Tongues Untied

55 minutes, 1989, United States

Produced, Directed and Edited by Marlon Riggs

Educational Streaming

Colleges, Universities, Government Agencies, Hospitals and Corporations

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

1-Year Single Campus Academic Streaming $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.

3-Year Single Campus Academic Streaming $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.

Life-of-the-File-Format Digital Site License (DSL) $500.00

Includes downloadable .mp4 video and .srt caption files. Permits secure, password-protected streaming via the licensing institution’s distance learning or internal streaming platform for students, faculty, staff, and on-campus researchers. Also includes 5 years of embeddable streaming. Perfect for long-term archiving and flexible institutional access.

Add DVD $50.00

Available to U.S. licensees only. Shipping via USPS Priority Mail 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 (under 100 participants-where no admission is charged).

Flexible options for educators, facilitators, and non-commercial screenings.

7-Day On-Demand Group Rental $50.00

Streamed via a secure screening page to a single purchaser. For use in a real-time, synchronous group setting, either in person or virtual. Ideal a single discussion, classroom session, or community gathering.

30-Day On-Demand Group Rental $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 secure URL and password to share with students. Ideal for high school and non-college classes.

Single Course Rental (15 weeks) $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 secure URL and password to share with students. Ideal for high school and non-college classes.

Add DVD $50.00

Available to U.S. licensees only. Shipping via USPS Priority Mail 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 individuals without institutional access.

Home Viewing Rental $10.00

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

Home viewing is offered as a courtesy 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.

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

Add DVD $50.00

Available to U.S. licensees only. Shipping via USPS Priority Mail 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.

Ways to Watch

Educational Streaming

Colleges, Universities, Government Agencies, Hospitals and Corporations.

Community Screening

Short-term use for small groups, organizations, or high school classes (under 100 participants, where no admission is charged).

Home Viewing

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