Military Option

In this collaboration between filmmakers Al Santana, Rico Speight and Third World Newsreel, Military Option explores the U.S. government's policy of youth recruitment to combat an endless "war on terrorism", and its impact for many of today's youth, their families and friends.

Our primary subjects, two young males of color, one Asian and the other African-American go under cover to hear what recruiters have to tell them about the various opportunities that await them if they sign up.

Voices of the Gods

Voices of the Gods, produced and directed in 1985 by Al Santana is a 58 min. 16mm film/video that examines the Akan and Yoruba traditions, two West African religions practiced within the United States today: their cosmologies, their use of music, dance and medicine in various ceremonies and rituals. 

The film includes contemporary and historical examples of the influences of these religions in secular African-American culture, which in turn influenced mainstream American society, more through culture than religion, and in some ways, even politics.

Durban 400

Durban 400 is a 53 minute documentary about a group of grassroots activists of the same name who, in the fall of 2001, attended the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance's. Their goal was to address the issue of reparations for the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, and colonialism as crimes against humanity.

Shot in cinema verite´ style the video, which is co-produced with the Drammeh Institute, follows the group as they develop lobbying strategies, educate it's members about political issues related to racism and colonialism, stage demonstrations, and march with South African labor groups in a show of solidarity against globalism, racism, and landlessness.

In the Spirit of Peace

While the Bush administration, the pentagon and corporate media were saber rattling in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, there were groups from all over New York City who were calling for peace.

"In The Spirit of Peace" is a 9-minute documentary video that focuses on one such group from New York's Yoruba and Akan communities who went against the grain and staged a peace march and rally in Brooklyn, New York.

Merchant Marine: From Provincial To Global Citizens

This 60-minute documentary looks at men and women of color in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1938-1975. It is a work in progress that will examine their development as a multi-racial/international labor force.

Through chronicling the lives of these men and women, with a median age of 82 and who are beset with a host of life-threatening illnesses, the movie will tell how they navigated issues of racism, disparities in the workplace, gender and familial relations. The movie will also show the physical and emotional strain of not having health benefits that were promised at the time of enlistment. It is an intimate look at the potentially devastating consequences of stagnant pension plans, the eradication of medical benefits, and how the elder mariners are organizing to fight back against these injustices.