Ed Emmanuel, the former Vietnam veteran and filmmaker behind "Soul Patrol," says his story was meant to be silenced. The documentary is a testament to the bravery of Black soldiers who fought in one of America's most devastating wars.
For Emmanuel, it's been a long time coming. He first wrote about his experiences in his 2003 memoir, but the project never took off until Jason Harper came on board. "I was left alive in Vietnam and able to come home and tell this story," Emmanuel says. "My whole existence in Vietnam was me getting back home to tell the story about these brave Black men."
The documentary doesn't just reunite some of the Vietnam War's first Black special operations team, it also examines what it was like for them to fight one of the most important wars in history. Through Super 8 film, archival footage, and talking heads, "Soul Patrol" humanizes the stories of these soldiers, who were often erased from American history.
"We're trying to make this a conversation," Harper says. "We want to talk about what it was like for these men to be fighting in Vietnam, but also the trauma that still exists today." The documentary is timely, especially given the current administration's efforts to erase Black historical impact from our National Parks and cemeteries.
For Emmanuel, the story is personal. He knew his experiences would be silenced if he didn't get them out into the world. "That's exactly why I wrote the book," he says. "I knew that they were going to erase us from history. I had to get this book out."
The film's release at Sundance marks a crucial moment in the conversation around Black stories and their importance in American history. As Harper puts it, "Black stories are more important now than ever. It's an existential crisis." The documentary is a testament to the power of storytelling and the need to preserve our collective history.
For Lewis, the journalist who covered the Vietnam War as one of the few Black correspondents, the story is about the importance of representation in journalism. "I was there for four or five months," he says. "I wrote a story at the end of my time there that ran on the front page, and they scrambled to reproduce it."
The collaboration between Emmanuel, Harper, and Lewis has resulted in a powerful documentary that humanizes the stories of Black soldiers who fought in Vietnam. As Harper says, "It's not just about telling their story; it's about speaking up and making sure those voices are heard." The film is a necessary reminder of the importance of preserving our collective history and amplifying marginalized voices.
For Emmanuel, it's been a long time coming. He first wrote about his experiences in his 2003 memoir, but the project never took off until Jason Harper came on board. "I was left alive in Vietnam and able to come home and tell this story," Emmanuel says. "My whole existence in Vietnam was me getting back home to tell the story about these brave Black men."
The documentary doesn't just reunite some of the Vietnam War's first Black special operations team, it also examines what it was like for them to fight one of the most important wars in history. Through Super 8 film, archival footage, and talking heads, "Soul Patrol" humanizes the stories of these soldiers, who were often erased from American history.
"We're trying to make this a conversation," Harper says. "We want to talk about what it was like for these men to be fighting in Vietnam, but also the trauma that still exists today." The documentary is timely, especially given the current administration's efforts to erase Black historical impact from our National Parks and cemeteries.
For Emmanuel, the story is personal. He knew his experiences would be silenced if he didn't get them out into the world. "That's exactly why I wrote the book," he says. "I knew that they were going to erase us from history. I had to get this book out."
The film's release at Sundance marks a crucial moment in the conversation around Black stories and their importance in American history. As Harper puts it, "Black stories are more important now than ever. It's an existential crisis." The documentary is a testament to the power of storytelling and the need to preserve our collective history.
For Lewis, the journalist who covered the Vietnam War as one of the few Black correspondents, the story is about the importance of representation in journalism. "I was there for four or five months," he says. "I wrote a story at the end of my time there that ran on the front page, and they scrambled to reproduce it."
The collaboration between Emmanuel, Harper, and Lewis has resulted in a powerful documentary that humanizes the stories of Black soldiers who fought in Vietnam. As Harper says, "It's not just about telling their story; it's about speaking up and making sure those voices are heard." The film is a necessary reminder of the importance of preserving our collective history and amplifying marginalized voices.
This doco is so needed right now 
, been feeling like we're losing pieces of history and Black stories in particular. The fact that these soldiers were erased from American history is heartbreaking 
, but this film is bringing them back to life 
. We need more stories like this one coming out and being amplified 
. It's not just about the past, it's also about how it affects us today 
.
This doc is like a much-needed intervention, you feel? It's not just about the soldiers' experiences in Vietnam, but also about the trauma they carried with them long after they came home. I'm so glad this project finally saw the light of day 
As for me, I think it's time we start talking about our collective history and making sure marginalized voices are amplified 
It's not just a story - it's a necessary reminder that our histories matter.
I remember watching documentaries about the Vietnam War in school, but never really learned about the experiences of Black soldiers. It's crazy to think that their stories were basically erased from American history 
. This documentary is a game changer, and I'm so glad it's being released now, especially with the current administration trying to erase Black historical impact from our National Parks and cemeteries 
. It's like they're trying to silence the voices of those who fought for us 
.
. Representation matters, especially in journalism and media 
. We need more stories from underrepresented groups like Black soldiers, and I'm so grateful that we're finally getting some attention to these stories 
.
. It's a crucial moment in the conversation around Black stories and their importance in American history 
. We need more stories like this, ones that humanize the experiences of marginalized groups and make us think about our collective history 
.
. It's a must-see for anyone interested in history, representation, or just learning more about the Black experience 
.
I'm so hyped to see this documentary finally come out! 
We need more of these kinds of stories being told so we can start to understand and appreciate our collective history better. 
I guess what I'm trying to say is... I don't know if I fully support this documentary yet 
Maybe it'll grow on me after watching it.
️. I remember reading books about the Civil Rights Movement and seeing how important it was for African Americans to tell their own stories 
. Same thing with "Soul Patrol", it's like they're speaking up all over again 
, too. Seeing African American journalists like Lewis covering the war was a big deal back then 
. Now we're seeing more diverse voices being heard, which is amazing 
. Anyway, I'm so hyped that "Soul Patrol" is getting the recognition it deserves 
it's like everyone's gonna swoon over how brave these Black soldiers were in Vietnam, but let's not forget that the US military was fighting a communist nation to maintain its grip on Southeast Asia. We're glossing over the fact that America was essentially perpetuating colonialism and exploiting Vietnamese resources. The "bravery" narrative is just a way to sanitize the harsh realities of war 
. And yeah, I get why Emmanuel and Harper were determined to tell this story - it's personal for him, and a must-tell for us all.
.
. It's like, we can't just leave things in the past, you know? We gotta face the truth and learn from it.
It's so crazy to think that there were Black soldiers in Vietnam and they just kinda... disappeared from history books 
I mean, can you imagine if we erased the stories of Japanese American Internment or African American contributions to NASA right now? 
. We need more stories like this one, you know? It's not just about the soldiers themselves, but about the impact it has on marginalized communities and how we can learn from their experiences. 
gotta say, this documentary is long overdue! I mean, come on, Black soldiers in Vietnam? They're the ones who were literally left behind to tell their story... it's crazy that their experiences had to be silenced for so long