Slavery by Another Name

Gr 10 Up—Even though 1863's Emancipation Proclamation was intended to abolish slavery, it continued in a more subtle form until the middle of the 20th century. Individual Southern states were able to pass repressive laws beginning in the Reconstruction Era which, in essence, established a netherworld for African Americans—they were neither free nor enslaved. The most heinous laws allowed the use of prisoners by private companies and the continued concept of sharecropping as a rarely-materialized hope of repaying debts. The means in which these forced labor situations were tolerated forms the basis for this moving, well-crafted documentary based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book (Doubleday, 2008) by Douglas Blackmon. Vintage photographs and live-action footage, realistic recreations, and expert commentary by the book's author and other historians describe this dark period in our history which slowly ended with the establishment of civil rights organizations and the movement of African Americans to the Northern industrial cities. English subtitles and chapter selection is optional. Narrated by Laurence Fishburne, this excellent production deserves serious consideration for inclusion in media collections for its merit as both a classroom tool and a valuable individual research resource.—Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL