The following reviews were written by Kinnedy Broughton, Dyana Daniels and Messiah Young, all Chicago high school students, as part of Columbia College Chicago’s Columbia Links journalism program for high school students. RogerEbert.com has partnered with the Chicago Urban League and Columbia Links to mentor these students and to give them a platform for their writing. Read more about the program here.
I have conveniently put all three reviews for this particular film, “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross, Part I,” together in order for you to appreciate each of the writer’s distinctive voices.
Review by KINNEDY BROUGHTON
“This documentary is engrossing, informative and unleashes the truth about slavery and what it really was. It does this with inspiring stories, significant artwork and modern, slick animation. There is, however, not enough depth within its narration.”
Review by DYANA DANIELS
“The film works because the narrator Gates brings his expertise as a scholar in African American history, and his knowledge, as well as the other historians, helps to make sense of such a dark and traumatic time in American history.”
Review by MESSIAH YOUNG
“There are too many unanswered questions. But, overall, ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ teaches the audience many valuable lessons about the African American experience and makes the audience appreciate culture and history.”
