SPECIAL: BLACK HISTORY MONTH
In Their Own Words
With Jacqueline Glover,
Producer, "Unchained Memories: Readings From the
Slave Narratives"
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003; Noon ET "Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives" is a 74-minute documentary produced by HBO in association with the Library of Congress and hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, with dramatic readings by Angela Bassett, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Robert Guillaume, Vanessa Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Alfre Woodard and Samuel L. Jackson, among others. The words they speak are those of actual former slaves who were interviewed between 1936 and 1938 by a group called the Works Progress Administration's Federal Writers' Project. Over 2000 interviews were conducted and are now on file in the Library of Congress. Jacqueline Glover, producer of the documentary, said in an interview with washingtonpost.com, "We did the program so people would gain a deeper understanding of what slavery was like in this country and what better way to understand it than to hear it in their own words?" Glover was online Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Noon ET, to talk about the program. In addition to their in-character readings, the actors sometimes add their own editorial comments or anecdotes and there are archival photographs and authentic slave-era music performed by the McIntosh County Shouters. "Unchained Memories" airs at various times during the month of February. (Check local listings) A transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Washington, D.C.: Why did you decide to do this project? Did you come up against some resistance by those who did not want to open up old wounds? Jacqueline Glover: It was my boss, Sheila Nevins, who is the head of documentary and family programming at HBO who thought it was important to do a documentary on slavery.
In doing research for the project I encountered no resistance whatsoever in the subject matter.
McLean, Va.: Will this movie be made available other places for people to see other than on paid-for television? Jacqueline Glover: Yes. The DVD and VHS are available for purchase. There will also be a museum exhibit beginning this spring traveling the country and the film will be part of the exhibit running continuously. We don't have confirmed venues yet for the museum exhibit but you should check the Web site (www.hbo.com) for the locations.
Annapolis, Md.: Thanks for taking my question. Slavery certainly was a poison blot in American history. I have a different kind of question. To quote you "... and what better way to understand it than to hear it in their own words?" My answer is "I'm not sure." How do we capture the past? Anecdotes are certainly a great way, however, there are those who believe that slavery wasn't as bad as depicted, and their proof: anecdotes. It seems that everyone has their own anecdotes to suit their own view. Can you comment? Thanks. Jacqueline Glover: I think that by working with historians on the film, we certainly had a sense of the history and certainly their knowledge is based upon all sorts of sources and the narratives add to that. While working with these historians they certainly confirmed what these people said and obviously their research comes from many sources (written material such as letters, slave owners, documents).
Washington, D.C. : How and when were the interviews done? Had anything been done with them before your documentary? Jacqueline Glover: There have been books on the narratives that have come out in the mid-70s and recently Ira Berlin's book, "Remembering Slavery" was published two or three years ago.
The interviews were done in the mid-1930s and conducted by federal writers who worked for the WPA (Work Projects Administration) and they were sent to the southern states and bordering states (17 in all), to interview former slaves.
The federal writers would literally knock on doors to interview former slaves and would conduct the interview with pen and paper. There were a few audio recordings, but not many.
Fairfax, Va.: How has the documentary been received? Has there been criticism of it because it delves into painful territory for many? Jacqueline Glover: The film has been received extremely well by critics, reviewers and the public. It has not been criticized but has been praised for touching on a subject that doesn't get discussed that often and I think people are grateful to be able to have the information and to be able to discuss it. And that response has been from black and white people whom I have come in contact with.
The one major response I've received is that it's unique. It's a vehicle for people to be able talk about the subject of slavery and even though it's a painful subject, I think people are wanting to discuss it or at least to understand it better.
Washington, D.C.: Were there times in the production of "Unchained" that the actors got emotional while reading their lines? Did the experience prove "too close to home" for some of them? Jacqueline Glover: Roscoe Lee Browne, after reading a letter from a former slave, did have tears in his eyes and needed a moment and you do see that in the film. It was a letter from a former slave that joined the Union Army and had written a letter to his children saying he was going to get them out of slavery if it was the last thing he did and how much he loved his children. After reading that letter, Browne needed that moment.
I don't think most of the actors thought it was material that they couldn't handle emotionally. Some saw familiarity in the stories and expressions that were used by the slaves in the narratives.
For example, Samuel L. Jackson was familiar with the term "paddy rollers," who were paid to catch runaway slaves. He had heard his grandparents use this term as he was growing up as a child.
Silver Spring, Md.: How did you come up with the title, "Unchained Memories?" I ask because there's an old song called "Unchained Melody" and I wondered if there was any connection. Jacqueline Glover: No connection. We liked using the word "memories" because that's what these narratives are and we felt that using the word "unchained" in front of that meant "having been freed." Close to "Unchained Melody" but not connected at all.
Kennebunkport, Maine : What a fabulous list of celebrity participants! What did they think of the project, overall? And were there any people you wanted to be included, but declined or were unable to? Can't wait. It sounds beautiful. Jacqueline Glover: Overall, great response. Everyone was very happy with the film. We asked Denzel Washington but he wasn't available. James Earl Jones was not available -- scheduling conflicts.
Washington, D.C.: How did you assemble such a robust, mega-talented cast? Did each person tape separately, according to his/her own schedule? If so, did they ever "compare notes" about their experiences? Jacqueline Glover: Most of the people were scheduled at different times. I don't know if any of them compared notes after their performances but I do know that Oprah Winfrey had called Angela Bassett about her experience before she (Oprah) had done her reading.
Each person was recorded separately except for Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. (They played a married couple.)
Rappahannock Coffee, Cyberspace, Va.: This really points out the importance of federal funding for the arts -- these stories would be lost to us, were it not for the New Deal -- in an effort to put people back to work, the WPA was formed, with the amazingly futuristic idea to have people go about collecting these stories. Any thoughts? Jacqueline Glover: I agree. It was a wonderful thing. Hopefully our country can have more of these kinds of projects for the arts in the future.
South Arlington, Va.: I bought the book "When I Was a Slave, Memories from the Slave Narrative Collection" edited by Norman Yeti last year for my daughter and we began reading them to one another. I can't describe the feeling and emotions that flow through you as you read out loud in the voice of the ordinary person, facing the day to day trials and pain of being born into slavery for life. What have you heard from the actors and their experiences in reading? Jacqueline Glover: CC Pounder, when she read her narrative, and she truly said this in the studio ... she felt that this person (the former slave Fannie Berry) was in the room or had taken over the room. She felt her presence. I think many of the actors talked about being really touched by the material as well.
Somewhere, USA: Tell us about the selection process, both of the stories and of the actors. . . did you think of specific actors to read in the voices of individuals as you reviewed the stories, or find experiences to suit the talent out of the 2,000 in the collection? Jacqueline Glover: The process was first looking at all 500 narratives that had photographs attached. After reading the 500 I probably read about 150 more narratives of just looking for good stories. From that selection of about 650, I got it down to about 100 narratives. And from that 100 I shared them with my colleagues at HOBO and we all read, looking for compelling stories and from that 100 we got down to the 45 that are in the film.
What we did was just go to the good actors. We didn't match up the narratives to the actors in the beginning. When we went to the actors, we just went for talented actors. We gave each actor about four scripts to read and at least two of the scripts for each actor ended up in the film.
Arlington, Va.: Jacqueline, This subject is such a delicate one. You are serving as a wonderful role model for us younger folks.
In doing this you will also encourage many to dig deeper into the topic of slavery, the experience of and how it shaped our country.
Do you feel this project brought about issues within your own life concerning you and how you view yourself within society?
If so what insight and guidance would you pass onto young black women when dealing with the socio, economic, and racist culture left over in this country post slavery. Jacqueline Glover: For me personally, the film has given me a better sense of myself as a descendent of slaves. That experience was always the question mark and now I feel I have a better sense of what the experience was. During the process of making this film I talked to my father about our ancestors and he had more information than I thought he had. I found out, while making this film, the plantation my ancestors worked on as slaves.
I learned from these narratives how far, at least personally, some of us have been able to come and have a sense of responsibility because of where I have been able to go in my life. I see, especially in these narratives, that some slaves had more opportunity than others and I think that's true even today as African Americans that there are still, because of the legacy of slavery, obstacles to overcome because of social and economic differences.
What I've learned from reading these narratives and how these people got through taught me to take advantage of all the resources that are out there and to try to help educate other people as well.
Pennsylvania: How long were you involved in this project? Was this a full time venture, or one of several projects you worked on? Jacqueline Glover: I worked on it for three years and it was a full-time venture.
Bethesda, Md.: This is a serious question. Slavery is kaput. Why do this project? Could you look at this objectively and really think about whether or not it's just more bellyaching from the African-American community about the way things USED to be, YEARS ago, before ANY of you were ever born? Jacqueline Glover: Slavery is a part of American history and we all should learn about American history because it's important.
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