About Freedom Road
- Released on October 29, 1979
Ex-slave and former Union soldier Gideon Jackson represents other ex-slaves at the constitutional convention, and is soon elected to the U.S. Senate despite opposition from white landowners, law enforcement and the KKK. He unites with sharecropper Abner Lait, who helps Jackson unite ex-slaves and white tenant farmers.
Full Cast of Freedom Road
Muhammad Ali plays Gideon Jackson
Kris Kristofferson plays Abner Lait
Ron O'Neal plays Francis Cardoza
Edward Herrmann plays Stephen Holmes
John McLiam plays President Ulysses S. Grant
Ossie Davis plays Narrator
Barbara O. Jones plays Rachel Jackson (as Barbara-O Jones)
Sonny Jim Gaines plays Brother Peter
Joel Fluellen plays James Allenby
Jean Foster plays Ellen Allenby
Grace Zabriskie plays Ruth Lait
Bill Mackey plays Trooper
Earl D.A. Smith plays Hannibal
Alfre Woodard plays Katie
Fred Covington plays Sheriff Bentley
Sonny Shroyer plays Jason Hugar
Ernest Dixon plays Marion Jefferson
Sylvia Kuumba Williams plays Louise Jefferson
Tom Delaney plays Will Boone
Ron Gural plays Frank Carlson
William Allen Young plays Older Jeff Jackson
Tony Ross plays Young Jeff Jackson
Eric Washington plays Older Marcus Jackson
Rodney King Adams plays Young Marcus Jackson
Howard Brunner plays Lawyer Greene
Howland Chamberlain plays Isaac Went
Georgia Allen plays Mrs. Carter
James Bowman plays 1st White Trash Delegate
Don Brady plays 2nd White Trash Delegate
Robert Bloodworth plays Major at Convention
Barbara Chaney plays Mrs. Ganfret
Stuart Culpepper plays Major Walsh
Lionel Ferbis Jr. plays Uncle Baddy
Peter Gabb plays 3rd White Trash Delegate
Ian Graham plays Jimmy Lait
Jerome Greene plays Black Delegate
Bill Holliday plays Yankee Boss
Don Hood plays Gen. Ganfret
Maurice Hunt plays Dudley Carwell
Don Lutenbacher plays Convention Speaker
Ritchie Montgomery plays Soldier
Danny Nelson plays Auctioneer
Afemo Omilami plays Young Black Man with Scars
Courtney Pledger plays Mrs. Dupre
David Robbins plays Wounded Redshirt
Jeremiah Shabazz plays Well-Dressed Black Delegate
Gregory White plays Clair Willis
Bob Zay plays Roger Dupre
Crew of Freedom Road
Camera
Editing
Art
Writing
Production
Directing
Sound
Crew
- Muhammad Ali
- Kris Kristofferson
- Ron O'Neal
- Edward Herrmann
- John McLiam
- Ossie Davis
- Barbara O. Jones
- Sonny Jim Gaines
- Joel Fluellen
- Jean Foster
- Grace Zabriskie
- Bill Mackey
- Earl D.A. Smith
- Alfre Woodard
- Fred Covington
- Sonny Shroyer
- Ernest Dixon
- Sylvia Kuumba Williams
- Tom Delaney
- Ron Gural
- William Allen Young
- Tony Ross
- Eric Washington
- Rodney King Adams
- Howard Brunner
- Howland Chamberlain
- Georgia Allen
- James Bowman
- Don Brady
- Robert Bloodworth
- Barbara Chaney
- Stuart Culpepper
- Lionel Ferbis Jr.
- Peter Gabb
- Ian Graham
- Jerome Greene
- Bill Holliday
- Don Hood
- Maurice Hunt
- Don Lutenbacher
- Ritchie Montgomery
- Danny Nelson
- Afemo Omilami
- Courtney Pledger
- David Robbins
- Jeremiah Shabazz
- Gregory White
- Bob Zay