Product Details

• Actors: chip richie, James Earl Jones
• Directors: James Earl Jones
• Format: Color, Digital Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Rich-Heape Films
• VHS Release Date: August 18, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004Y7SQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,440 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Ancestors' Story, July 25, 2004

By 

Big River "Big River" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Indians: An American Story (DVD)

The history of my own ancestors is reflected in this documentary. I descend from a mixed people, often called Melungeons, or Tri-racials: Indian,Black,& White bloodlines. My great great grandfather, D.C. Goings, was Wappoo/Wapoo Indian, a Cusabo People from South Carolina. He is mentioned in a book by Lawrence and Ruth Hipp about the history of Grover Hill,located in Paulding County, Ohio.
I am a member of the Notoweega Nation, a multi-tribal nation, and a Notoweega Pow Wow was held June 5, 2004 on the farm property belonging to D.C. Goings in Paulding County, Ohio. It has passed to his Goings descendents. We are attempting to recover as much of our Native American culture as is possible.
While I am not a historian, with the time and resources to research and verify all that is covered in this documentary film, I know that it is the historical experience of many Black people in the United States. Growing up on the same Hollywood image of Indians(i.e.,only Plains Indians living in tepees and hunting buffalo) as everyone else, the truths about the many Eastern Woodland Peoples and their subsequent mixing with Blacks and Whites before their eventual removal has been deliberately obscured from the mainstream history books. We're still here in spite of Pencil Genocide.

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ACKNOWLEDGING BLACK INDIAN HISTORY, September 12, 2000

By 

RAYMOND(LONE WOLF) (Boston,Ma,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Indians: An American Story [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have a copy of this video and found it to be excellent in the sense that this is one of two videos I have seen thus far in the past three years discussing the existance & history of Black Indians. It was great to see people of African & Native roots telling their story and the problems of racism and sterotype of Indians.

What I felt was missing from the video is the heart & spirituallity of the Indigenous people of the Mother land of Africa and Turtle Island, and that is the Drum.I think the opening of the documentary would have been much more powerful and spiritual in the introduction of our ancestors.Indeed, The drums ARE the voice of our ancestors.

Also missing was the honoring & celebration of our heritage. In true life, In our daily living ,You will find us giving thanks to the creator and remembering our ancestors and their teachings and celebrating the blessings of sacred Mother Earth .

I would have liked to see emphasis of our people at the powwows,not only dancing and participating in the ceremonies but making and selling their crafts.

I would have liked to see our children from infants on up being brought up the Indian way and learning their culture,customs,language and traditions.

Had all these things had been in the vidoe ,I would have rated it 5 stars, But it is an important start and I value it highly as a teaching tool which is why I give it 4 stars. I think the RICH HEAPE productions are to be commended for this refreshing and educational video on BLACK INDIANS.

I am African American/Montaukett/Brothertown/Narragansett

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Black Indians are also in the Southeastern US, February 26, 2007

By 

Black Indian Princess "Black Indian Princess" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Indians: An American Story (DVD)

I purchased this DVD and I have to say that I watched it 10 Times!!!! :-) I am so happy that my elders are starting to speak up and out so those who are "lost" or brainwashed will start to wake up and question what we call "U.S. History." Personally, TRUE U.S. History consists of those who made this country what it is today. Native, African & European American influences.

I also wished they would have focused on Southeastern US Indians. For instance, Virginia; North & South Carolina,Georgia, etc. Our roots are very deep in this region of the U.S.

I too have a blended "American" identity. I consider myself a Black Indian. In today's society, I've learned that "we" are forced to choose by Black America, Native America and White America. I refuse to choose.

Now, I know that I have "extended family" (members of Black America and Native America) who will get upset if I choose Black over my Native American Heritage and vice versa. It's sad that "we" have to choose and are not accepted as Black Indians.

Overall, I do highly recommend this DVD for those who truely care about TRUE "U.S. History" and those who want to find out more regarding their blended heritage.