William Greaves
1986
Infusing fiction with elements of documentary, William Greaves’s short biopic of legendary African American activist Booker T. Washington focuses on how his leadership of the Tuskegee Institute—which equally emphasized practical labor skills and classroom learning—influenced educational philosophy and practice throughout the United States. Screenwriter Lou Potter sets the action during the lifetime of Washington (Maurice Woods), but a modern-day narrator (Gil Noble) interviews the historical personages—and frequently challenges their answers. This experimental format highlights the still-contentious nature of Washington’s political stances, especially his accommodationist strategy for Black integration within the racially hostile South.