Black Indians: An American Story

Written by Daniel Blake Smith; directed by Chip Richie.
Rich-Heape Films (2001), 5952 Royal Lane, Suite 254-4, Dallas, TX 75230, sales@richheape.com.
60 minutes
VHS or DVD $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping and handling.

Review by Michael W. Simpson

Race is just a black and white matter, right? Wrong. Yet, we often teach racial issues as simple, easily determined categories.

This is a moving, scholarly tale of the experiences of remarkable people, who were often accepted nowhere. It is enhanced by James Earl Jones’s narration and a wonderful musical score. This video allows teachers to present the concept of “race” as socially constructed.

Teachers constrained by 50-minute periods can easily choose places to stop and open up discussion or simply to use a segment. My students wanted to watch this entire video. Students respond to real life complications. We too often treat them to simplicity.

Michael W. Simpson, M.Ed., J.D., is a lawyer, educator, mediator, and social activist currently studying educational policy at the University of Wisconsin -Madison.