Eyes on The Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954-1965
$39.99
Product Description
Eyes on the Prize tells the definitive story of the civil rights period from the perspective of the bizarre women and men whose extraordinary actions launched a motion that modified the material of American life, and embodied a wrestle whose reverberations proceed to be felt immediately. Winner of quite a few awards, Eyes on the Prize is probably the most critically acclaimed documentary on civil rights in America.
Amazon.com
One of many important documentary sequence from Twentieth-century tv, Eyes on the Prize is a unprecedented, grassroots historical past of the civil rights motion in Fifties and ’60s America. Leaving punditry and debate to others, this six-hour program considerations itself with the people who have been there, who participated on the entrance strains, who witnessed and survived to inform in regards to the campaign’s tragedies and victories. Beginning with a pair of mid-’50s heroic actions within the South that helped provoke black and white activism towards institutional racism (actions that included Rosa Parks’s refusal to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama), the sequence winds its manner by the exponential development of the motion to the passage of the Voting Rights Act and past. The epochal battle between states-rights advocates and federal authorities is well-covered, as are the various sacrifices made and massive dangers taken by Mississippi Freedom Riders and advocates of black voter registration. –Tom Keogh
Evaluate
“Required Watching” –New York Journal
“Indispensable” –Time Journal
“Should not Be Missed”–Los Angeles Instances
Specification: Eyes on The Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954-1965
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99 reviews for Eyes on The Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954-1965
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Leah –
Eyes on the Prize is one of the best things ever to be on television. Wow. Once you start watching, you can’t stop. And it’s fun to see people who are well-known now as they were when they were young. I can’t rate it highly enough because five stars just doesn’t cover how splendid it is.
Andrew Williams –
every American should be required to watch this series
Carolyn F. Anderson –
This is a very important piece of history that needs to be in every home. Excellent documentary on the Civil Rights Movement! Very well done!
Shannon Brown –
When I was coming up my family would tell us about great African Americans we didn’t learn about in school. I got my set of black history encyclopedias n red them cover to cover and had to do reports on what I learned. My grandmother made us all sit as a family to watch Roots when it first premiered each night. I passed that on with my kids and now my grandkids. Whole they were here last month we watched this Eyes on the Prize documentary all the way through. I wish we could get the entire series with every episode,until then I got the ones they did have. My grandbabies are 12,10,8 and 3,so clearly they weren’t exposed to the things in this film. They were so baffled and intrigued on how n why things were so bad. My 3 yr old grandson couldn’t understand why we couldn’t drink from the same fountain or use the same restroom. He asked was the water made different,or did it taste different? Were we on punishment or time out and couldn’t have any water? I think it’s so important to teach the kids what our grandparents n great grandparents went through just to eat lunchl. I can remember the things I couldn’t believe listening to my grandma tell stories of life in racist Louisiana. The Klan is still active n meets regularly. I will never forget the time we saw 4 truckloads of them in their robes n hoods pulling into the parking lot going in the store to get beer for their meeting. I was absolutely baffled, stunned n blown away. Teach them what things they couldn’t do n what would get them killed or lynched. I made sure mine never used the N word,especially around me or around mixed company because it teaches them it’s alright. Some of these kids r so selfish, entitled ,spoiled,thinks the word owes them something.,one week having to live through that life would humble their rotten asses quickly. Awesome documentary,well done,well researched bit buyer beware,it will take u back,see the ignorance n hate in your face n piss u off. Will kinda remind you of times today,which is so sad we r just about still in the same place..
Cary Honig –
Great documentary. I have been showing it to my students for 30 year. Everyone should see it.
Renee’ J Fizer –
This is something that needs for a lot more people to have seen.
F. K. Wright –
This 6-pack history set were one of the BEST documentary I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. I’d heard of this “history-maker” set but hadn’t seen it until recently. I’m IMPRESSED and I’ve learned things I’ve never known (except from my Mother). There’s NOTHING like seeing it with my very own eyeballs! It was an EYE-OPENER!!!!!!!!!
Dennis B. Roderick, Ph.D –
This is by far the best documentary on the Civil Rights movement in America. It’s re-release this year is quite significant in light of current problems and issues in America. Recently I hosted a series of viewing the episodes with discussion to follow at the University where I teach crime and justice studies. It is amazing how astonished students who view the film are regarding the events depicted in this series. Many young college students today take for granted what has been achieved thus far, and still don’t realize that the Prize is still elusive for many.The documentary is brilliantly produced and directed and the use of the people who were in the middle of the movement is what makes this documentary so powerful. This documentary is inspiring to me for two reasons: It reminds me of the work I did in the late 1960s in the Boston area and how much more work needs to be done as I teach my justice and society course.Although anyone can sit anywhere on a bus today and eat at any lunch counter, the proliferation and expansion of the criminal justice system in the past 30 plus years, and the payment of that system from funds that used to be dedicated to greatly needed social service programs, should cause us to continue the fight of those depicted in the documentary. We now have the new racism and classism in this country, although more subtle and covert. Eyes on the Prize should inspire us all to continue the quest for the Prize (Dream). It is as important as the ancient quest for the Holy Grail.
Humanstreet –
Like many teachers, I used this series to support the instruction of American History, African American History and politics and government. The main import of this series is, of course, civil rights, but the overriding import of this series is a real lesson in how democratic processes work. The people who participated in the movements chronicled here, show clearly how America awakened when its own citizens, Black and White, rose up against injustice. When I used this series to support what I taught, I stressed the fact that the majority of the players in this movement were everyday people who took stands for their beliefs. Literally overnight, many people who never had a public life came to the forefront of public life and, in the pursuit of civil rights, demonstrated before the American public, how democracy truly works. Protest is a basic American right which is constitutionally protected. There were no major stars in these stories, just many small people who came together and created a big story that forever changed American social, political, and economic life, because they acted on their personal political and social convictions. You can use this series to teach American history from so many different angles until its pedagogical value is limitless. I was so glad that I saw this series running in the Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama a couple of years ago, because its message is timeless and of value to all of America. This documentary should be required viewing for every high school in America.
Jerome I. Ussery –
WHAT I LIKED: THE PRODUCT I PURCHASED COVERS THE FIRST SIX (6) EPISODES OF 14 – IT WAS VERY GOOD! I AM IN THE MARKET FOR THE NEXT 8 EPISODES (COVERED ON 4 DISKS). HELP ME OUT AMAZON. THANKS MUCH.
Marsha B. Rupe –
I found this inspiring when I watched it on PBS years ago. I have been showing this to kids in juvenile detention, who can use the model of nonviolence as a way to achieve goals.
watchit –
The recent death of Rep. John Lewis, who is seen in “Eyes on the Prize” as a young leader of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, inspired me to buy this reissue and watch it all over again. I previously owned the PBS VHS edition. This DVD reissue is a stunning transfer with sharp titles, higher-rez images, and a noise-reduced audio track that makes it look and sound better than when it originally aired in the late 1980s. It also brings America’s Civil Rights Struggle back to life in a way that reminds us that, although much has changed, the racism that divides our country along racial lines persist. Now let’s cross our fingers that “Eyes on the Prize II” gets similarly restored and reissued.
Connye Varner –
Love this video, very classic. Shall be seen in all high schools
Pat & Paul Tessier –
This series largely relies on first hand news clips, interviews with important players, and succinct narration to give an outstanding overview of the civil rights movement in the U.S.
Melanie Page –
I use this video as a supplement to my African American Literature anthology in a college classroom. We don’t actually watch the movies IN class. Students watch them as homework and are able to give historical context to the Civil Rights time period. Very useful!
Dre’ya –
so glad this is finally available on dvd!
CHRISTINE L PILGRIM –
I wanted this product in my collection
Shannon Brown –
When I was coming up my family would tell us about great African Americans we didn’t learn about in school. I got my set of black history encyclopedias n red them cover to cover and had to do reports on what I learned. My grandmother made us all sit as a family to watch Roots when it first premiered each night. I passed that on with my kids and now my grandkids. Whole they were here last month we watched this Eyes on the Prize documentary all the way through. I wish we could get the entire series with every episode,until then I got the ones they did have. My grandbabies are 12,10,8 and 3,so clearly they weren’t exposed to the things in this film. They were so baffled and intrigued on how n why things were so bad. My 3 yr old grandson couldn’t understand why we couldn’t drink from the same fountain or use the same restroom. He asked was the water made different,or did it taste different? Were we on punishment or time out and couldn’t have any water? I think it’s so important to teach the kids what our grandparents n great grandparents went through just to eat lunchl. I can remember the things I couldn’t believe listening to my grandma tell stories of life in racist Louisiana. The Klan is still active n meets regularly. I will never forget the time we saw 4 truckloads of them in their robes n hoods pulling into the parking lot going in the store to get beer for their meeting. I was absolutely baffled, stunned n blown away. Teach them what things they couldn’t do n what would get them killed or lynched. I made sure mine never used the N word,especially around me or around mixed company because it teaches them it’s alright. Some of these kids r so selfish, entitled ,spoiled,thinks the word owes them something.,one week having to live through that life would humble their rotten asses quickly. Awesome documentary,well done,well researched bit buyer beware,it will take u back,see the ignorance n hate in your face n piss u off. Will kinda remind you of times today,which is so sad we r just about still in the same place..
TLee –
A must watch for everyone.
Z. Vance Jones III –
Excellent – Documentary. I was born in 1950 to a family (in Virginia ) my immediate family was upper middle class and my extended family system was upper class. Yes , we had butlers, maids , cooks , yard men et all. I can remember some of the “servants” eating at the dinner table , kitchen table , and in the butler pantry with us — they were all family…. We loved and cared for them just like they did us .
Dianna G. Dodson –
Eyes on the Prize remains the gold standard of video series on the Civil Rights Movement of the ’50s and ’60s. Powerful. Truth unvarnished. Important.
rickey –
I grew up during this time but this tells the story of what actually was happening. I grew up with the lies and fears of the time. My generation is hungry for the truth about African American history. I am glad that my child will be able to have proof of his pride in being an American who doesn’t need a spray tan.
Pat & Paul Tessier –
This series largely relies on first hand news clips, interviews with important players, and succinct narration to give an outstanding overview of the civil rights movement in the U.S.
Leon P. Eddie –
The DVD enlightens with the truth concering the Civil Rights Struggle, the people that were instrumental in warding off the savagery for a just cause for “Freedom” and who sacrificed so much to ensure that America could remain strong and culture as one in “Equality”, regardless of Race, Creed, Color or Religion.
L O –
I use this documentary (in small clips) with my 8th grade US history students.It’s a long series, but everyone should see this (at least) once.
Buyer in CA –
Everybody in America should see this documentaryIt should be required in all schoolsThere was stuff I never knew about as a young person until I watched this
Fran V –
The “Eyes on the Prize” documentary reminds us of America’s past and how some people in this country still feel about racial integration. This is an important part of American history that should never be forgotten. How many times have you heard any one say “get over the Holocaust” to Jewish people? Black people are told every today to get over discrimination, bigotry and voter suppression. All of these hardships still exists today. Things are better now for most black people but there is still a remnant of resistance by some to hold black people back.
james E Henderson –
Very good information
TG –
A beautiful and moving documentary on the black civil rights movement, “Eyes on the Prize” features a rich mix of interviews with key participants in the movement, along with archival video footage. The program also paints a thorough picture of the relationship between the movement at the state and local level, particularly in the South, and the federal government and national politics. I’m already looking forward to watching it again.
Bickett D. Fort –
I liked the unadulterated facts.
Persnickity Buyer –
I purchased to share with my sons and husband. The live footage and detailed information is an excellent way to open the conversation about Civil Rights and show how far we’ve come. My only concern is the history AFTER 1965 is not available on DVD. Very few people own a VHS player and that is the only way to obtain the 2nd half of the videos. I know this has nothing to do with Amazon but would hope the 2nd half becomes available on DVD soon.
Just ask me! –
For the first time, in the civil rights era, there was plenty of television documentation of a national crisis. This also means that footage was available in the development of Eyes on the Prize, which was unavailable for home (and school!) viewers for many years. Every American should watch it. The events all occur in many of our lifetimes (including mine) and no one who watches this can be dismissive of the civil rights movement.
Dennis B. Roderick, Ph.D –
This is by far the best documentary on the Civil Rights movement in America. It’s re-release this year is quite significant in light of current problems and issues in America. Recently I hosted a series of viewing the episodes with discussion to follow at the University where I teach crime and justice studies. It is amazing how astonished students who view the film are regarding the events depicted in this series. Many young college students today take for granted what has been achieved thus far, and still don’t realize that the Prize is still elusive for many.The documentary is brilliantly produced and directed and the use of the people who were in the middle of the movement is what makes this documentary so powerful. This documentary is inspiring to me for two reasons: It reminds me of the work I did in the late 1960s in the Boston area and how much more work needs to be done as I teach my justice and society course.Although anyone can sit anywhere on a bus today and eat at any lunch counter, the proliferation and expansion of the criminal justice system in the past 30 plus years, and the payment of that system from funds that used to be dedicated to greatly needed social service programs, should cause us to continue the fight of those depicted in the documentary. We now have the new racism and classism in this country, although more subtle and covert. Eyes on the Prize should inspire us all to continue the quest for the Prize (Dream). It is as important as the ancient quest for the Holy Grail.
Sleepy –
As relevant today as when it first aired.
Amazon Customer –
I loved the way this video was packaged. It provided information about the content, which was helpful.The quality was great
poetic –
the most extensive documentary i have ever seen on this subject. it is narrated by the late julian bond, much footage of the movement and interviews during such a tragic and courageous time in US history.
Melissa M. Presser –
As a high school teacher who teaches this period in history, this resource is INVALUABLE for making history come alive for students. Hearing from the people–well-known and little known–who lived through this time period coupled with video footage of their experiences brings the past right into the present! I show many portions to my students each year and they are engrossed and I am never “bored” in watching it again each year. Highly recommend; I’d give it 10 stars if I could!
T. Payton –
Absolutely true to life story and actual movie clips. I did live in this period and was old enough to remember. I was a Northerner, but Hell ran rampant there too. So sad. It is also interesting to see that all that racial tension and murder has now turned around for the most part, and people of every race are having children together and sharing neighborhoods, dinners, parties and loving their lives. These films are a MUST SEE, if you did not live in that period. I was 18 years old, and remember every bit of what is show here… very well.
Penny Mills –
Received in excellent condition. The content of the series is as moving as I remembered from having watched it some years ago. It is a tribute to the men and women who battled and sacrificed for civil rights during the 1960s.
Cindy Bateman –
Even though you can get this on YouTube, there are times when you need your own copy. This DVD is full of information that we all need to know and understand about the Civil Rights movement. The DVD arrived quickly and in perfect shape.
Mike Agranoff –
The bravery of the people who fought this fight takes my breath away. These are true American heroes. And what astonishes me about the film is the fact that they managed to get cameras right up there in the face of the action.
Sham –
This should be required viewing in public schools across America, because so many of our young people aren’t aware of the struggles, brutalities, and often-times murders African-Americans suffered trying to get to the promised land. Through the beginning in 1955, with the murder of Emit Till we see how African-American withstood oppression and racial injustice, struggling for a right that they’d earned through wars, labor, and citizenship since the first slaves landed in Jamestown.
ToddyNic –
Great doco. Very important theme in this Black Lives age
regina evans –
Would like to purchase a video on the happenings of Martin Luther King,He’s death, which would include all the black uprisings across America! If Amazon doesn’t have it, I’ll find it elsewhere! The full uprisings of 1968(Aftermath of MLK’s death). Thank you.
Christopher Woodard –
This is an excellent source of information on the origins of the Civil Rights Movement and how it progressed from Martin Luther King Jr. to Malcolm X and the Black Panthers. A must for anyone interested in the Civil Rights Movement, Black History or history in general.
DupontDC –
If you are interested in the history of African-American civil rights in the US, you should own a copy of this documentary series. I believe every African-American should watch this at least every year to inspire you to move forward and know the steep price that has been paid for our liberties. Parent, if you want to educated your kids about this era, sit down with them and watch it … then discuss it together as a family. I am grateful that the price has come down. In the past, they wanted hundreds of dollars for the series (I am serious!!). Now the price is accessible, and we should watch this monumental record of our history.
lin b. –
The Eyes on the Prize Series is a staple in my classroom. I loved them so much, I purchased them for my own (home) collection. Two interviews that had the most impact on me: the kids that were part of the Little Rock 9 (now elderly and just as strong as they were then); the first hand accounts of Dr. King’s addresses to the SCLC. This griping documentary will give you goosebumps throughout and, hopefully, will stir you to action.
S. Lunt –
One of the finest and most comprehensive series on civil rights. Living in a small town in California, I had no idea how long and how hard people from across this nation had to struggle and fight to receive civil rights which, as Dr. Martin Luther King stated, should have been theirs at birth. This series should be required viewing by all students.
Daniel Fraga –
A great show!!Informative in the extreme, particularly given the current political climate w/ Prez. Hair-hat’s rise of the hate groups!
watchit –
The recent death of Rep. John Lewis, who is seen in “Eyes on the Prize” as a young leader of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, inspired me to buy this reissue and watch it all over again. I previously owned the PBS VHS edition. This DVD reissue is a stunning transfer with sharp titles, higher-rez images, and a noise-reduced audio track that makes it look and sound better than when it originally aired in the late 1980s. It also brings America’s Civil Rights Struggle back to life in a way that reminds us that, although much has changed, the racism that divides our country along racial lines persist. Now let’s cross our fingers that “Eyes on the Prize II” gets similarly restored and reissued.
feenixriz –
This documentary makes you feel for the people involved in sacrificing their lives, time, and families to bring civil rights to all people. The level of hatred for a person because of their race is deplorable in these documented events. I’m so happy they were able to overcome.
Jeff Howard –
The DVDs were clear and illustrated the exact footage as it happened during the civil rights movement in the U.S. Recommend as a good history teaching aide for children.
D. Johnson –
Who doesn’t love Eyes on the Prize? Seriously, it is a ground breaking documentary about the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s, 60s and 1970s. I use it with my students in my American history class. It is not only informative, but it is also highly engaging. The images are great and the overall production is of a high quality.
Ashley M –
This was a series my mom had me watch as a kid to understand the history of my culture. We purchased this as a way for my husband, who is white, to get a better understanding of The Civil Rights movement and what those brave men, women and children suffered to make a way for me and our future children. I deeply recommend purchasing this series!
A. D. Bowman –
Rattlesnakes don’t commit suicide is a very effective line from this documentary. It deals with the knowledge of an enslaved and oppressed people, knowing that their oppressor will never willingly set them free. Thus begin this very thought provoking series that chronicles the 30 year span of the Civil Rights Movement from 1954 through 1984. However, this is not a thoroughly comprehensive piece because far too many figures were either omitted or appear all too briefly, chiefly, Thorogood Marshall, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., and Malcolm X. Nor would I have you believe that the movement started in 1954, because this struggle dates back to the 16th century and was sucessfully contained and controlled until the mid 20th century. There are fine, in fact, excellent documentaries that deserve to be seen along with this one, most notably are: Africans In America; A Journey Through Slavery, ( 2 ) Reconstruction: The Second Civil War and ( 3 ) Citizen King, worthy of a look. But for the period this film covers, it is unsurpassed in what it reveals. A warning however should be noted that this is a stark, violent document that often show scenes that are very disturbing, but a necessary element to illustrate the brutality inflicted upon a people who were forcibly taken from their homes and enslaved in the new colonies, purportedly built on the principles and concepts of Freedom. This journey begins with the Supreme Court ruling in the Brown-vs-The Board Of Education. From there we are swept along to the mobilization of the Mobile bus boycott and introduces us to the young Dr. Martin Luther King. It is my opinion that the speeches of Dr. King, alone make it a must have in every home. Far too many young people of today think that black history is what was atop the Hip-Hop charts a year ago. This is why this item should be in every home, should be viewed by everyone you know, should be recommended to every American regardless of race, because blacks alone did not overcome the situation in America. This is a truly remarkable piece to own. And in the words of Dr. King “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Failing to view or purchase this DVD set would be a true injustice. Aubrey D. Bowman
Wendell F. Wentz –
Eyes on The Prize is an excellent history of the Civil Rights Movement in the South. It reveals the abuse and oppression of a people against those who were different. Segregation and racism are part and parcel of a Nazi regime, and they were found in the Deep South for over a century. No student or person should live without seeing this documentary of unconstitutional behavior, and they should take notice of the Southern “leaders” that made racism their card to winning office across the South for over 100 years. This series of DVDs should be in every home sitting next to the Holy Bible and Constitution in every house that claims to be Christian. How could a people claim to be Christian and state that America is a Christian nation practice such wicked and evil deeds?
dejay –
Eyes on the Prize is very informative and necessary, especially in 2011. My students were surprised by what they we seeing, they haven’t any concept of the sixties and everything Black people went through in order to live in a society such as it was.
Cal –
This is one of the must see documentaries of a lifetime. I truly believe that every American should see this at least once in their lifetime. Knowledge is power.
Ally h. –
great product, came brand new, unused and is exactly what it said, I recommend this seller for everyone!
Composite Truth –
I’ve long sought after this “complete” set of Eyes On The Prize dvds. Was so pleased to find it at an incredible price!
On Assignment –
I have been inspired by this work for many years a recommend it for future generations.
Kathryn C. –
Excellent documentary. We bought this to watch as a family to supplement our children’s public school education. Maybe supplement isn’t the best word….we bought this to teach our children about the Civil Right’s Movement…the information they learn in school is grossly inadequate. I highly recommend this documentary.
Suzanne –
THIS IS EXCELLENT. Thank you for making it available!!
Art Miller –
If you are an American or are curious about TRUE American history this documentary is a must. Understanding American obliges us to see the ugly underbelly along with its riches. Black America stood up even when they were knocked back down. Such resiliance reflects the true character of a people.
John Webb –
Just watched the first episode. This was a six-hour documentary on PBS in 1987. Got it from Mr. Bezos, $21 marked down from $40. Very good. First episode covered Emmett Till, and the Montgomery bus boycott and the rise of Rev. King.You think you remember history, but you don’t. That boycott went on for a year, and finally took the Supreme Court to end it. In the meantime, other cities had boycotts and had ended bus segregation.It’s so valuable to be able to see these people talking about what happened, the people who were there, with their feelings in what they say. But I hope you’re good with Southern dialects, because these PBS discs have no captions at all.(I get no compensation of any kind for this review.)
Red Raven –
Should be required viewing for all high school history students. An excellent review of the struggles and times that America went through to work out the problems of slavery that should have been resolved in the 1770’s.
UES Reader –
I have no words for this. I have seen it five or six times, and I always end up watching the whole thing (several hours) in a row. It is inspiring, it is sad, tragic, exulting, and it gives you hope for the human spirit: both for the black people fighting for their lives and rights, and for the white people obviously slowly getting the point and becoming better people. All this was long before my birth, but this documentary brings it all to life. A combination of period footage and modern interviews with people famous from those days.
Fletch –
This dvd set is a no-holds barred look at the early years of the fight for civil rights of black Americans. It looks at the struggles of the blacks in the deep south and the white supremacists who were committed to keeping the racial status quo. This dvd will take you through the full spectrum of emotions; Compassion, anger, empathy, and more. Only one word describes it; riveting.
J R. –
Dislike nothing, great doc for kids, or anyone to view history of America
Pamela –
I love this item the Eyes on the Prize was always something that me and my family could watch together to apprecicate the struggle that SO MANY endured that BLACK PEOPLE could have the opportunities that all Americans are given.Priceless and timeless piece of history…a must have in every American home!
whatever_gong82 –
I was born in the post civil rights era, so all of what this series informs the viewer is all the nastiness that was going on in the U.S. in those 11 short years. A lot of what is taught in school during the Civil Rights era is very short, and usually focuses on Rosa Parks, MLK, Malcolm X, and a few others. That in itself is wrong, because this era is like a good history book, a lot of info, and a lot of characters (i.e. real people) whose courage in what they faced to help make America live up to its ideas of Equality is deserving of more than a mere footnote.I eagerly await the conclusion to this series when the next set comes out on DVD.
Placeholder –
I bought this set and another cd on Black History at the same time. I love to read, watch, hear and research my history and I wanted my kids to see some things first hand that actually occurred. The only month our history is mentioned is in February and I wanted my kids to actually know about someone other than Martin Luther King. He was a great man, but there was so many that laid tracks before him and after him that are not recognized.
John Webb –
Just watched the first episode. This was a six-hour documentary on PBS in 1987. Got it from Mr. Bezos, $21 marked down from $40. Very good. First episode covered Emmett Till, and the Montgomery bus boycott and the rise of Rev. King.You think you remember history, but you don’t. That boycott went on for a year, and finally took the Supreme Court to end it. In the meantime, other cities had boycotts and had ended bus segregation.It’s so valuable to be able to see these people talking about what happened, the people who were there, with their feelings in what they say. But I hope you’re good with Southern dialects, because these PBS discs have no captions at all.(I get no compensation of any kind for this review.)
Greg M. –
Probably the best doc ever on the history of the civil rights movement. I saw this 30 years ago, but it is still powerful in its storytelling and emotional impact.
Mr. Gilbert –
Eyes on The Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954 – 1965.I was born in 1954, so this dvd is a special document for me.I was taught, to respect myself and respect everybody else,I was taught that education was very important!
Tjones –
I was waiting for this series to be available on DVD and was very glad when it did. It is well worth the money and it is something that everyone should have a copy or at least have watched to understand the civil rights movement. I am pleased with my purchase and would not change a thing about it.
A. D. Bowman –
Rattlesnakes don’t commit suicide is a very effective line from this documentary. It deals with the knowledge of an enslaved and oppressed people, knowing that their oppressor will never willingly set them free. Thus begin this very thought provoking series that chronicles the 30 year span of the Civil Rights Movement from 1954 through 1984. However, this is not a thoroughly comprehensive piece because far too many figures were either omitted or appear all too briefly, chiefly, Thorogood Marshall, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., and Malcolm X. Nor would I have you believe that the movement started in 1954, because this struggle dates back to the 16th century and was sucessfully contained and controlled until the mid 20th century. There are fine, in fact, excellent documentaries that deserve to be seen along with this one, most notably are: Africans In America; A Journey Through Slavery, ( 2 ) Reconstruction: The Second Civil War and ( 3 ) Citizen King, worthy of a look. But for the period this film covers, it is unsurpassed in what it reveals. A warning however should be noted that this is a stark, violent document that often show scenes that are very disturbing, but a necessary element to illustrate the brutality inflicted upon a people who were forcibly taken from their homes and enslaved in the new colonies, purportedly built on the principles and concepts of Freedom. This journey begins with the Supreme Court ruling in the Brown-vs-The Board Of Education. From there we are swept along to the mobilization of the Mobile bus boycott and introduces us to the young Dr. Martin Luther King. It is my opinion that the speeches of Dr. King, alone make it a must have in every home. Far too many young people of today think that black history is what was atop the Hip-Hop charts a year ago. This is why this item should be in every home, should be viewed by everyone you know, should be recommended to every American regardless of race, because blacks alone did not overcome the situation in America. This is a truly remarkable piece to own. And in the words of Dr. King “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Failing to view or purchase this DVD set would be a true injustice. Aubrey D. Bowman
Brandywine Lady –
This is an iconic documentary that is an absolute must for every dvd library, especially for us who were still in elementary school when these events happened and were too young to understand the significance of these historic events.
MLavon –
I love the way this author captures the events of the civil rights movement allowing the viewer to vicariously live through the events and feel the impact of injustice as well as the taste of victory through growth of our nation.
shareleflare –
have been waiting on buying this for a while, it is great to have this especially on dvd to show to my classes, it will never get old and will always be interesting and educational
Acronym –
Excellent. Objective (as much as that is possible for anyone). Beautiful. Yes although the subject is about the uglier aspects of the US empire, it is done with grace and beauty. Highly recommended for anyone with honesty and compassion.
LM –
The media could not be loaded.
Politics aside this is one hell of a series to watch and to have and to pass on to your kids. I am so glad that Amazon has these to sell and I thank you for that with all the banning of books and videos and everything else in the country.
Teen –
More than informative, it is an opportunity for viewers to experience what the Civil Rights era was like from newsreels, interviews, and other recordings with a fly-on-the wall perspective. I highly recommend it. It’s a must see for anyone who wants to know more about how culture, politics, power, and the will of “the people” can affect public policy.
jdub57 –
We need to our young people where they came from so that they can make a firm and informed decision about where they are going!
Amazon Customer –
Great
Brandywine Lady –
This is an iconic documentary that is an absolute must for every dvd library, especially for us who were still in elementary school when these events happened and were too young to understand the significance of these historic events.
Wendell F. Wentz –
Eyes on The Prize is an excellent history of the Civil Rights Movement in the South. It reveals the abuse and oppression of a people against those who were different. Segregation and racism are part and parcel of a Nazi regime, and they were found in the Deep South for over a century. No student or person should live without seeing this documentary of unconstitutional behavior, and they should take notice of the Southern “leaders” that made racism their card to winning office across the South for over 100 years. This series of DVDs should be in every home sitting next to the Holy Bible and Constitution in every house that claims to be Christian. How could a people claim to be Christian and state that America is a Christian nation practice such wicked and evil deeds?
Ramona –
My son, the budding history professor, loves this video. Perfect addition to his ever increasing history video library and a must have to help him understand the struggle that gives him the freedoms he has today…
Annie Ross –
A look into the Civil Rights Movement. A must see for young African Americans to get a glimpse of what their forefathers had to endure so they could have the opportunities they have today. A wonderful coverage of the movement.
LM –
The media could not be loaded.
Politics aside this is one hell of a series to watch and to have and to pass on to your kids. I am so glad that Amazon has these to sell and I thank you for that with all the banning of books and videos and everything else in the country.
Humanstreet –
Like many teachers, I used this series to support the instruction of American History, African American History and politics and government. The main import of this series is, of course, civil rights, but the overriding import of this series is a real lesson in how democratic processes work. The people who participated in the movements chronicled here, show clearly how America awakened when its own citizens, Black and White, rose up against injustice. When I used this series to support what I taught, I stressed the fact that the majority of the players in this movement were everyday people who took stands for their beliefs. Literally overnight, many people who never had a public life came to the forefront of public life and, in the pursuit of civil rights, demonstrated before the American public, how democracy truly works. Protest is a basic American right which is constitutionally protected. There were no major stars in these stories, just many small people who came together and created a big story that forever changed American social, political, and economic life, because they acted on their personal political and social convictions. You can use this series to teach American history from so many different angles until its pedagogical value is limitless. I was so glad that I saw this series running in the Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama a couple of years ago, because its message is timeless and of value to all of America. This documentary should be required viewing for every high school in America.
Kwajalyn –
Great educational video for beginning to teach African American history
Gunny B –
Outstanding documentary, surpased the common knowledge of Civil Right Era, I would recommend this video to any one who have a desire to learn about the civil right issue.
JOSE –
It really really sucks that I had to pay so much money for only 6 CDs. But, I had to buy this. The deal breaker for me was when I saw a controversial clip from the series removed from youtube only days after watching it. I fear that it will eventually be unavailable. If you can afford it, support it. It is very educational. If you can’t, I understand.
Jenni –
One of the best
Margaret –
Great historical account of the Civil Rights Era. Powerful video.
James Chester Sharpless Crowther –
Since schools have been systematically dismantled and starved of necessary funding, they have removed vital material from the syllabus of many high school history classes. Every parent should invest in this. Simply to insure out history is not forgotten.
Eyes on The Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954-1965
Amazon Customer –
This is a very valuable addition to our group of documentaries. I presents a lot of new information that is shocking at times but important and valuable to know.
Elsie LeBlanc –
This was an awesome program which we watched on PBS when it first came out.We had always wanted to watch it again, so ordered the DVD. Excellent footagefrom that era.