Why Is We Americans?

Play trailer

2:33

Why Is We Americans?

Released Jun 19, 2020

1h 41m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

By turns kinetic and intimate, 'Why is We Americans?' is an in-depth, cinematic exploration of Newark's legendary Baraka family. Spanning decades of social activism, poetry, music, art, and politics, this kaleidoscopic family saga is illustrated by on-camera interviews with Ms. Lauryn Hill, rare archival footage and revealing personal testimonials. As we connect with the iconoclastic poet Amiri Baraka, his wife, Amina, and their son, the current mayor of Newark, Ras, a portrait of a city emerges with an inspiring call to arms in the fight for class and racial justice.

Sarah-Tai Black

Los Angeles Times

If Morris and Aloni’s film is unfocused and weak in its patterning and construction, it is equally an important record of a living history that refuses to mythologize itself.

Feb 4, 2022

Full Review

Devika Girish

New York Times

It's a story that spans past and present, arts and politics, and kin and country - and the movie, with its haphazard editing, struggles to contain it all.

Jan 13, 2022

Full Review

Diane Carson

KDHX (St. Louis)

An essential historical survey.

Feb 12, 2022

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

This documentary examines several decades of multigenerational African American art-making and activism in the family whose late patriarch was Amiri Baraka aka LeRoi Jones.

Feb 4, 2022

Full Review

Valerie Kalfrin

AWFJ.org

Why Is We Americans? packs a lot into 102 minutes, feeling both overstuffed and rushed given its taste of the Baraka familys rich and wide-ranging history. Yet it also brims with black pride and passion for driving social change through the arts.

Feb 3, 2022

Full Review

Sabina Dana Plasse

Film Threat

Udi Aloni offers education and insight into amazing people, motivating you to learn more about them.

Rated: 8/10

Jan 14, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Udi Aloni

Director

Ayana Stafford-Morris

Director

Amiri Baraka

Self

Ras Baraka

Self

Amina Baraka

Self

Lauryn Hill

Self

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Civil War (Or, Who Do We Think We Are)

100%

%

Civil War (Or, Who Do We Think We Are)

Watchlist

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

95%

63%

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

Watchlist

TRAILER

for All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

Rudy! A Documusical

20%

%

Rudy! A Documusical

Watchlist

Black Boys

86%

72%

Black Boys

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Black Boys

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks

100%

100%

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Why Is We Americans?: Trailer 1

2:33

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

By turns kinetic and intimate, 'Why is We Americans?' is an in-depth, cinematic exploration of Newark's legendary Baraka family. Spanning decades of social activism, poetry, music, art, and politics, this kaleidoscopic family saga is illustrated by on-camera interviews with Ms. Lauryn Hill, rare archival footage and revealing personal testimonials. As we connect with the iconoclastic poet Amiri Baraka, his wife, Amina, and their son, the current mayor of Newark, Ras, a portrait of a city emerges with an inspiring call to arms in the fight for class and racial justice.

Director: Udi Aloni, Ayana Stafford-Morris
Producer: Udi Aloni, Ayana Stafford-Morris
Screenwriter: Udi Aloni, Udi Aloni
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 2020, Limited
Runtime: 1h 41m