Keep Your Eyes On the Prize, Hold On!

By: Angela Lee Price

The heralded Civil Rights Movement documentary Eyes On the Prize is back in a major way. It began airing on public television last night and continues this month on KET. Don't miss it!

Be sure to visit the PBS Eyes On the Prize website! In the words of Dr. Freddie Haynes, "It's on like neckbones!" The PBS website chronicles the story of the Civil Rights Movement from 1954-1985 with articles, pictures, and video clips. The "Profiles" section is "off the chain!" The people and events of the movement are listed with background information. Within the "Video and More" section is a "Music" subcategory that displays all the Civil Rights songs' profiles with audio clips including We Shall Overcome and Eyes On the Prize.

From the website,

"The landmark Eyes on the Prize television series spans 14 hours, over three decades of history, and dozens of events across the country. This feature presents 25 of the major events, from Emmett Till's murder in 1955 to the election of Harold Washington as Chicago's first black mayor in 1983. A final section provides an update on civil rights in America today. Screen historic footage of these events, listen to freedom songs, read newspaper headlines, see photo galleries, and more as you follow the story of America's Civil Rights Movement."

Be sure to enter "Jesus" in the search engine and read the transcript that includes Heavyweight Boxing Champion Louisville native Muhammad Ali's comments at an April 1967 event at Howard University:

"See, we have been brainwashed. Everything good and of authority was made white. We look at Jesus, we see a white with blond hair and blue eyes. We look at all the angels, we see white with blond hair and blue eyes. Now, I'm sure if there's a heaven in the sky and the colored folks die and go to heaven, where are the colored angels? They must be in the kitchen preparing the milk and honey. We look at Miss America, we see white. We look at Miss World, we see white. We look at Miss Universe, we see white. Even Tarzan, the king of the jungle in black Africa, he's white!"

Obtaining the television schedule for the Louisville area was a bit tricky. Here are what appears to be the times the Eyes On the Prize documentary will air on KET this month in Louisville. It may air at others times, too, so check your local listing:

Eyes on the Prize: Awakenings - 1954-56/Fighting Back - 1957-1962:
KET 1: 10/03 @ 8:00 p.m.
KET 2: 10/04 @ 1:00 a.m.
KET 2: 10/04 @ 4:00 a.m.
KET 3: 10/08 @ 1:00 a.m.

Eyes On the Prize: Ain't Scared of Your Jails - 1960-61/No Easy Walk - 1961-63:
KET 2: 10/09 @ 9:00 p.m.
KET 1: 10/10 @ 8:00 p.m.
KET 2: 10/11 @ 1:00 a.m.
KET 2: 10/11 @ 4:00 a.m.

Eyes On the Prize: Mississippi: Is This America? 1963-64/Bridge to Freedom 1965:
KET 2: 10/16 @ 9:00 p.m.
KET 1: 10/17 @ 9:00 p.m.
KET 2: 10/18 @ 1:00 a.m.
KET 2: 10/18 @ 4:00 a.m.

Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!