User Reviews

When I first saw this video, I knew VERY little about Marcus Garvey. This isn't surprising, as MOST Americans have no idea who he or the UNIA was--even though they were a potent force in the early 20th Century. This Jamaican-born activist was at one time the most powerful and most feared black man in America and his spectacular rise and crash were well chronicled in this film. I especially appreciate it because much of the material on Garvey you find in books lacks objectivity--either portraying Garvey as evil or as an innocent man hounded by a racist federal government. The true story lies well in the middle--with his seeds of greatness as well as a powerful Achilles Heel (his ego). The documentary doesn't necessarily take EITHER view but presents the evidence and lets you make your own conclusion. All in all, a wonderfully made PBS film and well worth watching--particularly for teens and young adults.