Exclusive Screening Fri Aug 2 7pm Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture Charleston SC Kunta Kinteh Island: The Legacy Returns Elvin Ross, Musician and composer, known for his work with Tyler Perry movies and plays, now has the title of writer and director, as he re-introduces to the world the legacy and story of the African warrior turned American slave, Kunta Kinteh in his new documentary Kunta Kinteh Island: Coming Home without Shackles. Friday, March 1, 2013 hundreds of attendees gathered together at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta’s Midtown for a private screening of the documentary, which represented firsthand Mr. Ross’s vision of keeping Kinteh’s legacy alive and fresh mainly in the minds of African Americans, and the world around. Actual members of the Kinteh family, hundreds of years later, are featured in the documentary and are working hard to keep the Kinteh legacy and story alive. The documentary makes one wonder about his or her own history and tracing their own family back to Africa, as did Alex Haley, founder of the TV series Roots. “Alex Haley gave us “Roots.” Kunta Kinteh Island is talking to the younger generation,” said Ross. The documentary, which was endorsed by Tyler Perry, the Urban League CEO Marc Morial, and actor Ben Vereen, and other VIP’s, features the story of a young school boy whose hero is Kunta Kinteh. He learned of Kinteh from his grandfather, played by Vereen, where the school boy then teaches the legacy to his class. This is a story that Ross feels is very important to African American history, where his goal is to get the story taught in secondary schools and colleges across the country. He even wants his own children to know and learn of the Kunta Kinteh legacy and story. Celebrities, including Ben Vereen, Jermaine Jackson, and Chaz Guest gave their personal testimonies in the documentary as it related to knowing Alex Haley and their visits to James Island, now Kunta Kinteh Island. The documentary mainly entails the horrific slave trade and how Kunta Kinteh fought to keep his identity and his freedom. He was fearless and strong. “I wanted to give a production through the eyes of a student so that my kids would be able to understand this story of Kunta Kinteh and the struggles that he went through so that someday they could realize that their story could be a legend just as Kunta Kinteh’s was,” said Ross. One of the Executive Producers of the documentary, Don Stabler said, “There’s a great sense of joy and pride in this project.” “It’s been a labor of love,” he added. “Truly this experience really changed my life.” “I’m so very proud of our culture,” said Ross, who has even started the Elvin Ross Foundation, whose goal is to assist in building better lives for those in need in the African-American community and the world around, including the Kinteh family. He traveled to Gambia, West Africa three times during the production and was able to sit with the Kinteh family that still lives in Gambia to this day. “My family and I watched “Roots” in the 70’s so when I had an opportunity to do this, I was like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to tell this story again to the younger generation,” said Ross.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 02:10:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015