By Any Means Necessary

A documentary by Isaac Isitan
1997, 52 minutes

This challenging documentary examines two of the currents in the contemporary African-American thinking: afrocentrism and the "reparations" movement. Both represent the black community's response to centuries of political, economical and social oppression.

Afrocentrism, as revealed by interviews with parents, teachers and students in Canada and USA schools, aims to redefine the black identity and reconstruct the historical memory of african-americans. Supporters of afrocentrism encourage young Black to espouse an all-encompassing philosophy that asks them to "think black, talk black, pray black, love black and live black". The reparation movement in contrast, believes in "righting the wrong" by claiming a fair share of the wealth that black labour helped create. Following the foosteps of Malcolm X, advocate of reparation believe that all means are justified in order to gain the liberation of their people.

By Any Means Necessary features interviews with leading African-Americans, activists, intellectuals, artists and educators in both Canada and USA, as well as interviews and footage from the October 1995's Milliom Men March in Washington D.C.