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Cast
Muhammad Ali
as Self (archive footage)
Jonelle Allen
as Self
John Amos
as (archive footage)
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
as Self (archive footage)
Desi Arnaz
as (archive footage)
Obba Babatundé
as Self
Pearl Bailey
as Self (archive footage)
Lucille Ball
as (archive footage)
Harry Belafonte
as Self (archive footage)
Patricia Belcher
as Self
Movie Info & Details
Release Year2004
Runtime1h 40m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDocumentary
Votes3
Director—
WritersBrandon Christopher, Michiko Byers, Ruth Adkins Robinson
TypeFeature Film
Rating5.3 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsTV in Black: The First Fifty Years
About TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the medium's first half-century. Actors, writers and historians discuss the image of black America on television from Amos and Andy to the present day. The interviews accompany clips from groundbreaking shows and performances by entertainment pioneers that create a timeline of the portrayal of African Americans throughout TV history.
Directed by —, TV in Black: The First Fifty Years leans on a strong ensemble — Muhammad Ali, Jonelle Allen, John Amos — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2004.
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