February 10, 1999 -- Its role was advocacy, not objectivity. It was a voice for the voiceless. The origins, struggles, and triumphs of African-American newspapers are told in the 85-minute documentary, "The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords."

The film recently won the 1999 Sundance Film Festival's Freedom of Expression Award. Director Stanley Nelson incorporates stunning archival footage and photographs, jazz artist Ron Carter's sensitive music score, and interviews with articulate historians and engaging black reporters who were in the trenches. However, this is more a history lesson than a dramatic personal story.

Less effective is the use of "interpretative" readings by actors playing the voices of various participants who first braved the battles to create black presses throughout the communities of America. Along with Joe Morton's monotone narration, I found these voice performances melodramatic at times, and I wondered how they arrived at any particular inflection.

Despite another Ken Burns' approach to historical documentaries, the film relates the incredible journey of black journalists, from the founding of the Freedom Journal in New York in 1827, through the civil war, re-construction and into the 20th century. From the beginning, slaves cherish "reading as the sweetest of the fruits of freedom." The courage of the early black publishers, Ida Wells, Robert Abbott and many others is personalized. Many of us have never heard of these names. But we need to know them now.

By 1910 there were over 275 black newspapers in print. Abbott's Chicago Defender grew in circulation nationally. His daring policies mimicked white newspapers, using bold headlines such as, "Boys Farmed Out Like Slaves in South." Abbott also used a network of Pullman porters to secretly distribute his paper in the south.

A major segment of the program deals with segregation, particularly during World War II, recalling the little known black press "Double V" campaign, victory for the nation, victory over segregation. J. Edgar Hoover's attempts to prosecute black publishers for treason along with the U.S. Army's racist policies is exposed. The final segment, subtitled, Putting Yourself Out of Business, deals with decline of the black press.

Ironically (but logical), ad revenues increase for the struggling newspapers, but their editorials lose their bite. Their power and circulation goes down. In the meantime, the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's is covered by the white press, which also begins to hire black reporters and photographers. Yet, it is evident how important the black press in America was to the civil rights movement.

The film makes it clear, that if not for the courage of black journalists and publishers during post World War II, this significant mid-century political movement would have been delayed.

For white viewers of this program, the idea of freedom of expression in this country will take on new meanings.

For black viewers, there will be a sense of pride for their black journalists as well as refreshed value for the importance of a free press to print unpopular ideas and viewpoints. PBS released the film in February, the annual black history month for television programmers.

Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Mike McElreath can be reached via e-mail as MikeM@uwyo.edu