Return to main page
Many Rivers to Cross
African-American history has played an integral role in the shaping of politics, economics, and culture in the United States. Growing up, how did you learn about the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans? Were you in a classroom? Reading a book? Talking with relatives or friends? How has your understanding or knowledge of African-American history changed and/or developed over time? What do you think is the most effective way to pass along this rich and growing history to future generations?

Stella Marcantel

Dear Henry Louis Gates, Jr.,
Thank you for making “Many Rivers to Cross”. I can not believe how much time and effort it must have taken you to put all of this together. In my opinion though, it must have been worth it. You put together an amazing piece!
My favorite part was at the end, when Barack Obama was elected president and the african Americans finally got justice! I hope that you will continue to create amazing documentaries.
My second favorite part was when everyone was finally working together. There were many actors, some white, and some African American coming together to make movies. I liked this because my mom was actually able to watch “ Gone with the Wind” on the plane, during our trip to Germany. My mom said that it was an amazing film, and my moms friends thought the same thing. My teacher told me that it was a great film too but that many people boycott it, because it did not depict an honest image of life for African Americans during that time.
I also did not know that Ruby Bridges is still alive. I hope that one day I will get to meet her like you did. I thought it was funny that she thought it was Martigraw when she got to the school. That is also scary though, because for that many people to be there, that it looked liked some huge celebration, is just terrifying! I would have freaked out if i were in her shoes. She probably didn’t even know how much of an accomplishment she was making and how much of a risk she was taking.
What upset me the most was that they said that they were aliens! They also tried to prove they were aliens! That is insane! I think that this cruelty went on for way too long! It started all the way back in the fifteen hundreds!
What also angered me was that they treated women even worse! They would ship them in crates that were made for cargo and would cram about fifty women inside!
What made me happy, was when they created that club where both white and blacks would have fun. This was god because it was originally all white clubs, or all black clubs. I t also used to be that blacks would want to get into white clubs, then it became that whites would want to get into black clubs instead!
Coming to leadership now, I was very surprised about Malcolm X. I had heard of him, but I didn’t know that he believed in violence! I can understand why he was angry though, if this injustice all the way in 1515.
Martin Luther King jr. on the other hand, was outstanding for believing in peace for so long. His way also made sense because then people would think it’s okay to work together.
Through all of this overall I thought that your documentary was AMAZING and that you are an amazing writer! I never knew how long this battle for equality was, and will try to find even more facts about this. I really hope that I will get to see more from you soon From Stella Marcantel

Return to main page