Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives 21 years old

In their words, our shared history.

When the Civil War ended in 1865, more than four million slaves were set free. Over 70 years later, the memories of some 2,000 slave-era survivors were transcribed and preserved by the Library of Congress. These first-person anecdotes, ranging from the brutal to the bittersweet, have been brought to vivid life in this unique HBO documentary special, featuring the on-camera voices of over a dozen top African-American actors.

Credits

Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives Cast

Name Character
Whoopi Goldberg She was 47, now 68 years old as Narrator (voice)
Samuel L. Jackson He was 54, now 75 years old
Don Cheadle He was 38, now 59 years old
Ruby Dee She was 80, 91 years old when she died
Alfre Woodard She was 50, now 71 years old
Angela Bassett She was 44, now 65 years old
Roger Guenveur Smith He was 47, now 68 years old
Oprah Winfrey She was 49, now 70 years old
Courtney B. Vance He was 42, now 64 years old
CCH Pounder She was 50, now 71 years old
Robert Guillaume He was 75, 89 years old when he died
Ruben Santiago-Hudson He was 46, now 67 years old
Vanessa Williams She was 39, now 61 years old
Jasmine Guy She was 40, now 62 years old
Ossie Davis He was 85, 87 years old when he died
Michael Boatman He was 38, now 59 years old
Roscoe Lee Browne He was 77, 81 years old when he died
LaTanya Richardson She was 53, now 74 years old

Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives Crew

Name Department
Eileen Mack Knight as Casting. Production
Mark Jonathan Harris as Writer. He was 62 (now 83) years old Writing
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives poster
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (21 years)

In their words, our shared history.

  • Release day: Monday, February 10, 2003
  • Runtime: 75 minutes