"Lalee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton" documentary excerpts w/ original score by Gary Lucas

[nikiya0492]

I love this documentary



[omoroomoro]

I hope Lalee's Kin gets some of the profits

[bfly1]

You guys this whole documentary is on youtube now its under the name cotton.

[ltuomela]

he goes we get kids in kiddy garden that dont know their names...well wtf that is on the parents..feel bad for the kids but come the fuck on man...it aint all government problem here...thats fucked up..back in the day on my travels i been to Mississippi and most of them folk are just trash man..i mean no offense but its the truth and then wanna blame the government...it dont add up..by the way i hate our government..they was freed now do somethin..a starting point is speech skills

[omoroomoro]

@ltuomela Do you know American history as it relates to black people? There exist a causal relationship between the United States and local government before Lalee and the men you refer to were born. You are right, but there is far more to the story. The real story is about trying to stand up, only to be knocked down. Eventually you destroy yourself without any outside help. That becomes the death of a man and his spirit. It takes centuries to build families, a generation to destroy.

[ltuomela]

@omoroomoro do you know American history as it relates to Indians.i am one..and we dont dwell on it at all..we was robbed...my ancestors that is,so i blame no one cause i wasn't even born,although my great granddad was on the trail of tears! look that shit up one time..yea i know,i know all about standing up..so its like get with the times,get outta victim mode and fuckin do something..its 2011 not 1880....feel me..we were all but decimated and we die young,i need no lessons in American history

[bedoy34]

I am going to use this film in my US history class will check it out on amazon.

[TheFearlessRob]

Still touches my heart till this day......

[DavidJ909]

Thanks for being the only one to post this. Been looking for this documentary

[warren85slanger]

just ordered it off of amazon and well have it on my channel mid november!

[KESSIA33]

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A UPDATE ON THE STORY

[amuslima99]

@KESSIA33 So would I. I'd love to see how big Redman and Antonio are now !

[sigmund30]

@KESSIA33 me too this was so sad...but true

[kentucky9000]

I think the world of LALEE she takes care of the kids boy!

[RainbowBrite80]

I definately agree that this Documentary should be shown in the schools...but what really gets me is..Who names a child "Granny" it's weird.

[calba24]

This documentary was so sad, but it showed the country what life is like in Mississippi's poorest area. I don't live in Mississippi, but I have known people that lived like Mrs. Lalee. I was related to most of them too. I grew up in poverty, but not like them. I pray that Mrs. Lalee is enjoying her rest in Heaven because she definitely worked hard in her life to make sure her family was provided for.

[garylucas]

it's finally out!

the DVD is available at HBO.com and at Amazon.com as of yesterday July 27th 2010

[Ellavemia]

I've been looking for this film for a while. I'm glad it' on Amazon but HBO should run it again too. There are so many people out there who should see it. I'm just wondering how things have come along in the past almost ten years.

[laprado]

I actually taught the first cousin of the young lady that appears in this documentary.

[garylucas]

it's official!!

beginning july 27th 2010, you can purchase this award-winning documentary on dvd through both amazon.com and hbo.com

[eddierob]

@garylucas that is a blessing. this needs to be seen.

[garylucas]

@eddierob I agree, and I am so happy it finally will be available for everyone to view

[garylucas]

this is finally coming out on a burn by demand basis through amazon,com very soon, the folks at HBO tell me--Hallelujah!

gary lucas

5/15/10

[Shaunni78]

I have been looking for this dvd forever!!!!!!!

[genose21]

This documentary needs to been shown in every school in the country so that students can see how good they have it and how hard it is for others. I watched this on HBO several times and it always broke my heart. RIP Lalee!

[eddierob]

We failed, no no no... WE failed. We deserve the 1 rating.. This documentary broke my heart man... We have to do more to help our fellow human beings. STARTING with black folks. That is no change from slavery when we are talking about a lose/lose situation and even when you try to get out you have no choice, ie main,man,granny, all of them.. its not right, but it is. can't judge, but can't justify.

[tosha723]

This broke my heart as well and it hurt even more when I found out that she passed away "LaLee"....I hope her last days were filled with happiness and I know she is with the Lord now...

[D3poetic3P]

where can i find this documentary??? i watched it in one of my college courses been looking for it ever since

[tosha723]

This brings tears to my eyes everytime I watch it but at the same time I feel a sense of pride by watching how stromg Ms. Lalee was, she was a strong BLACK WOMAN and I hope she is in heaven finally getting her rest...

[tosha723]

I was devestated to hear that she passed away in 08. I thought about her often after watching the documentary. RIP LaLee..Laura Lee Wallace

[denise804]

I finally found this dvd. Had it yrs ago on dvd. One of the best documentaries I've seen.

[katrisaf]

@denise804

Hi. Where did you find the DVD because I'd like to buy it?

[denise804]

email me direct at yahoo

[eddierob]

may i ask where you found it?

[StraightouttaHouston]

is there a chance that this documentary can be on youtube under your permission.

[thegirl44]

"The law says that every child in the state of Mississippi has the right to an equal and just education."

This should be the mantra of every man, woman and child in every geographical location, whether the laws exist or not.

We need more men like Mr. Reggie Barnes in the world.

[thegirl44]

Is the soundtrack available anywhere? Every bit of the music was absolutely perfect!

[garylucas]

@thegirl44 thanks so much for the nice words re my music :-)

[thegirl44]

@garylucas

Welcome, now where do I get your music?

[kamcowan]

can u plez send me pics of all of them and let me know where i can purchase that dvd, can u send the info 2 my email. my family & i visited this fam a few years ago & it really touched us. actually ms. lalee let us record her singing that song & she told us how hbo found her 1 day when she was outside, i know she is truly missed, so thats 1 reason i want an update, b/c she was the glue 2 that family

[thegirl44]

I remember so well the scene of Lalee divvying up the pens that she had collected between the grand kids. That, to me, was more heart breaking than the lack of electric or water. The little things that I took for granted as a kid that were more precious than gold to these young people is almost embarrassing.

[kamcowan]

i had the privilege to visit this family a few years ago, my family & i was so touched by this documentary that we had to find them. we took this family everything that we could think that they needed for xmas that yr. lalee, her kids, grandkids & great-grands were so thankful, we had such a great time w/them, some1 plez give me an update on all of the kids. i know lalee passed away but i wud love to know how everyone else is doing & if they need anything

[LaDon08]

Not to this extreme but here in Savannah we are dealing with many of the ills associated with the progeny of slavery. It is mind blowing to me everyday that the mindset of 'seperate but equal' leaves so many African American and other minority children resigned to an economic hell and a 'ghettoized' world view. In the words of David Bowie, 'This is not America...' and so sadly it is. Lord, after seeing the 9th ward after Katrina how can our country still believe that we are all equals?

[thegirl44]

"Everybody knows that the deal is rotten,

Ole' Black Joe's still pickin' cotton,

For your ribbons and bows..." Leonard Cohen

[bintanelisajack]

I live in the Caribbean, in a third world country and when my best friend and i watched this film a few years ago, we were in complete shock and were saddened. we talk about it up to this day. As third world as we are, our standard of living is much higher than those people. Isn't that shameful? As third world as we may be, i know our government would never treat us that way. The tragedy of post Hurricane Katrina would never have happened to us. Shame.

[mrsbillionaire]

How can I purchase a copy of the DVD? I've been searching for this documentary for years.

[thegirl44]

I have as well, mrsbillionaire.  Having grown up around the progress that was the Motor City this documentary really stuck with me after I watched it.

[warren85slanger]

if anybody owns this documentary i well pay for a copy and donate to Lalee's charity!plz and thank you!

[omoroomoro]

Whatever we know about slavery, Jim Crow, and racism; the real story is much worst. As a boy I lived and traveled in the south. Just to look at the poor rundown houses that Black people lived in told the real tale of the south, while they take a strange pride in southern antebellum life. Those houses have now melted into the ground, hiding the depredation,,,,, like Gone with the Wind I felt like I was home while watching the Doc on HBO....I lived that life...i've known poverty -

[gonegg2007]

I saw this doc. a few years ago, it's fantastic ! everyone should see it.I looked on Netflix to no avail. The story is heart breaking. Bravo to the Maysle brothers.

[ddenmon]

It's a damn shame that the government allows citizens of this country to live like they're in a 3rd world country here in the U.S. I just pray that their living conditions have improved since the airing of this documentary.

[growflowerswkim]

can you send me the pictures you have of the family? I would so appreciate it! I feel in live w/ this family years ago!

Thanks for your time!

[growflowerswkim]

I saw this on HBO. If you EVER get a chance to view it it will change your life and make you want to teach literacy! I signed up for training w/ The American literacy program. What a story!

[Tyme4me2006]

please post the pics of granny and gregory an any other family of lalee. she really touched my heart and the kids.

[tarawcam]

where did you see the pictures of lalee and her family.

[RatchetSouth]

somebody needs to put this documentary on youtube, asap

[S3V3N111]

OMG - I'm so glad to see this on YouTube! I saw this doc 7 years ago when I worked at RealScreen Magazine. It moved me so much that I talk about it often to this day. So well told and an eye opener. I'm posting this link on my Facebook. I am deeply moved by this family, the community and those children. I think and wonder where they are now. Thank you for posting!

[catdaddy31]

I first saw this documentary a few years ago and it it broke my heart to see people living this way. Now i'm not a socoalist by any means but there should be some resource available to assist folks who find themselves in this sort of predicament. Yeah, i know it's easy to say well they brought it on themselves but god damn this is horrible.

[LuvLady22]

I saw this documentary on HBO when I was a teen and I was saddened. For one, because I thought I had it hard growing up in a rural southern town. Its a cycle that becomes harder to break every generation.

Thanks for posting it.

[sexyjmissy07]

It is sad to see people living like this. I am from the delta also, but I didn't grow up in those living conditions.

[Tritium8]

Gary lucas as always :) nice

thx for spreading the word

[NYLifer]

A very sweet treat. Thak you!

Robert