Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

WHEN THIS FILM FIRST OPENED, THERE WERE A LOT OF CLAIMS MADE ABOUT HOW THE FOOTAGE WAS SUPPOSEDLY "KEPT IN A BASEMENT" FOR 50 YEARS. AFTER SEEING THE FILM, I THINK I MAY KNOW WHY THAT HAPPENED. IN ONE CLIP, WE SEE NINA SIMONE READ A POEM CALLED "ARE YOU READY?" IN WHICH SHE ASKS, "ARE YOU READY TO KILL IF NECESSARY? ARE YOU READY TO DESTROY WHITE THINGS? ARE YOU READY TO BURN BUILDINGS?" IN AN EARLIER CLIP, WE HEAR AN ANTI-POLICE HATE-MONGER TELL BLACK PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD KILL POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE SUPPOSEDLY SHOOTING BLACK PEOPLE IN THE BACK. I HAVE HEARD THIS FESTIVAL CALLED "THE BLACK WOODSTOCK," BUT WOODSTOCK WAS ALL ABOUT PEACE AND LOVE. THERE IS NOTHING PEACEFUL ABOUT TELLING PEOPLE TO KILL POLICE OFFICERS, AND THERE IS NOTHING LOVING ABOUT SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD BURN BUILDINGS OR DESTROY SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE IT BELONGS TO SOMEMONE OF A DIFFERENT RACE.