Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

In their words, our shared history.

2003 · 75 min · ★ 5.2 · History, Documentary

When the Civil War ended in 1865, more than four million slaves were set free. Over 70 years later, the memories of some 2,000 slave-era survivors were transcribed and preserved by the Library of Congress. These first-person anecdotes, ranging from the brutal to the bittersweet, have been brought to vivid life in this unique HBO documentary special, featuring the on-camera voices of over a dozen top African-American actors.

Directed by Ed Bell · Written by Mark Jonathan Harris