Ondergrondse Sporen — Season 1, Episode 1: Freedom
Documentary • 46 min • 1 season, 5 episodes
Episode synopsis
Martijn and Finbarr end up in the swamps of Louisiana, where enslaved people were helped by natives to escape. They meet Mardi Gras Indians, 'black natives'. These used to be street gangs that attacked each other, but now it's about who makes the most beautiful costumes. Angola Prison used to be a cotton plantation where enslaved people worked, but now prisoners work there. During the rodeo, the doors open to the public and everyone can see how young black inmates throw themselves in front of mad bulls in the hope of earning a few bucks. What is freedom when so many black people are imprisoned, often for decades?
About Ondergrondse Sporen
Martijn Blekendaal and Finbarr Wilbrink travel along the Underground Railroad, the underground network that helped thousands of enslaved people escape to freedom. They ask themselves: How does the past of slavery impact contemporary life in America?