• 3
    watchers
  • 8
    plays
  • 4
    collected
  • 2017-01-16T22:30:00Z on RTÉ Two
  • 55m
  • 1h 50m (2 episodes)
  • Ireland
  • Documentary
Actor and activist John Connors knows exactly what it’s like to be part of a minority community and what it feels like to face discrimination in his own country. That’s why he’s fascinated by what’s been happening recently in the US as regards race relations. Filmed entirely on location in the US, John Connors’ America is a two-part series exploring the reality of discrimination, poverty and violence in African American and Native American communities in the US.

2 episodes

Series Premiere

2017-01-16T22:30:00Z

1x01 Race Matters - Black America

Series Premiere

1x01 Race Matters - Black America

  • 2017-01-16T22:30:00Z55m

The actor and activist explores race relations in the US, beginning by examining the discrimination, poverty and violence faced by African-American communities. John asks why young black men are nine times more likely to be killed by the police than those from other backgrounds and delves into the reasons behind the Black Lives Matter movement, which began in 2012 when a neighbourhood watchman was acquitted after he shot and killed unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin.

2017-01-23T22:30:00Z

1x02 Native Americans

1x02 Native Americans

  • 2017-01-23T22:30:00Z55m

Filmed entirely on location in the US, Episode Two of this two-part series on race relations explores the reality of discrimination, poverty and addiction in Native American communities. John spends time on a Native American reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He takes part in ancient Native American rituals, like sweat lodge ceremonies. He also finds out about the efforts to preserve Native American culture, like bare-back horse relays and the Lakota language.

On the reservation John delves into the background of addiction, alcoholism and poverty in Native American communities. He sees how younger Native Americans are expressing their feelings of discrimination and isolation through Hip Hop and rap, he sees parallels between these young men and the teenagers he mentors himself back home.

Loading...