Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

John Korty, 1973, tv (8.8*)Emmy, Outstanding SpecialOne of the best tv films ever, based on the novel by Ernest J. Gaines, this drama follows the life of an African-American woman, Jane Pittman, born into slavery in the South during the 1850s and who surives to become a 110-year-old who tells her story from her days as a slave all the way up to involvement in the civil rights movement in the early 1960’s, which makes this the perfect film for Martin Luther King’s birthday.

Winner of nine Emmy Awards out of 13 nominations, including Best Lead Actress for Cicely Tyson (formerly married to Miles Davis and used as a model on several album covers) in her best role, also Best Director for John Korty; others awarded for writing, makeup (they age Tyson 70 yrs or so), costume design, music. TV simply doesn't get any better than this, combining history and art to tell a universal tale of social injustice, growth, courage, and change.