Tongues Untied

55 minutes, 1989, United States

Produced, Directed and Edited by Marlon Riggs

Tongues Untied

Educational Streaming

Colleges, Universities, Government Agencies, Hospitals and Corporations

Streaming licenses for institutional use—ideal for education, training, and research.

$150.00

One year of embeddable streaming access for a single institution. Includes captioning support, and easy LMS integration. Perfect for courses, workshops, and staff development.

$300.00

Three years of embeddable streaming access for a single institution. Includes captioning support, and easy LMS integration. Ideal for recurring curriculum use and long-term academic programming.

$500.00

Includes access to downloadable .mp4 video and .srt caption files. Permits secure, password-protected streaming of those files via the licensing institution’s distance learning or internal streaming platform for students, faculty, staff, and on-campus researchers. Docuseek supported embeddable streaming is also supported for the Life of File. Perfect for long-term archiving and flexible institutional access.

$50.00

Available to U.S. licensees only. Shipping (via USPS) and California sales tax (for California customers) will be calculated at checkout.

Community Screening

Short-term use for small groups, organizations, or high school classes (where no admission is charged)

Flexible options for educators, facilitators, and community screenings (where admission is not charged).

$50.00

Streamed via a single access video playback page. For use with your real-time, synchronous group viewing, either in person or in an online meeting. Ideal a single discussion, classroom session, or community gathering.

$75.00

Streamed via Newsreel.org. For use by a single group of up to 100 participants for 30 days. A moderator or instructor will receive a unique secure URL and password to share with students. Ideal for high school and non-college classes.

$100.00

Streamed via Newsreel.org for use by a single course or group of up to 100 participants over a 15-week academic term. A moderator or instructor will receive a unique secure URL and password to share with students. Ideal for use during a single semester.

$50.00

Available to U.S. licensees only. Shipping (via USPS) and California sales tax (for California customers) will be calculated at checkout.

Home Viewing

48-hour personal streaming rental for in-home use only.

For individual at home viewing

$10.00

Enjoy a 48-hour streaming rental, beginning at checkout, via Newsreel.org for personal, at-home use only.

Home viewing is made available for individuals without institutional access. We encourage you to check with your local public library, college campus, or community organization to see if they already hold a viewing license and a way for you to watch.

By selecting this option, you agree that you will not show the film in any public, group, or classroom setting.

$50.00

Available to U.S. licensees only. Shipping (via USPS) and California sales tax (for California customers) will be calculated at checkout.

Marlon Riggs' essay film Tongues United gives voice to communities of black gay men, presenting their cultures and perspectives on the world as they confront racism, homophobia, and marginalization. It broke new artistic ground by mixing poetry (by Essex Hemphill and other artists), music, performance and Riggs' autobiographical revelations. The film was embraced by black gay audiences for its authentic representation of style, and culture, as well its fierce response to oppression. It opened up opportunities for dialogue among and across communities.

Tongues Untied has been lauded by critics for its vision and its bold aesthetic advances, and vilified by anti-gay forces who used it to condemn government funding of the arts. It was even denounced from the floor of Congress.

"Black men loving Black men is the revolutionary act" is the rallying cry at the film's end and after more than nearly 40 years, Tongues United remains a celebrated vehicle for eloquent self-expression and liberation.

"A Black male warrior fighting for the right to love other Black men, Marlon Riggs affirms what was nearly lost, newly found; the certainty that Black male lives are utterly precious."
Alice Walker

"The film's meditation on what it means to be black and gay in America is candid, provocative and original and speaks to the perseverance of the human spirit. Teachers and students interested in race, class, gender, sexuality and HIV/AIDS must have Tongues Untied."
E. Patrick Johnson, Northwestern University

"One of the most significant documentaries in the last 30 years, still unique in its often overwhelming performative power. It is an intensely personal and moving work that merits inclusion in any library collection."
Gary Handman, Director, University of California-Berkeley, Media Resources Center

Tongues Untied

Award
Selected for the Library of Congress National Film Registry

Links
To honor Marlon Riggs’ important cultural legacy as well as to facilitate the appreciation for and use of his work, we have created a Marlon Riggs Critical Resource page featuring articles, guides, transcripts and media.

Related Titles

The New Black: LGBTQ Rights and African American Communities

The New Black: LGBTQ Rights and African American Communities

Ways to Watch

Educational Streaming

Recommended for Colleges, Universities, Government Agencies, Hospitals and Corporations

Community Screening

Short-term use for small groups, organizations, or high school classes (where no admission is charged)

Home Viewing

48-hour, personal rental for in-home use only, restrictions apply