Customer Reviews

Time for Burning [VHS]

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

 

 

How does a church respond in a time when the country is exploding over the question of civil rights? The answer can be found in this documentary film of one church's response to the crisis. Filmed in 1966, the leaders of Augustana Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska share with us their fears, hypocrasy, and racial prejudice as they come to grips with the social reality of their times.

The pastor of the church makes the first move in listening to the voices of Blacks in Omaha who bluntly tell him the truth of what is going on. Moved by their words he challenges the church's social committee to initiate a ministry that can bring understanding and reconciliation among the groups.

In watching this film you will witness the process of how a white church attempts to come to face the weakness of their faith, sense of justice and fears of reaching out. Every small step that they take is done with caution but they try. We see a church for the first time being confronted with the reality of what it means to be a Christian.

As a sociological study of race relations and the white church this is an excellent film. You see the theological, social and cultural differences as to how two groups view Christianity. The African-Americans do not spare their white Christian counterparts in condemning them for not living up to the Christian gospel. Augustan Lutheran Church is a good example of how a church can change and become relevant to the issues of its time if it will step out on faith. You will be hopeful at the outcome of this film as two groups struggle for reconciliation.

Having lived through this time, I was born and raised in Omaha, I now understand why I think the way I do. Ernie Chambers and Dan Goodwin were, and still are, my barbers. The conversations that went on in the barbershop were not staged, these are the type of exchanges that go on in 'Spencer Street Barber Shop' to this day. This is where I earned my degree in 'Common Sense' Thank God, I am now equipped to deal with the unfortunate reality that is America. I wish I could say Omaha was unique, but it was not...this type of thinking goes on everywhere I have lived, now it's just a bit more covert, both black and white. While I applaud Min. Youngdahl's effort, I was not surprised that he 'resigned'. We all need to step away from our comfort zone...this documentary is our 'Picture of Dorian Gray'.

This needs to be promoted better because no one has heard about this, but if they did, watch out. Ernie Chambers? I've never heard of this man, but i'm honored to know that he exists. This documentary is brilliant, especially for it's time period.

This documentary paints an unflattering picture of my home town, Omaha, Nebraska in the mid 1960's. The story is about a minister in a Lutheran church in a neighborhood that is changing from white to black. He wants members of his congration to reach out to families of a black Lutheran church by socializing informally with them. The "leaders" of the white church cannot stomach it but alibi their cowardice by saying that step is "too much too fast". Ernie Chambers, a spokesman for the black community in Omaha then and now is a calm voice of reason,as it turns out, telling the minister the truth about what he is attempting, pointing out that his own will turn own him. They do and he resigns. At the time Chambers was perceived as a "wild eyed radical" whose demands for equality were also considered to be too much too soon. In retrospect it is clear that he was villified by the traditional Omaha media for his desire for humane treatment for his race. No network would run this documentary because it was considered too inflamatory. It shows me how much things have changed and how small minded some in my former home can be

I will nearly always hands down endorse anything Mr. Chambers preaches. I have seen him in action and I know he preaches the gospel. The gospel of humanity. As someone who watched him captivate a classroom of students with the wit and energy of a magician and then gave each student a solid gold gift of knowledge; as someone who has been so moved by the power of his words; lightning!; whether a person agrees or disagrees; Ernie Chambers is a force, he is a light; he is a gift from God, even if he would argue that; I shall argue it right back to him; his eternal fight for justice is the light of humanity; the way a soul gets all lit up from seeing the raw fight in action; I urge everyone and anyone to witness Mr. Chambers and buy this documentary. There are detractors who will say that he is racist against white people and I have seen a different sort of Legislator; someone who goes in search of the broken down, the invisible, the ones who have gone unseen by society; someone who fights for the helpless, for the sick, and the kicked down, the poor, and for animals; I shall not join in on this warfare upon a warrior who has so unselfishley given over his life unto others; hear the call and force yourself to wake up and listen. Just listen and ask yourself if you do not once hold a certain stereotype or premonition about another that may be in need of a challenge. There is a certain honesty in asking oneself the question; who am I prejudiced against and how can I fight this. I plan on purchasing this documentary and keeping it in my forever library of forever voices right up there with Martin Luther King Jr. There are some people who are beacons that do not go out; though they may step away from the pulpit, their voice clangs the bell and forces the soul to rise up and question the status quo; question, question, question. Such a voice clears the way for everyone. Such Courage. Do not turn away from such courage. Hold the hand and take the time to understand. Mr. Chambers is one of the reasons we are fortunate enough to call Mr. Obama President, today. I do not believe that if such a man had not come before, then the way would not have been cleared. People knock him down and down, but you know what. That is blindness. It is ignorance. This documentary, no doubt will show the dark face of ignorance, and then hopefully the voice of clarity rising from the ashes. Ernie Chambers, is a legend, and his voice shall never be diminished. This documentary is such a gift, such a jewel. Any HS educator whether it is civics, sociology, history, political science; what have you, would be missing out, in not purchasing this. Do not miss out on this opportunity to spread the word. Continue the dream; continue the hope. ~

This documentary is masterful in its presentation. It gives a glimpse into what is wrong at the heart of the Church. This characters in the film identified a problem and thought of solutions with the typical human response to change, "No, thank you". It is ashamed that while we have come far, it is still evident that we have far too go to view each other as someone creatd in the image of God.

While this movie deals with a specific situation in a specific time and place, the essence of the movie is overriding and relevent to a present culture on issues of respect, human dignity and the gospel.

The reason I gave it a four is I felt the documentary's ending was poorly executed. It a condensed down to only minutes after long discussions. Insight into the decision making process, more interviews after the pastor left of the church and himself would have been a tremendous asset.