America's Dream


America's Dream is a 1996 American drama film directed by Paris Barclay, Bill Duke and Kevin Rodney Sullivan and written by Ron Stacker Thompson and Ashley Tyler. It is based on the short stories "The Reunion" by Maya Angelou, "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black" by John Henrik Clarke and "Long Black Song" by Richard Wright. The film stars Danny Glover, Wesley Snipes, Lorraine Toussaint, Tate Donovan, Norman D. Golden II, Susanna Thompson and Jasmine Guy. The film premiered on HBO on February 17, 1996.

Premise

A talented young African American student presents his teacher with one of his paintings on her birthday. There are gasps of shock as the painting is revealed to be of Christ on the cross, a Christ who is black. The teacher accepts the painting graciously, and when the end of the year arrives, it is displayed with all the rest of the artwork produced in the school that year. The final ceremony is attended by the white superintendent of the area, who presides happily over proceedings. All is well until he examines the work on display.

Cast