MovieChat Forums > Deacons for Defense (2003) Discussion > Part of Our History

Part of Our History

posted 19 years ago by gkgk
6 replies | jump to latest

I knew nothing about the Deacons of Defense and Justice...This should be taught as a part of our history along with MLK and Malcolm X. These men are nothing less than heroic. These men took up arms to defend their families and their rights and to make changes that would not reverse. They risked their lives continually with the ominous threat of the Klan. They were not seeking power but the right to be treated fairly. What a story...I highly recommend this movie or even "The Deacons for Defense: Armed Resistance and the Civil Rights Movement" by Lance Hill. To me, this is one of the most interesting parts in our history and I can't believe that I'm just now finding out about it!

[–] do-bye 17 years ago

Oh yes. We must never forget the struggle.

[–] jagaforce 17 years ago

I just recently saw this on the Hallmark channel, amazing piece of history I must say, and the producers were right, this was a chapter in the Civil Rights Movement that doesn't get enough attention. For those who have never been exposed to that pivotal part of American history, I just hope that after seeing this movie, they will gain some knowledge of the scope of the struggle which the forces of good and evil were so embroiled with in the early 1960s.

Forest Whitaker is such an amazing actor and he deserves a long overdue Oscar or Emmy for the magnetic performances which he always puts forth on TV and Cinema!

[–] Ddey65 17 years ago

This was on The Hallmark Channel?! That squeaky-clean cable-TV extenstion of CBS?!

They must've bleeped out all the profanity and racial slurs.

[–] Carycomic 8 years ago

@Jagaforce and Ddey65:

Actually, it was on one of the Encore Channels: ENCB (for "Black"). I saw it last night, after a telecast of 1979's THE WARRIORS. And it was very eye-opening, to say the least. Especially when I learned, at the end, that it was based on a little-known true story!

[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 14 years ago

I didn't know anything about Deacons for Defense prior to seeing this film either.

I thought it was a great film, by the way. I gave it a 9/10. Some of the technical aspects are a bit rough at times, but the great story, script, performances, etc. more than make up for it, imo.

http://www.rateyourmusic.com/~JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies

[–] AtheistRevolution 13 years ago

Yea this doesn't seem to be covered because the non-violent movement of MLK and others. But without these people practicing self-defense who knows if the non-violent protests would be possible.

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.