Boycott sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person was inspiring. How can you forget the footage of the hanging of Emmett Till, a 14 year old boy, because of his color? The documentary is filled with various aspects of the movement including the Freedom Rides, passage of the Voting Rights Act, and, of course, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Eyes on the Prize” leaves an impression on your soul. That’s why it is my favorite.