We had heard about this movie, but I have never read any of James Baldwin’s books, so I was not at all familiar with him.
This was a surprising and interesting movie. The dialogue was all by Baldwin, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, except where there were videos of him. He was very articulate, and spoke clearly and forcefully. One especially good sequence was from the Dick Cavett show when he responded to a Harvard philosophy professors insipid comments.
The film came from a partial manuscript that Baldwin started about Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King. The film talked about these 3 men, their assassinations, and Baldwin’s reactions. It also tied in more recent events: the Watts riots, Rodney King beating, Ferguson, and Black Lives Matter. It was a strong reminder that the United States has a lot to be ashamed of, and still has a long way to go.