Romare Bearden's art captures the diversity and richness that was his life. With roots in North Carolina, Bearden migrated north at an early age, living in industrial Pittsburgh and vibrant Harlem, and spent later years on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. These four locales, and Bearden's memories of their people, music, colors, and stories, form the basis of his collages and paintings. This film, narrated by Morgan Freeman with readings by Danny Glover, traces the artist's career using new and archival footage to demonstrate the artistic impact of Bearden's memories and art-historical models.