Today marked the start of something potentially extraordinary: filming the core interview with Ambassador Andrew Young for a documentary about his legacy. The focus? His groundbreaking role as the first Black U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Jimmy Carter’s administration.
The Ambassador
Next to me throughout the interview was producer Kiki Wilson, the person who first had the idea to capture Mr. Young’s story on film. For nearly four hours, we sat with him as he spoke candidly and passionately about topics that could fill entire history books: Agostinho Neto and the Cuban intervention in Angola, the fight for Zimbabwe's independence, his encounters with Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, and, of course, his experiences with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
But this wasn’t your standard Q&A. What unfolded felt more like a deep, generational conversation—one part storytelling, one part teaching. Mr. Young wasn’t just recounting events; he was passing down knowledge, as if ensuring it wouldn’t be lost. And for my part, I wasn’t just asking questions. I was there to listen, absorb, and make sure this exchange is captured in a way that will resonate with future generations.
It was a reminder of why I started making documentaries over 40 years ago. There’s something profound about preserving voices like Andrew Young’s—not just for their historical significance but for the human connection they offer.
Tomorrow, we pick up where we left off, this time under the roof of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. If today is any indication, this dialogue will only deepen. It’s a privilege to be a part of this journey, not just as a filmmaker but as someone eager to learn and share stories that shape how we understand the world.
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