Why Is We Americans?

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2:33

Why Is We Americans?

2020

1h 41m

Documentary

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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

02/04/2022

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.

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Devika Girish

New York Times

01/13/2022

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.

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Diane Carson

KDHX (St. Louis)

02/12/2022

An essential historical survey.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

02/04/2022

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.

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Valerie Kalfrin

AWFJ.org

02/03/2022

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.

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Sabina Dana Plasse

Film Threat

01/14/2022

8/10

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

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Udi Aloni

Director

Ayana Stafford-Morris

Director

Amiri Baraka

Self

Ras Baraka

Self

Amina Baraka

Self

Lauryn Hill

Self

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Why Is We Americans?: Trailer 1

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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