CREATED EQUAL Director Condemns Amazon Cancellation: ‘This Is a Dangerous Moment’
By Movieguide® Staff
One would think Black History Month would be the perfect time to honor the only Black man currently sitting on the Supreme Court, but Amazon disagreed.
The tech giant cancelled the documentary CREATED EQUAL: CLARENCE THOMAS IN HIS OWN WORDS in February. Now, the service offers the DVD, but blocks any attempt to stream the movie through its Prime Video Services.
For Director Michael Pack, the move is indicative of the dangerous state of today’s American democracy.
“I like to say the media was biased when I was growing up where they would present the viewpoint they agreed with and the one they didn’t, and they would give better information and lean towards the one they agreed with,” Pack said. “Now, only the one they agree with is there. And they would just as soon eliminate the others entirely. I think that’s a dangerous thing for America. A democratic republic like America needs vibrant discussions with many viewpoints. And this is a dangerous moment.”
Meanwhile, Amazon and other streaming platforms are full of programs that fit a specific narrative.
“Young people are being handed documentaries and material that relate to reparations and Black Lives Matter and George Floyd and many other things, but not the Clarence Thomas view of the world,” Pack told Movieguide®. “We think, at least, they should get one moment where they get to see a different attitude towards race. Somebody who doesn’t want to define himself as a victim, and is proud of America and where he came from. I mean, I think it’s very worth seeing.”
According to the Movieguide® review:
CREATED EQUAL: CLARENCE THOMAS IN HIS OWN WORDS is a fascinating documentary where in Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas discusses his life, his triumphs and his challenges. Clarence grows up in an extremely poor rural home in Georgia. The house burns to the ground, so he lives in a shanty town in Savannah. By the Grace of God working through his grandparents, Clarence overcomes racism, finds God and excels at education to eventually get a law degree from Yale University. After working for President Reagan, he gets appointed to the Supreme Court. However, during his Senate confirmation hearings, he encounters more hatred and cruelty than he ever did from the racist groups in the Old South. Clarence’s reflections on his past are shown in scenes from newsreels, pictures and on location filming.
CREATED EQUAL is a must-see movie. The structure is filled with jeopardy, even though it’s a documentary. Finally, the music is superb. There is a caution for Anita Hill’s obscene Senate testimony, which Clarence has to repeat when he refutes it. However, older teenagers, Millennials and others should watch CREATED EQUAL.
CREATED EQUAL: CLARENCE THOMAS IN HIS OWN WORDS is nominated for multiple Movieguide® Awards, including Epiphany Prize® for Most Inspiring Movie, Faith and Freedom Award® for Movies, and Best Movie for Mature Audiences. Tune into Movieguide®’s Movies That Inspire on The REELZ Channel on April 4 to see who takes home the awards.
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