PROFILPELAJAR.COM

*Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson*
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
	dvd cover
Written by	Geoffrey C. Ward
Directed by	Ken Burns
Narrated by	Keith David
Music by	Wynton Marsalis
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Paul Barnes; Ken Burns; David Schaye
Cinematography	Stephen McCarthy; Buddy Squires
Editors	Paul Barnes; Erik Ewers
Running time	214 Minutes; 220 Minutes (DVD version)
Production companies	WETA; Florentine Films
Original release
Network	PBS
Release	January 17 –; January 18, 2005

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

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

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]

References

^ ^a ^b The Hollywood reporter: Volume 395. 2006
^ About time: Volumes 32-34. 2004, page 12.
^ 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.