THE RISE AND FALL OF JIM CROW

Biographies

Richard Roundtree Narrator A leading actor for over 30 years with more than 50 feature films to his credit, Richard Roundtree is established as a constant force in the entertainment industry. His career began with stage work in a series of Off-Broadway productions, membership in the acclaimed Negro Ensemble Company, and a star turn on Broadway as Jack Johnson in "The Great White Hope." International fame came with the 70s film hit SHAFT, which was followed by two film sequels, a television series, and a recent re-make of the original film, all of which serve to make Mr. Roundtree synonymous with the dashing private eye and supercop. But SHAFT is only one portion of Mr. Roundtree's diverse repertoire. He went on to work in major film productions with Clint Eastwood, Robert Shaw, Peter O'Toole, Richard Harris, David Niven, Tony Curtis, and Laurence Olivier, among others. Currently featured in a recurring role on Showtime's series, SOUL FOOD, Mr. Roundtree's previous work on the home screen included continuing roles in OUTLAWS, 413 HOPE STREET, and BUDDIES. His television movies included HAVING OUR SAY, in which he portrayed Booker T. Washington, and a remake of CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. His recent films include the hit thriller SEVEN, the critically acclaimed ONCE UPON A TIME ... WHEN WE WERE COLORED; STEEL, with basketball superstar Shaquile O'Neal; GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE for Disney Pictures; and CORKY with Saturday Night Live star Chris Kattan. Earlier this year, Mr. Roundtree toured in the world premiere of the play "Men Cry In The Dark" and he is also starring in the Starz/Encore movie JOE AND MAX.

Richard Wormser Series Producer and Writer, Producer, Director Richard Wormser has produced over 100 film and video programs for television, government, education, and industry. His work for public television includes THE OTHER SIDE OF VICTORY; THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY; THE FIGHTING MINISTERS; DEATH FOR A JUVENILE?; and UP FROM THE ASHES. He has won over 20 awards for his film work and is also the author of 13 books for young people on American history and society. He is currently writing THE RISE AND FALL OF JIM CROW, the companion book to the series, for St. Martin's Press.

Bill Jersey Executive Producer and Writer, Producer, Director Bill Jersey has been creating television documentaries for over 40 years. His credits include the 1965 Academy Award nominated A TIME FOR BURNING, hailed at the time by Fred Friendly as the "best civil rights film ever made." Mr. Jersey has won major awards for subsequent films, including an Emmy for CHILDREN OF VIOLENCE and a duPont Columbia Silver Baton for THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS: REFLECTIONS ON U.S.-SOVIET RELATIONS. His SUPERCHIEF: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF EARL WARREN received both Academy Award and Emmy Award nominations. Mr. Jersey's other projects include THE GLORY AND THE POWER, on religious fundamentalism, LOYALTY AND BETRAYAL: THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN MOB, for FOX television, and most recently, for WGBH, WHAT ABOUT GOD?, a look at the continuing conflicts between evolutionists and creationists. Mr. Jersey formed Quest Productions in 1960.

Sam Pollard Producer Sam Pollard's feature film and documentary accomplishments span almost 30 years. His producing credits include Spike Lee's ACADEMY and Emmy Award-nominated FOUR LITTLE GIRLS, which documents the infamous 1964 Alabama black church bombing by the Ku Klux Klan that killed four young girls. Mr. Pollard's other credits include Blackside, Inc.'s EYES ON THE PRIZE II: AMERICA AT THE RACIAL CROSSWORDS, for which he won an Emmy Award for writing. He served as co-executive producer on Blackside's six-part public television series, I'LL MAKE ME A WORLD: STORIES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY. Mr. Pollard has been editor of several feature films, including CLOCKERS, IRON MIKE, MO' BETTER BLUES, JUNGLE FEVER, and GIRL 6. Most recently, Mr. Pollard served as co-producer on the upcoming JIM BROWN ALL-AMERICAN, directed by Spike Lee.

William R. Grant Executive Producer Director of Science, Natural History, and Features Programs for Thirteen/WNET New York William R. Grant joined Thirteen in 1995 after 12 years at WGBH in Boston, where he was managing editor of FRONTLINE, and then, for 10 years executive editor of NOVA. He also served as executive producer of both LIVING AGAINST THE ODDS and MADE IN AMERICA? At Thirteen, he has served as executive producer of INNOVATION, GOING PLACES, AMERICA ON WHEELS, SAVAGE SKIES, SAVAGE EARTH, KNIFE TO THE HEART, STEPHEN HAWKING'S UNIVERSE, ON THE TRAIL OF MARK TWAIN, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, ECHOES FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, and executive in charge of WARSHIP, among others. Previously, Mr. Grant was a reporter and editor at THE DETROIT FREE PRESS and THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, where his work won numerous awards. He began his journalism career while in high school at the Winchester (KY) Sun and also worked at the LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL and the LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER. In 1979-80, he was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.

Tamara E. Robinson Vice President of Programming for Thirteen/WNET New York As vice president and director of programming, Tamara E. Robinson is responsible for the development and production oversight of all national and local programming for Thirteen/WNET, including specials, mini-series, and ongoing programs such as NATURE, GREAT PERFORMANCES, and AMERICAN MASTERS. She also serves as liaison with PBS for scheduling and editorial matters, business affairs, promotion, legal, and finance. She is actively involved in fund raising as well as establishing partnerships with private sector entities. Ms. Robinson is a panelist for numerous organizations including the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Her many awards include the International TV Programs award, New York Festival for POWER OF THE PAST WITH BILL MOYERS, the Film Council of Greater Columbus award for IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series for SMITHSONIAN WORLD: TALES OF THE HUMAN DAWN 1989, 1990, among others.

Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as NATURE, GREAT PERFORMANCES, AMERICAN MASTERS, CHARLIE ROSE, RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY, and EGG THE ARTS SHOW -- as well as the work of Bill Moyers -- to audiences nationwide. As the flagship public broadcaster in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut metro area, Thirteen reaches millions of viewers each week, airing the best of American public television along with its own local productions such as CITY ARTS, CITY LIFE, THE NEW YORK WALKING TOURS, and REEL NEW YORK -- and reaching vast new audiences through its MetroArts/Thirteen cable arts programming. With educational and community outreach projects that enhance the value of its productions, Thirteen takes television "out of the box." And as broadcast and digital media converge, Thirteen is blazing trails in the creation of Web sites, CD-ROMs, educational software, and other cutting-edge media products. More information about Thirteen can be found at: www.thirteen.org.