Black Indians: An American Story (2000)

"To build the future, you must know the past. But what if that past has been hidden, lost, or denied?" That question is posed by this program (part of the Circle of Life documentary series) and its answer is explored through interviews with people with mixed African and Native American heritage. Black Indians from many walks of life (including workers, scholars, and artists) discuss the search for, and expression of, their unique identity -- and the racial tensions and stereotyping they have encountered in their lives. The film also examines the history of this group of people, bringing out important aspects of its cultural and artistic heritage and considering them within a modern context. This episode is accompanied by music from Indian and black American artists and is narrated by James Earl Jones.