I confess- I am a huge PBS nerd. Though I try really hard to be normal, every once in a while it’s obvious that I’m one of those people.  I have vowed to keep my abnormally passionate opinions to myself- at least here.  So both of the films below are just good, thought provoking documentaries that I couldn’t get off my mind.  While it isn’t likely that very many of you will enjoy them as much as this PBS nerd, I hope you get a chance to take a look just the same. 

One is a documentary of a woman who is the descendant of slave traders, the DeWolfe family, here in America; the film captures her experiences as she and other family members explore their ancestor’s lives.   I was riveted  as along the way, they examined the role America’s current generation of white Americans might play in starting a dialogue about slavery and racism in this country.  Here’s a link:  http://www.pbs.org/previews/pov-tracesofthetrade/

Looks like you can view clips, and learn more about the family here:

http://www.tracesofthetrade.org/ 

So the other film is about El Paso, and what some feel was a misstep in trying to raise money for the city by displaying a statue of a conquistador responsible for the near elimination of an entire tribe of Native American peoples.  His image, inspiring pride and patriotism for many hispanics, was evidence to others of ambivalence to what they felt were historical war crimes.  The statue stands completed now- the tallest bronze equestrian statue in the world.  ( For those of you with fancier TV options than myself, the film airs again in our area Tuesday at 2am).   http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/lastconquistador/about.html