The latest interviews: the 1980 Miami riots

The killing of insurance salesman Arthur McDuffie by a group of Miami police officers in December 1979 touched off what would become a firestorm in Miami. After the officers' acquittal in the spring of 1980, riots spread across Liberty City and other black enclaves, causing damage (in lives, dollars and psychic horror) that endure to this day. We are currently interviewing people who lived through this turbulent period in Miami history, including key players.

If you have a memory of the riots that you'd like to share, email us at AmericanCitiesProject@yahoo.com.

The countdown begins!

The Project will begin shooting in a matter of weeks, with interviews scheduled with prominent black Miamians, including the widow of the late Dr. Robert Ingram. Dr. Ingram was to be our first interview, and his passing illustrates the urgency of making the project happen. The series will be dedicated to him.

Meanwhile, the technical specs for the project are looking great. We will be shooting in high definition, using the Canon XL H1. It's a beautiful piece of equipment with a gorgeous 20x zoom lens, and will add to the longevity of the project.

We will be partnering with the Aim to Achieve Foundation on the project, and as we begin shooting, we'll keep you posted!

What is the American Cities Project?

The American Cities Project is a documentary series blending African-American history with the history of the modern American city. The project will tell the stories of three South Florida communities that have undergone dramatic highs and lows over the last 100 years:

*Overtown -- once known as the "Harlem of the South" and the second oldest Black community in Florida;

*Opa-Locka -- a city built as a fantasy testament to the book "1001 Arabian Knights" by a legendary Florida aviation pioneer and developer, but which now is one of Miami-Dade County's poorest communities; and

*the greater Fort Lauderdale area in Broward County, where Black settlers flocked during the booming years of the early 20th Century, to fill jobs building Henry Flagler's railroads, and where segregation created an alternate universe in affluent Miami for those living "across the tracks."

Their stories will be told through oral histories, archival footage and photographs, contemporaneous music, art and expert testimonies. The result will be three 60-minute documentaries -- one for each city -- tracing their histories from founding to the present.

Stay tuned to this blog for more updates.