Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson

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Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
dvd cover
Directed byKen Burns
Written byGeoffrey C. Ward
Produced byPaul Barnes
Ken Burns
David Schaye
Narrated byKeith David
CinematographyStephen McCarthy
Buddy Squires
Edited byPaul Barnes
Erik Ewers
Music byWynton Marsalis
Production
companies
WETA
Florentine Films
Distributed byPBS
Release date
  • January 17, 2005 (2005-01-17)
Running time
214 Minutes
220 Minutes (DVD version)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson is a 2005 biographical documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns, based on the 2004 nonfiction book of the same name by Geoffrey C. Ward. It describes the life story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World. It also describes racism and social inequality during the Jim Crow era, against which Johnson struggled.

Production[edit]

It is narrated by Keith David,[1] with a soundtrack by Wynton Marsalis and with Samuel L. Jackson as the voice of Jack Johnson.[2] Alan Rickman also contributed his voice to the documentary. Stanley Crouch appears, offering commentary, including a quote from Johnson responding to a question from a white woman about black people, "We eat cold eels and think distant thoughts." This documentary is an example of a style frequently used by Burns, where a range of authorities gives voiceovers to contribute particular details. Stanley Crouch is the primary authority, offering personal recollections.[3]

The film was produced by David Schaye, Paul Barnes and Ken Burns (Executive Producer) for Florentine Films.

Release and reception[edit]

The documentary was first broadcast on PBS in two parts, on January 17 and January 18, 2005.

In 2005, the film earned Ken Burns an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming. Geoffrey C. Ward won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming. Keith David won an Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b The Hollywood reporter: Volume 395. 2006
  2. ^ About time: Volumes 32-34. 2004, page 12.
  3. ^ Grindon, Leger (2007-10-22). "Q & A: Poetics of the Documentary Film Interview". The Velvet Light Trap. 60 (1): 4–12. doi:10.1353/vlt.2007.0014. ISSN 1542-4251. S2CID 142648227.

External links[edit]

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