Summer of Soul (...or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson
5 mins
3 key insights
Visual, audio & text
This documentary tells the long-forgotten story of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and its importance to African-American history.
Summer of Soul (...or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Summer of Soul (...or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
by Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson
Overview
In 1969, thousands gathered in New York for the Harlem Cultural Festival. As singers like Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, and Stevie Wonder sang to a crowd in the midst of the turbulent civil rights movement, it heralded a significant moment in American history.
Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson is widely known as the frontman of The Roots. In his documentary-making debut, Questlove assembles a previously unpublished video archive to explore the often-overlooked festival. Having won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Summer of Soul features color footage of the event and intimate interviews with performers and attendees.
Favorite quote
I knew something very, very important was happening in Harlem that day. It wasn't just about the music. We wanted progress. We are Black people and we are proud of this.
- Gladys Knight, musician
Download the uptime app to
Read or listen, with different modes
Adjust audio speed in the app
Bookmark to save titles for later
Share your favourite Hacks
View the full Hack with Uptime
