Filmmaker Marlon Riggs.
Filmmaker Marlon Riggs. His film about gay black men,"Tongues Untied," was shown on PBS last year, and it unleashed a storm of outrage in powerful right-wing circles. Sen. Jesse Helms (R, NC) even put together and distributed a seven-minute tape of scenes from the film, which, taken out of context, completely distorted Marlon Riggs' intentions. The documentary is often used by Congresspeople as an example of what's wrong with public broadcasting, and why it shouldn't be federally funded. Riggs now has a new documentary airing on this year's public TV series "P.O.V." called "Color Adjustment," a critique of prime time TV's myths and messages on American race relations. ("Color Adjustment" airs on many PBS stations Monday June 15 at 10 p.m.; check local listings.)
Other segments from the episode on June 12, 1992
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