This is both a documentary and a performance tape, with many excerpted vocal numbers and a multifaceted discussion of the belated but successful participation of African American singers in opera. Topics discussed: Is there such a thing as the "black voice," recognizable without seeing the singer? Is Porgy and Bess truly a "black opera"? Do black women fare better in opera because, unlike black men, they are not perceived as threatening? Do black baritones have better operatic prospects than black tenors because tenors usually get the romantic roles? Is the Metropolitan Opera using fewer black singers today than it did in the 1960s? What is being done to develop young black singers? The tape raises more questions than it answers and would be useful for launching group discussions. The performances include glimpses of Shirley Verrett in a seductive aria from Samson et Dalila, Leontyne Price in an excerpt from Der Freischutz, Jessye Norman in music from Ariadne auf Naxos. Some of the best musical moments are not strictly operatic-for example, Paul Robeson at a concert in Moscow singing "Old Man River" with some of the words changed to fit his own agenda. Marian Anderson has a monumental stature and makes several appearances: singing Schubert's "Ave Maria" in the tape's most beautiful segment, singing at John F. Kennedy's inauguration, and, in her most famous concert, singing to an audience of 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial after she had been excluded from Constitution Hall. -Joe McLellan.

All hail the queen! Not long after graduating from high school, Queen Latifah shot to stardom with a new attitude toward rap and the strength, presence, and charisma to assure her starring roles in film and on TV. How did she make it? This Intimate Portrait chronicles the young Dana Owens (the name on her birth certificate) growing up in New Jersey in an incredibly loving and supportive family, rapping in a friend's basement, and her meteoric rise to success after Tommy Boy's discovery of her. Interviews with family and friends, old photos, and concert footage give the viewer a royal picture of this beacon of positivity. Whether you're a fan or not, Queen Latifah is a symbol of hope, fortitude, and courage, and her Intimate Portrait gives insight into a remarkable woman. -Rob Lightner.

Through five decades, Jesse Jackson has been trying to realize the promise of his own potential he first embraced as a boy in segregated Greenville, SC. His life has been a headlong rush toward that end, fueled by a mix of personal aggrievement, ambition, his own vision of what America should be, and his quixotic but enduring belief that he might be able to change the country-and the world. Originally aired in 1996.

As a member of the U. S. Army, Colin Powell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor and became highly recognized. He was the first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was Reagan's National Security Advisor and he is now the Secretary of State for the Bush administration. Learn about his life and career.

Maya Angelou, one of the most prominent literary figures of the 20th century, grew up during-and became a vital part of-one of the most volatile periods of American history. The inspiring, tragic, outrageous life of Maya Angelou could be the subject of an entire college course, but this video serves as a terrific first primer. This Intimate Portrait provides an overview of her life and accomplishments; interviews and video clips show Anglou's rise from a difficult childhood to her development into a world-renowned poet, author, and teacher. The paramount value of this production lies in the interviews with her brother and son, and, of course, with Angelou herself. Actress and talk-show host Oprah Winfrey provides reverent narration. -Brendan J. LaSalle.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson is a civil rights activist and heavily involved in politics. He founded Operation Breadbasket, P. U. S. H. , and the National Rainbow Coalition. In 1984 and 1988, he lost the presidential candidacy for the Democratic Party. Since then, he has been a U. S. Senator and made himself available to help settle disputes with other nations. [+]

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in professional baseball. He spent his major league career playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers and breaking many records. Upon retiring from professional baseball, Jackie became an advocate in the civil rights movement and was on the NAACP Board of Directors. See how he changed the 20th century.

He's the voice of CNN and Darth Vader, the booming baritone who lends credibility to numerous TV commercials, and the hearty laugh that rumbles from the memorable characters he's created in films from Claudine to Field of Dreams to A Family Thing. He's "the voice," James Earl Jones, the once shy, stuttering child who overcame his affliction through poetry, public speaking, and acting. Peter Graves narrates this straightforward, uncomplicated documentary, which benefits greatly from numerous interviews with the personable actor himself. Jones struggles in off-Broadway productions, participates in his fledgling Shakespeare in the Park project, and makes his big-screen debut in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, but his career finally takes off with the lead role in the daring Broadway production of The Great White Hope (which he reprised, along with costar Jane Alexander, in the 1970 film version). No stranger to controversy, Jones embarks on the one-man show Paul Robeson, a labor of love swirled in controversy before opening to rave reviews. And the rest, as they say, is history. Like most of the A&E Biography productions, this doesn't scratch far beneath the surface of his career, but Jones talks candidly about facing racism as a child and an adult and his struggling relationship with his absent father. The video also includes interviews with costars George C. Scott, Jane Alexander, Kevin Conway, Dianne Wiess, and Harrison Ford, director Phil Alden Robinson, and generous clips from his most memorable performances. [+]