Amazon.com reviews for
"ABC News Nightline" (1980)

photos

board

trailer

details

Nightline:Louis Farrakhan (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: A media frenzy struck after the reporting of Rev. Jesse Jackson's infamous use of the words Hymie and Hymietown to refer to Jews and New York, respectively. Ted Koppel, of ABC's Nightline, interviewed Minister Louis Farrakhan following his reputed threat against the black Washington Post reporter who wrote the story, as well as African American author Roger Wilkins. None of the three come across as heroes or villains--Koppel is fair but impatient, Wilkins is concerned but inarticulate, and Farrakhan himself appears arrogant but surprisingly sympathetic. All three are frustrating at times, illuminating at others, as they debate the responsibilities of African American journalists to their profession and their people. A short closing segment with Jackson presidential campaign correspondent Kenneth Walker on blacks covering blacks and journalistic ethics nicely ties up the episode. Times have certainly changed since 1984, but this slice of history certainly gives perspective on the work and thoughts of Louis Farrakhan. --Rob Lightner