The Blinding of Isaac Woodard(2021)
“The event that opened the eyes of a nation.”
Overview
In 1946, Isaac Woodard, a Black army sergeant on his way home to South Carolina after serving in WWII, was pulled from a bus for arguing with the driver. The local chief of police savagely beat him, leaving him unconscious and permanently blind. The shocking incident made national headlines and, when the police chief was acquitted by an all-white jury, the blatant injustice would change the course of American history. Based on Richard Gergel’s book Unexampled Courage, the film details how the crime led to the racial awakening of President Harry Truman, who desegregated federal offices and the military two years later. The event also ultimately set the stage for the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, which finally outlawed segregation in public schools and jumpstarted the modern civil rights movement.
Director
Jamila Ephron
Studio
Ark Media
Cast
André Holland
as Narrator (voice)
Leland Gantt
as Isaac Woodward (voice)
Kenneth Mack
as Self
Sherrilyn Ifill
as Self
Rawn James
as Self
Richard Gergel
as Self
Belinda Gergel
as Self
Robert Young Sr.
as Self
Patricia Sullivan
as Self
Laura Williams
as Self
Gilbert King
as Self
Kari Frederickson
as Self
Where to Watch
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Movie Facts
Release Year
2021
Runtime
1h 52m
Language
English
Production Companies
Ark Media • GBH
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Blinding of Isaac Woodard?▼
Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for The Blinding of Isaac Woodard (2021).
What is The Blinding of Isaac Woodard about?▼
In 1946, Isaac Woodard, a Black army sergeant on his way home to South Carolina after serving in WWII, was pulled from a bus for arguing with the driver. The local chief of police savagely beat him, leaving him unconscious and permanently blind. The shocking incident made national headlines and, when the police chief was acquitted by an all-white jury, the blatant injustice would change the course of American history. Based on Richard Gergel’s book Unexampled Courage, the film details how the crime led to the racial awakening of President Harry Truman, who desegregated federal offices and the military two years later. The event also ultimately set the stage for the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, which finally outlawed segregation in public schools and jumpstarted the modern civil rights movement.
Who directed The Blinding of Isaac Woodard?▼
The Blinding of Isaac Woodard was directed by Jamila Ephron and released in 2021. It is a documentary film.
How long is The Blinding of Isaac Woodard?▼
The Blinding of Isaac Woodard has a runtime of 1 hours and 52 minutes (112 minutes total).
Who stars in The Blinding of Isaac Woodard?▼
The cast of The Blinding of Isaac Woodard includes André Holland as Narrator (voice), Leland Gantt as Isaac Woodward (voice), Kenneth Mack as Self, Sherrilyn Ifill as Self, Rawn James as Self and more.
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