Trivia

The filming locations and production design of the interviews, with brick walls and industrial equipment, represent labor that, according to DuVernay, "has been stolen from black people in this country for centuries."

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

The film won 4 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Motion Design, Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics - Letter to the Free, Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program.

This was the first documentary to ever open the New York Film Festival - the 54th Festival on Friday, September 30th, 2016.

This documentary was nominated for an Oscar and an Emmy award.