Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / June 16, 1977, edition 1 / Page 22
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With American Sportsman's Crew Burton Journeys To South American Jungles Five years before “Roots" sent thousands of blacks to Africa in search of their past, Dr. S. Allen Counter of Har vard University was hacking through the jungles of South America to find descendants of rebel slaves and a missing link in black history. Late last week Dr. Counter made his fifth expedition to those jungles where he has already discovered a group of former-slave tribes living an African tribal life reminiscent of Africa 300 years ago. LaVar Burton, who played the young Kunta Kinte in ABC-TV's highly acclaimed series, “Roots," and ABC Sports’ “The American Sportsman” crew headed by producer Bob Duncan is ac companying Dr. Counter on this unusual trip to meet these former slaves who have be come known as the Auconer warriors of Surinam. “The American Sportsman” hopes to shoot unprecedented footage of a peaceful interre action between Africans and the indigenous jungle Indians who taught the Auconers much about survival in the Amazon Rain Forest, and will air its findings on next sea son's (January-April) series. Burton will serve as narrator on the program and relate his own experiences with these warriors. In explaining the purposes of the expedition, Duncan said that 300 years ago many Afri cans, brought to Dutch planta tions in Surinam, escaped in to the jungles and succeeded where Kunta had failed in gaining his freedom. Vanish ing into a vast jungle similar to what they had known in Africa, the slaves regrouped into five major tribes, known as the Auconers, and waged a brilliant guerilla war against the Dutch. The hundred-year war ended when the Auconers annihilated a mercenary force of 1500, forcing the Dutch to seek and receive peace trea ties. Dr. Counter, the first North American black to meet the rebels, found the Auconers fiercely proud of their history, often reenacting century-old battles in ritual dances. On his four trips, Dr. Counter has collected valuable data on herbal medicine, the correla tions of diet to nervous system disorders and, most impor tantly, knowledge of uprooted Africans who developed' their own society based upon free dom. Burton and Dr. Counter will concentrate on the remark able wilderness skills that enabled the escaped slaves to *—s survive in the forbidding jun gle. “The American Sports man" footage could prove invaluable to future genera tions as the culture of the Auconers and all wild Indians of the jungle is being destroy ed in a manner sadly reminis cent to that of North America 200 years ago. The crew plans to spend two weeks with the Indians, begin ning with a flight to Parimari bo, the capital of Surinam. From there a small plane flies the group into the interior where they will be met by Auconer tribesmen in dugout canoes to continue their jour ney upriver and deep into the wilderness. Support Our Advertiser* 1 GOT TO GIVE IT Ul* Marvin Gaye 2 HOLLYWOOD Kufiis :« WHODUNIT Tavares 4 SIK DUKE Stevie Wonder r» HKEAK IT TO ME GENTLY Aretha Franklin fi I CANT GET OVEK YOU Dramatics 7 I'M GOIN DOWN Hose Koyce K SHOW YOU THE WAY Jacksons 9 TIIE PRIDE Isley Brothers 10 I DON'T LOVE YOU ANY MORE Teddy Pendergrass 11 IT KEELS SO GOOD TO BE LOVED SO BAD Manhattans 12 I'M YOUR BOOGIE MAN K (’. & The Sunshine Band 13 THIS I SWEAR Tyrone Davis 14 EASY < 'onimodores 15 ANGEL IN YOUR ARMS Hot Hi GO AWAY LITTLE BOY Marlcna Shaw 17 HIGH SCHOOL DANCE Sylvers IH SEE YOU WHEN I GET THERE Ix>u Rawls 19 THE PINOCCHIO THEO RY Bootsy's Kuhberband 20 I WANNA DO IT TO YOU Jerry Butler - :- -- — v' L _ THE TEMPTATIONS Shows 3:00 & 8:00 June 18 In The Paladhim Caro winds Admission Phis $1.00 - $8.00 Total Carowinds Open 10 AJVL - 10PJV1. Latimer & Wilson Dry Cleaning & Sewing Service 5 Shirts $1.05 With Dry Cleaning 228 N. Tryon St 376-3462 And 2229 N. Tryon St. 334-6615
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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June 16, 1977, edition 1
22
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