Customer Reviews

Prince Among Slaves

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If not for a magazine ad that I saw on the subject, I would've never known about this PBS Home video, but I'm so glad that I saw it. This film is about an African prince who was captured ironically on his way from conquering slaves. In this film, viewers find out the differences between indentured servitude, what Africans considered slavery, and what Europeans did to make slavery even more brutal than it already was. This is the type of film that the Board of Education will try to dodge as much as possible, but it is a part of American History that needs to be told. I watched this film and flinched from the treatment of slaves being torn from their families. However, the unique part in this story was that runaway slaves weren't always beaten, at least in the case of this prince who was called Prince without the slaveowner knowing he really was a prince. This film also discusses not all White people were for slavery, which is something that needs to be discussed in schools as well. This film was outstanding, and I wish it had been longer.

Hollywood really needs to take this story and move with it!

PRINCE AMONG SLAVES is an hour long documentary on the true life events of one Abduhl Rahman,son of the Muslim King of Futa Jallon,who was sold by rival African tribes into Europeans hands and transported to America in 1788.Purchased by a Thomas Foster,"Prince" as he was to be called,serves 40 years as a slave,marries and sires nine children,and becomes political fodder for a Mississippi News Journalist,two Presidents,one Secretary of State and for the entire American Colonization Society in his fight for freedom and return to his homeland.This is a great and absolutely fascinating true story directed and written by Lloyd Jones, Andrea Kalin (American Experience - Partners Of The Heart) and Cannes nominated Bill Duke(The Killing Floor,Miracle's Boys, Hoodlum and Rage in Harlem)."Prince" Rahman's story reads like a fairytale,but it is pointed out,quite poignantly,that much about what is known at the time,may be greatly exaggerated due to how politically motivated certain players were in "using" Rahman's story.

This documentary is narrated by Mos Def and is partially "talking heads" and partially below average re-enactment for a PBS Special.THAT is my only rub with this presentation.The budget may have been low and there is subpar acting,makeup and sets.There is nothing,though,subpar about the information presented here.

Other suggested documentaries of similar interest would be The Middle Passage,The Voyage of La Amistad: A Quest for Freedom as well as the feature films Amazing Grace and Amistad.

This PBS documentary tells the story of an African Prince who is brought to Mississippi in the late 18th century. It it a beautiful and moving story that I never heard in my US History classes. The story of Abdul-Rahman is one of hope and perserverance and truly deserves more attention I hope it is one day made into a feature film one day. I definitely plan on reading the book now.

I watched this documentry on PBS, I never new this story exsisted, but I was glued to the tv for the full hour. It's a great heart felt tale of a struggle and triumph. Highly recommended!

I watched this story twice on PBS last night and found it both entertaining
as well as educational. It also opened me up, as I had never heard of this story before...
A genuine african prince who gets captured and sold into slavery in the late
1700's / early 1800's, serves for 40 yrs under the brutal slavery system in the
Natchez Territory, which is now Mississippi, but once was owned by the spanish like Florida once was.
Though he is highly educated, civilized, and in fact speaks several languages and reads
and writes arabic fluently, this is overlooked and dismissed by his white slave owner,
who can only see his black skin and think of how he and several other slaves which he
has purchased can make him rich by working his land!
Remember, we were supposed to be godless ignorant uncivilized savages?? (-:
Kinda makes you wonder about the relativity of the words "ignorant" and "uncivilized" doesn't it?
A chance encounter with an unlikely ally turns this "Prince Among Slaves" fortunes around
and slowly but surely, he wins his freedom. But there are so many other layers to this story
that I don't want to give away in my review because I want you, the purchaser, to see it
for yourself so you can get the full emotional and intellectual impact of this moving story!
This is a worthwhile addition to your DVD collection if you like documentaries about
the early origins of America and it's evolution into becoming what it eventually became.
There is still more growth and understanding to be achieved between all the races
and cultures who make up our great american gumbo, even in this day & time when we've made
so many strides, yet true equality and understanding still elude us in many ways collectively.
Kudos to PBS for creating another great story!

I have always wondered why some African American folks have Muslim names, this movie answered my question!
Also for those who are seeking truth about the atrocities of the white man in the name of their religion, this is a must see movie.

I really enjoyed watching this movie. I never thought about that many of the african slaves who were forced to come here to the U.S. were Muslim. Very well done movie and this is a true story.

Most conscious people know a bit of Abdul Rahman's biography. But this documentary brings his life into detailed focus. I actually think his story is more of the norm than the exception.

I didn't know Rahman used the homeland of Morocco to his advantage, until President Adams found out he was from Gambia and withdrew his support.

It was nice to see the so called "Black" Masons (Prince Hall) rally around Rahman's cause and plight. Mos Def does part of the narration. I salute Abbie Shabazz on his procreation. Bill Duke directs this documentary and I can't help to marvel how far he has come from playing the angry Abdula in the movie "Car Wash" to directing such a meaningful work of liberal art. I commend Bill Duke and all involved for bringing the Abdul Rahman story to further light.

Very educational video portraying Abdul Rahman, an African prince who was sold into slavery, and who spent four decades in servitude before an amazing coincidence took him to the White House to meet President John Quincy Adams, where he was granted his freedom. Great film, a must see!

This documentary film was very interesting and informative. This film sheds light on how Islam found its way to the Americas through slaves during the slave trade.