Watch American Revolutionary: The Evolution Of Grace Lee Boggs

American Revolutionary: The Evolution Of Grace Lee Boggs is a captivating documentary film that delves into the life and legacy of one of the most influential civil rights activists of our time, Grace Lee Boggs. Through a series of interviews with Boggs, as well as with her friends, family, and colleagues, the film paints a vivid picture of a woman who fought tirelessly for justice and equality, and who became an inspiration to generations of activists.

The documentary begins by introducing us to Boggs, who was born in 1915 in Rhode Island to Chinese immigrant parents. We learn about her childhood experiences growing up as a Chinese-American during a time when racial discrimination was rampant in the United States. Boggs recounts how she was often made to feel like an outsider, and how this experience led her to become interested in the civil rights movement.

From there, the film takes us on a journey through Boggs' life, tracing her development as a writer, activist, and philosopher. We learn about her involvement in the labor movement, her work with the Black Panthers, and her role in the development of the Detroit Summer program, which aimed to empower young people to become leaders in their communities.

Throughout the documentary, we see Boggs as a fierce advocate for social justice, but also as someone who was deeply committed to the idea of grassroots organizing and community building. As Boggs herself puts it, "the revolution is not just about changing the system, it's also about changing ourselves."

One of the most touching aspects of the film is its exploration of Boggs' personal life. We get to see her love story with her husband, James Boggs, who was also a prominent civil rights activist. We learn about their deep partnership and the ways in which they supported each other's work. We also get to see Boggs interacting with her friends and family, and we can see the love and respect that they have for her.

The film balances these personal moments with a frank discussion of some of the challenges that Boggs faced during her career. We learn about the racism and sexism that she faced as a woman of color in the civil rights movement, as well as the conflicts that arose between her and some of her colleagues.

Despite these challenges, however, American Revolutionary: The Evolution Of Grace Lee Boggs presents Boggs as a woman who was able to maintain her commitment to justice and equality throughout her life. As she herself says in the film, "you have to be a long-distance runner in order to be part of the movement."

The documentary ends on a hopeful note, showcasing some of the young activists who have been inspired by Boggs' work. We see how her ideas about community building and grassroots organizing are being put into practice in Detroit and other cities across the country.

Overall, American Revolutionary: The Evolution Of Grace Lee Boggs is a powerful tribute to a remarkable woman. Through its insightful interviews, rich archival footage, and moving personal moments, the documentary does an excellent job of capturing the spirit and legacy of this influential activist. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the civil rights movement, social justice, or the power of grassroots organizing.

American Revolutionary: The Evolution Of Grace Lee Boggs is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 78.