Beginning Sunday, Oct. 5 at 10 PM ET, TV One will premiere 'Murder in Black in White,' a groundbreaking series of four, one-hour documentary specials filmed in co-operation with the FBI and designed to examine – and help solve - civil rights murders from the 1940s and '50s. And some of the aging, long-silent witnesses – as well as the perpetrators of these vicious crimes --are still alive. Produced for TV One by acclaimed filmmaker Keith Beauchamp, whose 2005 documentary on Emmett Till helped convince the government to re-open the 1955 murder case, 'Murder in Black and White' is hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton.
'Murder in Black and White' will debut over four consecutive nights – Sunday, October 5 – Wednesday, Oct. 8 – from 10-11 PM ET. The series draws firsthand information from eyewitnesses, FBI case agents as well as the people who knew the victims best – their children, siblings, family members and friends, most of whom have yet to speak publicly. Forensic scientists, local and federal officials, attorneys, civil rights activists and members of Congress assist in the investigations by providing commentary, analysis and insight into these unsolved "cold cases." Archival and family photos and artfully directed re-enactments help tell the stories of the victims' lives and their violent, senseless deaths.
Beauchamp and his Till Freedom Come Productions is working closely with the FBI, which recommended the cases, and the information uncovered during the filmmaking process is being shared with the FBI's Cold Case Unit in an effort to bring to justice murderers who may still be alive and closure for the families of the murder victims.
Comments: (11)
Add a comment
By: Tyrone Harvey on 10/06/2008 5:37AM
HOW PRESIDENT BUSH SEE THOUSAND OF MILE AWAY
Who and what is the President of the United State? What is the President of the United State job? How can President Bush justify going into Iraq? After all the information that state ''WE WHERE WRONG ABOUT W.O.M.D ''. After all the books written by former President Bush staff. Claiming that President Bush lied about the war in Iraq! What did President Bush do for this country by going into Iraq? How will this country be better? And if the former staff members are telling the truth about President Bush lies. Should we be talking impeachment? President Bush can see the need to liberate Iraq. But does nothing for the injustice in this country! President Bush goes to China and issue a statement that there government needs a civil right program. Bottom line he told them to treat there people better. China is thousand of mile from America. Yet President Bush could see there country injustice. But in this country Sean Bell a unarmed American can be shot at 50 times 4 bullets hitting him and killing him. Or Amadou Diallo unarmed shot 41 time. 19 bullet in his feet! Or 92 year old Kathryn Johnstons shot 15 time after police mistakenly kick in her door. Then try to cover it up! I can go on and on ! These thing happen in America not China not Iraq or Russia. This country needs to take care of self first. Like in WACO where we murder 64 American citizen baby women and teenagers. WHERE IS PRESIDENT BUSH VOICE ABOUT AMERICA INJUSTICE!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Tyrone Harvey on 10/06/2008 5:39AM
SLAVERY THE FIRST FORM OF WELFARE
From 1654 until 1865, slavery for life was legal within the boundaries of the present United States. Most slaves were black and were held by whites, although some Native Americans also held slaves. The majority of slaveholding was in the southern United States where most slaves were engaged in an efficient machine-like gang system of agriculture. According to the 1860 U.S. census, nearly four million slaves were held in a total population of just over 12 million whites in the 15 states in which slavery was legal. This was the first form of government welfare. Only difference is that non-black where the only American that qualify. Whites became the first recipicants of welfare in America! Today welfare is seen as a black thing.NEVER WAS! This is so wrong as I pointed out whites have always been the first to receive a welfare program in this country! '''IN THE FORM OF FREE HUMAN LABOR'' Today 67% of welfare recipicants are white and nearly 33% of that 67% are white men. Slavery is the first form of welfare in this country that black experince. But the program was for non-black by law!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Tyrone Harvey on 10/06/2008 5:50AM
JUST THINK OF PALIN AS PRESIDENT
Gov.Palin does not have the proper judgement to be President of the United State of America! The shameful thing is that she knows it and McCain knows it!The only foreign policy experince she has. Is that she can see Russia from Alaska! THAT IS IT! Think about her going up against the President of Russia or the President of the Russian Federation. Or having to deal with the Iraqi government. Gov.Palin has to be truthful for the country and just tell the truth about her judgement or lack of it. This country already voted in a idiot (PRESIDENT BUSH) that cause the needless death of American troops. And started two war that should have only been one! How will Palin deal with the many Americans losing there home and jobs. Giving taxs breaks to the rich NEVER WORKS!And that is the only plan McCain has. McCain is too old and out of touch with America and the world. He said he does not know how to use a computer. Now he is saying it's because of his injury as a POW! THAT IS BULL! People without arms and are blind use the computer daily. McCain will say and do anything to be President BUT '''Tell the truth! Palin is a token female BRAINLESS & STUPID...Just like McCain and Bush!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Merliez on 10/06/2008 8:35AM
FBI statistics show that that the odds of a black murdering a white are about 70 times more likely than a white murdering a black
Black racist jurors set OJ free, and you people cheered. Same with the Crown Heights Killer. Jayson Williams. It goes on and on.
Those things tell where the real racism lies today.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: LORRAINE on 10/06/2008 9:27AM
I'M BLACK, I ALWAYS BELIEVE OJ SIMPON COMMITTED THE CRIME. AND HE TAUGHT HE GOT AWAY WITH IT BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS FOR HIM SO I'M GLAD HE IS GETTING WHAT HE DESERVE NOW. ANY WAY LET'S GET TO THE REAL POINT HERE KEITH BEAUCHAMP IS SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHED FILMMAKER THIS IS HIS TRUE CALLING, HOW I CAME TO HEAR OF THIS MAN IS WHEN I SAW THE EMMETT TILL STORY I WAS TOUCH BEYOND WORDS AND FROM THEN I'VE BEEN A FAN, I JUST WISH HIM ALL THE BEST AND ALL GOOD THINGS TO COME HIS WAY.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Avril on 10/06/2008 1:47PM
#1 - These are stats "you people" love to bring up.
Personally, I believe they're bullsh*t.
In any case, by virtue of the fact that YOU, white person, chose to bring race into this discussion,actually shows where the "real" racism lies...and will continue to lie. As for "black racist jurors" setting OJ free, that is also bullsh*t. The burden of proof was on the prosecuting attorneys in that case, and they did a LOUSY job proving their case. The entire trial was a joke. From Judge Ito pulling out his law book in front of the jurors (that should have been done in chambers), to Chris Darden and Marcia Clark playing footsie under the table, to the motley crue cast of "witnesses" (a racist cop, a male version of an airheaded, blond bimbo, a housekeeper who supposedly didn't speak English), the trial was a comedy show. As for Johnny Cochran and his "Dream Team", there was nothing "dreamy" about them. I could have gotten OJ off, due to the ineptness of the prosecution. So don't blame black people on the jury for doing their job...honestly. Those who were supposed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt didn't do so. In contrast with the God knows how many whites who got away with murdering black people, when the evidence was blatant that they were guilty.
One more thing...perhaps you should offer some of your "indignation" at the Brown Family...Mr. and Mrs. Brown, the parents of Nicole Simpson, who systematically pimped out their 17 year old daughter to a 30-something year old black man...a 30 something year old black man who happened to have money. Had OJ been Jamal Jackson from Compton, they wouldn't have allowed him NEAR their daughter...but their GREED took priority over the well being of their daughter. Yes, the Browns rode the OJ Simpson money train the way a hooker rides a john. Recognize that had they been decent parents, Nicole wouldn't have been allowed near OJ. But just like their daughter, they were money grubbing bums.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Avril on 10/06/2008 1:53PM
To my brothas and sistas, let me say that I watched the first installment of Murder In Black and White. While I was angered, I was not surprised. Truthfully, my people, nothing that white people have done or continue to do to us // have said or continue to say about us, does not surprise me. White people can never catch me off guard with respect to their hatred of African Americans. From Yusef Hawkins to James Byrd, again I was furious and enraged...but not surprised. Never surprised.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: kojevel Ward on 10/06/2008 2:33PM
I am an American guy that has spent a lot of time looking at hatred through the lenses of personal experience from other americans and its a constant battle every for each of the two races. Black people never have the resources to get what is called justice,nor do we find them judged by their peers. White people have all the tool for justice and are the law literally.From the framers of the comstitution to the hidders of truth and justice in this country. No one has a right to call of Democracy all over the world when we can know and hide justice right here at home. That means gang riddle neighborhoods that keep quiet and racist riddle communities through out this country that do the same.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: nancy bishop on 10/06/2008 3:57PM
What I felt was eerie about this documentary was that former mayor that hid like the coward that he is, said that he still believes that we should in other words" let sleeping dogs lie".I am a hispanic women and had my own experience with being called the end word, several times.I cannot even begin to understand what both of those couples were going through and feeling. Yes racism still exist, but it`s up to me to educate my children.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Norma on 10/07/2008 10:29AM
My mother (b. 1927 - present), and Mrs. Martha H (b. 1873 - 1980), use to tell me story's such as the ones that took place in the documentary "Murder in Black and White".
Boy were they SAD and Interesting.
The heart of man can be so CRUEL!
Reply to this Comment | Report This