MLK/FBI

source: MLK/FBI

This is quite a comprehensive and elaborate documentary - with a nice academic touch to it :) So this film focuses on civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King, and his relation to the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover; ending with King's assassination in 1968. So hopefully the FBI has learned something from that; namely that harassment of civil rights leaders - in particular black and colored folks - is unacceptable, and that freedom of speech, assembly and association must be upheld and honored by law enforcement officers in the United States of America. What stands out in this film, I think, is that Martin Luther King successfully combated racial inequality and discrimination through nonviolent resistance. It should be noted though, that racial equality and social harmony remain elusive in America to this very day - with an increasing incidence of police violence against minority groups. Although quite a complex topic, I think it is imperative that the US Senate and Congress - in particular President Joe Biden - finally take the necessary steps to implement a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) in the US; to effectively counteract racial inequality as well as socioeconomic inequalities - so that all folks in America have the opportunity to get a good education and be able to provide for their children. It should also be noted, that US teachers say school shootings and mental health struggles have made this year their hardest yet - with many teachers struggling to preserve their mental health. Teachers in Germany can out-earn an entry-level doctor or web developer. But in the United States, too many teachers have to work second jobs to make ends meet. Many teachers told CNN they fear they've already reached a point of mental burnout. And it's not just teachers - pediatricians in the pandemic are seeing record numbers of children with mental health problems. Hence the US government - as well as the US judiciary - must make a greater effort to empower US teachers and counter health problems among young persons; such as increasing salaries for school teachers, so that they can make ends meet, prevent mental burnout, and are not taken advantage of. So hopefully the US Senate and Congress - in particular President Joe Biden - can improve salaries for US teachers and properly fund public schools; by implementing the necessary laws to make it mandatory for US states to provide a functional school system and appropriate salaries for teachers in the USA.

The film is tightly structured and narrated over archive footage of king, with some other contemporary footage mixed in. In terms of visual material, the film does not bring any new unforseen archive films to the table and a lot of the images used in the film are used several times. With the original sound bites however, the film does a great job in opening the context to the audiences. What the film lacks in new visual material, it gains in its content as it is based on new research of the FBI archives. Great learning material for history or social studies classes.

The documentary on the whole appears hypocritical. Here, we have a baptist pastor married leading a nonviolent protest movement based on integrity and drawn from philosophies based on truth/integrity/honesty etc. On the other hand, we have the FBI, an organisation sworn to protect the administration. I actually not understand whether the commentators were insisting that the FBI's evidence on King's sexual adventures was true or not. Audio tapes are quite enough, even in those days, to make out who is who and there is not much variations in the sounds made during sex and names are usually mentioned. They just seemed to hint that the evidence was planted. In addition, I did not see anything to support that King did not do it nor did I understand why he went through an emotional crisis when he had not done it. My biggest peeve about this documentary since I watch a lot and everyone of them have video recordings of the commentators talking so that body language can be made out, is that none of the commentators are on camera and in addition, none of them neither prove nor disprove that the FBI was fabricating evidence.

MLK/FBI could have put forth 3 main issues with more power. That leaves it open to still hear extremists on the partisan left or partisan right continue justifying only part of imperfect MLK's world. While they ignore so many the great and thoughtful insights he stood for. 1) The FBI under misguided ruler-ship (Hoover & Sullivan) taking advantage of findings on surveillance (authoritarianism+) or manufacturing items if hard facts aren't found. This is the worst, and it shows how a monied public agency doesn't always serve truth and who pays for it. 2) Communist party involvement disproven by MLK's own stated beliefs, including his outing of more than one person involved in communism. The Alt-R and some voices in the post 1990 pay-triot movement, John Birchers, etc, hold onto this notion though apparently false. 3) MLK's adulterous activities weren't clarified until the end of the film, though much of that may have been beyond its scope. No matter, this should have been better explained during the FBI's tapping of his hotel rooms. That would serve we who try to do well, to be vigilant that our private and public lives are on the same high ground. Regardless, it's a film documentary worth seeing, though it lacked details that could have been covered.

IN BRIEF: A well made documentary about this great leader but flawed man and the FBI 's vicious attempt to discredit him. JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Sam Pollard's gripping documentary, MLK/FBI, chronicles the Civil Rights movement and the FBI's shameful discrediting of one of its leaders, the Rev. Martin Luther King, which was orchestrated by its bureau chief, J. Edgar Hoover. Having the FBI conduct surveillance of MLK with the sole purpose to humiliate and destroy his image with the public, the film uses declassified documents, archival footage, and Hollywood propaganda film to state its case. (The entire FBI tapes are slated to be available to the public in 2027, so only some documentation, photographs, and interviews are the film's basis.) The documentary is fascinating in its thorough researching of those turbulent times during the 50's and 60's from the start of the Civil Rights protests until MLK assassination, with comments from historians about his legacy. The filmmakers try to encapsulate the unrest in our nation during those polarizing times and it confirms the governmental tactics used to wiretap its citizenry and lump MLK with the evils of communism while labeling MLK with other more military-minded Black protest groups as subversives. Call them "domestic terrorists" before that term was commonplace, but the film resonants with today's racist climate. The documentary is not totally successful in its narrative structure and one wishes their scope was narrowed down and more concise in its storytelling and also focused more on Hoover's backstory and obsessive mission to destroy another man. Granted there is too much to comprehend as the film covers nearly two decades and most history buff would savor this retelling. But this is an important film for all to experience and its lingering message is truly thought-provoking. Most telling is the turnaround by a supportive President Lyndon Johnson and the FBI Bureau after MLK is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Indeed, politics does have strange bedfellow. The director's sense of irony is also at play as he begins his documentary with this quote from a film clip of former President Ronald Reagan: "In most stories, villains are usually defeated and the ending is a happy one. I can make no such promise with this picture you are about to watch. The story isn't over..." MLK/ FBI is a noble effort by Mr. Pollard and his crew. Their film is very well constructed and edited with skill by Laura Tomaselli, making this history lesson a cautionary tale for all Americans to heed. And yes, the story isn't over! (GRADE: B)

Very good documentary that goes depth inside USA undemocratic and racist state, far away from widespread shallow speech and self-image of a country of freedom and democracy. As usual in dictatorahips, FBI not only inbestigated but also harassed Martin Luther King in order to dampen anti-racist struggle in the country. Lots of good information, footage and interviews are found in this important documentary on the Black question and on the serious discussion of what democracy is.

The FBI begins spying on MLK on suspicion of communist activities and ends up spying on his sex life. It is the disease of the moral watchers. The documentary accurately narrates these espionage activities that move against the defense of human rights. Through well selected archival material, it is a necessary film to show the moral baseness of those who considered themselves protectors of moral integrity. It is the danger of a policy based on constant suspicion.

I know very little about King and I hoped I would get to understand his mission and his struggles better after watching this documentary. But I feel like I didn't learn anything new. The documentary fails to provide a closer look into his life. The timeline and the order of the events and what the events even are, is depicted poorly. It's rather a farther look at MLK than a closer look. At some points I even felt like the documentary is actually trying to undermine him, a continuation of what FBI was trying then! You don't know who is commentating or being interviewed in the narration which gives a sense of dishonesty from the producers.

This is a must see documentary which chronicles a vital period in American history. Don't miss it!