Film Lens
American Blackout is a documentary directed by Ian Inaba that chronicles the political career of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, focusing on her 2002 defeat and 2004 reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives. The film argues that her loss in the 2002 Democratic primary to Denise Majette was part of a broader effort to disenfranchise minority voters. McKinney claims that Republican voters influenced the primary outcome, which is legal under Georgia law. After her defeat, she filed a lawsuit claiming that open primaries violated the 14th Amendment, but the court dismissed the case.
The documentary also features civil rights leader John Lewis recounting the Selma to Montgomery march and includes commentary from Bernie Sanders about the influence of money on voter turnout. It addresses issues of voter disenfranchisement and the use of voting machines in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and received favorable reviews, with a 77% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Why Watch
- •See Cynthia McKinney's political journey and challenges.
- •Follow John Lewis's powerful recounting of civil rights history.
- •Find out about alleged voter disenfranchisement in elections.
Did You Know
•Cynthia McKinney lost the 2002 primary to Denise Majette in Georgia.
•John Lewis recounts the Selma to Montgomery march in the film.
•The documentary won the Special Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
•Bernie Sanders discusses the impact of big money on voter turnout.
Perfect For
Political activismCivil rights historyVoting rights issues