The legacy of slavery and the contributions of Black American are intrinsic to nearly every aspect of what makes America America. It’s a simple enough thesis, but the makers of the documentary series of "The 1619 Project"–based on the original essays published in The New York Times–bring it to life with stories from history, of course, but also those of contemporary people whose lives and experiences illustrate this deep truth.
Executive Producer and showrunner Shoshana Guy sat down with Mike to discuss how her team managed to fashion a work of great craft while sticking to their core argument throughout 6 episodes, each of which explores a key aspect of current American life. Why is Nikole Hannah-Jones such a great guide, and what’s up with that notebook? What is the deeper cause of elevated child and maternal mortality of Black women, no matter their income? How did a failed attempt to get into Studio 54 inspire Niles Rodgers to compose the ultimate party song–but one actually deeply imbued with the spirit of social activism? Throughout, we witness that from pain comes not just survival but a complicated pride of country and even joy.
"The 1619 Project" has been nominated for 3 Emmys, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series and is available on Hulu.
Hidden Gem:
The Death of My Two Fathers
Follow:
@shoshan_guy on twitter and @shoshanaguy on Instagram
@topdocspod on Instagram and twitter
The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.
"Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza" with Michael John Warren
"Union" with Brett Story, Stephen Maing & Chris Smalls
"Sugarcane" with Julian Brave Noisecat & Emily Kassie
”Four Daughters” with Kaouther Ben Hania
”Stamped from the Beginning” with Roger Ross Williams
Sundance 2024 Documentary Lineup Review with Basil Tsiokos
”32 Sounds” with Sam Green
”Apolonia, Apolonia” with Lea Glob
”Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy” with Susan Margolin & Simon Kilmurry
”Art for Everybody” with Miranda Yousef
Oscar Shortlist 2024 Breakdown with Anne Thompson
Emmy Nominations Breakdown with Scott Feinberg
”Little Richard: I am Everything” with Lisa Cortés
”American Symphony” with Matthew Heineman
”Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” with Anna Hints
”Anselm” with Wim Wenders
”Between Life and Death: Terri Schiavo’s Story” with Amanda Spain & Alex Waterfield
”Beyond Utopia” with Madeleine Gavin
”High on the Hog”, Season 2 with Karis Jagger & Fabienne Toback
”A Town Called Victoria” with Li Lu
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Multiverse Fancast
Cinema: A to B
I Finally Watched...
Kill James Bond!
Pod Meets World