Customer Reviews

For Love of Liberty

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February 5, 2010
BY MIRIAM DI NUNZIO Staff Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times

At the beginning of "For Love of Liberty," an onscreen title card bears a simple yet potent statement: "Let it be said that the Negro soldier did his duty under the flag, whether that flag protected him or not."

Thus begins the four-hour journey of Frank Martin's milestone documentary, covering every U.S. military conflict, from the Revolutionary War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Through historical documents, letters, diaries, paintings, photographs, telegrams, re-enactments and dramatizations, Hollywood lends its voices to the stories and anecdotes of the African-American men and women of the U.S. armed services. Among the voiceover talent: Morgan Freeman, Sam Elliott, Kris Kristofferson, Ruby Dee, Robert Duvall and James Garner.

The history lesson imparted here is brutal and eye-opening, starting with the very first African-American war casualty: Crispus Attucks in 1770, an escaped slave who was shot during the Boston Massacre, among the outbreaks leading to the Revolutionary War. We learn of the colonial Minutemen, black and white enlistees who fought side by side for the foundling nation's independence, even though blacks would not share the same freedoms in the aftermath.

We learn, too, of the earliest rumblings of racism that declared blacks were too cowardly to serve in the colonial forces, a danger to their masters if given weapons -- all this from Gen. George Washington's dispatches.

The film moves on to the War of 1812, "the war over the seas," where British forces recruited Negroes, promising freedom if they fought against the United States, which still denied them their freedom. There were few takers. Later, in the Civil War, as Negroes pleaded to enlist, they were rebuked, though most chose to fight "unofficially" for the Northern cause. Later, when the Southern forces needed troops -- of any color -- as heavy casualties demanded replacements, Southern slave owners were quick to allow their "property" to enlist because a dead slave could easily be replaced.

And so the documentary, hosted by Halle Berry and narrated by Avery Brooks, moves from war to war as blacks fought for a country that still denied them equal rights under the law. As another voiceover relates, in 1965, during the Vietnam War, black soldiers marched in Indochina, while in Selma, Ala., black civil-rights protesters also marched.

We learn of Pvt. William Carney of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor -- in 1863. We learn of the men of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the first black troops in WWII allowed to engage in battle, specifically the D-Day invasion, where they launched hundreds of dirigibles to shield Allied ground forces from the German Luftwaffe. We learn of the Buffalo Soldiers, among the first of 30 all-black combat units to arrive on Korean soil as that war began.

There are the faces of the all-black WAC units; the Tuskegee Airmen; the men of the U.S.S. Mason, the first commissioned Navy destroyer manned predominantly by blacks. The faces spill past on the screen, their stories at times horrific, at times appalling, at other times filled with hope and courage and honor.

They say history speaks for itself, and this part of our military history has never been so eloquently voiced, so searingly brought to our consciousness. If there is one DVD that can help shed meaningful light on Black History Month, this is it.

Note: "For Love of Liberty" also will air at 8 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 14 on WYCC-Channel 20.

I just finished viewing an advance copy of Frank Martin's extraordinary movie.

I am emotionally drained.

I am both sad and mad:

at myself, for not having a better command of our history

at America, for allowing this treatment of our citizens and Armed Forces members and their families to happen over and over again.

What a shame that this story, won't make the front page of the paper or TV/website news!

Jim Rice

This film is comprehensive, factual, honest and truthful. I highly recommend it to all audiences who care about the health of the USA and all of its people.

Having just watched this astonishing documentary, I am somehow ashamed, angered and exhilerated at the same time at this marvelous production. As an African-American veteran (USAF, 1977-1986), I have personally seen and witnessed the dilemma that every black service member faces when they serve in the U.S. military. While progress has been made, I am reminded of the times that my father faced in WWII while serving in the army. He would tell about the indignations and racist episodes he had to endure while serving his country. A country that considered him inferior, unintelligent and a social pariah. However, my father persevered because he loved his country and his family. He has passed away but I think this documentary does him and all African-American service men and women the long overdue justice they deserve. Rest in peace, Daddy.... know that your country appreciates your sacrifice and as a proud son, I do too!!!

This documentary as about the history of Afro-Americans defending and fighting for our United States of America from before the beginning of the country thru Afganastan. A look and history that has long been neglected by mainstream history.

Outstanding, A great peace of history, I am going to show this at our Thanksgiving dinner, So all of my Brothers, Sisters, Nieces , Nephews , Grad Children, Greatgrand Children & Mother can see and I am sure they will Love it,


Thanks for a great peace of history
Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Grady Thomas

Too much of history is was left out the history books.
I'm thankful and graceful there is people that care
enough to reveal this history even much time is passed..

While at the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in Fort Leavenworth Kansas, I researched and wrote my history papers on the topic of the African American soldier from the Revolutionary War thru Operation: Iraqi Freedom. It was met with a luke warm reception from my instructor. Over the years numerous academists have researched and wrote similar pieces on the African American soldier during various periods of our nations wars and conflicts with similar reception.

For whatever reason these efforts were met with little fanfare and with little or no attention paid to them. But thank the Lord finally someone has endeavored and successfully told the story of our country's African American soldiers and heroes. It tells of the story of our never dying hope and reasoning of a brighter tommorow, if we prove ourselves as loyal countryman and patriots today. War after war, conflict after conflict we proved ourselves only to see little change back home in our communities. And although the military has always been an engine of change, the engine often sputteres with injustice, unfairness and racism.

But this story is so much more than that, it celebrates the bravery and sacrafice of our African American patriots. But perhaps most importantly in a day where our story-tellers are diminishing and our youth need a guiding beacon. This magnificent documentary provides our young with examples of men and women to aspire to immulate.

I had the AWESOME opportunity to meet the director and the historian. I'm so very incredibly proud of them and those who have lead the way for soldiers like me. Thank you Gentlemen, for a job extremely well done and a work this country can be proud of.

This was great to watch, I learned so much about history. So much is not in our history books.

A well-done overview of the triumphs and struggles of blacks in the military. Should be required viewing in American History classes.