Spike Lee and James McBride on Miracle at St. Anna (LIVE from the NYPL) 9/26/08

1.1 million: the number of blacks who served in the U.S. Army

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During the Second World War, more than 1.1 million African Americans served in the U.S. Army--15,000 of them in Italy. No African American soldier was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II. In 1993, the Army contracted Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C., to research and prepare a study "to determine if there was a racial disparity in the way Medal of Honor recipients were selected." Read more about the compelling history of the Medals of Honor.

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1.1 million: the number of blacks who served in the U.S. Army
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Channels: Film
Artists: James McBrideSpike Lee

SPIKE LEE & JAMES McBRIDE in conversation with Paul Holdengräber on "Miracle at St. Anna," LIVE from the NYPL, September 26, 2008.

Spike Lee's new film, "Miracle at St. Anna," chronicles the story of four black American soldiers who are members of the US Army as part of the all African-American 92nd Buffalo Soldier Division stationed in Tuscany, Italy during World War II. Based on the novel and with screenplay by James McBride, it is a story about redemption and triumph over the bleakest of experiences.

The book, "Miracle at St. Anna," The Motion Picture, is not only a visual tribute to this epic, but also to the countless African American soldiers who risked their lives for a country in which they were treated with less respect than the enemy they were fighting. The book includes costume designs, storyboard sketches, personal text by Spike Lee, a full script book, and archival material from the Second World War.

Spike Lee and James McBride are in conversation with NYPL's Paul Holdengräber to discuss this historical American story that exposes racism, guilt, courage, revenge, and forgiveness.

What is the study that Spike references about blacks being bad soldiers from the 1920's???
Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/15/2011 - 19:07.

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