Black Identity / General works on Race and Race Relation
Literature and the Arts
African Americans and the Educational System
African American Sports
General and Miscellaneous
Black Identity / General Works on Race and Race Relations
- Affirmative Action: The History of an Idea.
- Explores the historical roots of affimative action and the current debate over its usefulness. Looks at several different affirmative action programs including the Univ. of California, Berkeley, the U.S. Army, federal aid to minority businesses, and affirmative action in the Chicago Police Dept. Includes archival footage and features interviews with a wide array of academic scholars. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1996. 56 min. Video/C 4999
- Affirmative Action Under Fire: When is it Reverse Discrimination?
- The account of a reverse discrimination court case over the firing in 1989 of a white teacher in a Piscataway, New Jersey high school because of her race. Shows how this court case became a national battle for affirmative action and how affirmative action preference advocates paid the white teacher $450,000 to drop her case in order to avoid a Supreme Court decision that would potentially invalidate all affirmative action programs in the United States. Originally produced for the ABC television program Nightline aired on November 11, 1997 under the title: Black teacher, white teacher, affirmative action under fire. Dist.: Films Media Group. 22 min. Video/C 6874
- American Cultural History: Racism
- Don't be a sucker / U.S. War Department (1947, 18 min.) -- Integration, Report 1 / Andover Productions (1960, 21 min.) -- Let us break bread together / City of New York, Board of Education (1954, 26 min.) Don't be a sucker: Uses the example of Nazi Germany to drive home the point that American's should not be fooled by people who wage a war against minorities. It warns them not to be "a sucker" and to live in harmony despite differences of color, race or religion. Integration, Report 1: Historical footage of the Civil Rights Movement in 1959 and 1960 including footage of rallies staged in Montgomery, Brooklyn and Washington, D.C. Let us break bread together: A promotional film on Detroit as the host city for the 1968 Olympics showing views of highways, automobile manufacturing, a diverse population and social activities, all shot prior to the city's economic decline. DVD 5153
- America Beyond the Color Line
- Harvard professor Louis Henry Gates travels to the East coast, the deep South, inner city Chicago, and Hollywood to interview influential African Americans and investigate their views on the status of black Americans at the start of the new century. 2003. Dist.: PBS. 220 min. DVD 2336
- America in Black and White. Racial Profiling and Law Enforcement
- For many African-Americans, simply having dark skin seems to be grounds for being pulled over by police and searched for drugs. Police call it "profiling," based on years of successful drug interdiction through traffic stops, but angry and humiliated victims call it "racial profiling," a blatant form of discrimination. This investigative report examines the issue from the victim's point of view as well as through the eyes of the police. Originally broadcast as segments of: Nightline. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1998. 44 min. Video/C 8641
- American Cultural History: Racism
- Don't be a sucker / U.S. War Department (1947, 18 min.) -- Integration, Report 1 / Andover Productions (1960, 21 min.) -- Let us break bread together / City of New York, Board of Education (1954, 26 min.)
Don't be a sucker: Uses the example of Nazi Germany to drive home the point that American's should not be fooled by people who wage a war against minorities. It warns them not to be "a sucker" and to live in harmony despite differences of color, race or religion.
Integration, Report 1: Historical footage of the Civil Rights Movement in 1959 and 1960 including footage of rallies staged in Montgomery, Brooklyn and Washington, D.C. Let us break bread together: A promotional film on Detroit as the host city for the 1968 Olympics showing views of highways, automobile manufacturing, a diverse population and social activities, all shot prior to the city's economic decline. DVD 5153
- An American Love Story.
- Contents: v. 1. Episode 1. Welcome to America. Episode 2. A piece of the puzzle is missing -- v. 2. Episode 3. I've fallen and I can't get up. Episode 4. It's another new year and I ain't gone -- v. 3. Episode 5. Chaney & the boy. Episode 6. You & me against the world -- v. 4. Episode 7. True love. Episode 8. Marion truth -- v. 5. Episode 9. It's my job. Episode 10. We were never Ozzie and Harriet.
Documentary condensed from 1000 hours of filming the bi-racial Wilson Sims family: Karen Wilson, a white woman, Bill Sims, a black man, and their two daughters--daughter Cicily's entrance to college, her semester in Nigeria, and job search, daughter Chaney's first date, Karen Wilson's solitary visit to her mother, and ill health, Bill Simms' visit to his past life, and career struggles, and, 25 years after their first meeting, Karen and Bill's deciding to attend her high school reunion to face people who have ostracized them in the past. 1999. ca. 500 min. Video/C 6503
- Are We Different?: Young African Americans Talk About Cultural Difference and Race in America.
- Film gives voice to African-American students around the country as they articulate issues of race, racisim, and race relations. The discussion ranges from whether stylistic differences between whites and blacks are superficial or profound, and the causes and nature of anger and frustration in the black community. Students also question why "blackness" is suddenly so fashionable and talk about black culture with its special speech patterns and gestures and black sprituality and energy. 30 min. Video/C 3967
- Badass Supermama
- A playful, but questioning personal exploration of beauty as perceived by a black women, looking at race, gender, sexuality, body image and representation. These inter-connected issues are examined through 1970's "blaxploitation" movie goddess Pam Grier and her characters, with clips from her films Foxy Brown and Sheba, baby. A video by Etang Inyang, 1996. 16 min. Video/C 7226
- Black, Bold & Beautiful: Black Women's Hair
- Explores some of the tangled dilemmas surrounding black hairstyles -- to "relax" one's hair into straight tresses or to leave it "natural" and nappy -- choices which raise questions of conformity and rebellion, pride and identity. This informative primer examines the importance of various hairstyles to Afro-American women and how these styles define the personal identity of each woman. [1999] 40 min. Video/C 7978
- Black Is - Black Ain't: A Personal Journey Through Black Identity
- American culture has stereotyped black Americans for centuries. Equally devastating, the late Marlon Riggs argued, have been the definitions of "blackness" African Americans impose upon one another which contain and reduce the black experience. In this film, Riggs meets a cross-section of African Americans grappling with the paradox of numerous, often contradictory definitions of blackness. He shows many who have felt uncomfortable and even silenced within the race because their complexion, class, sexuality, gender, or speech has rendered them "not black enough," or conversely, "too black." The film scrutinizes the identification of "blackness" with masculinity as well as sexism, patriarchy and homophobia in black America. 1995. 88 min. DVD 3036; also VHS Video/C 3779
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- Description from California Newsreel catalog
Independent Television Service's "Black Is...Black Ain't web page
- Black Like Who?
- Filmmaker Debbi Reynolds explores her racial identity as a black who grew up in a white neighborhood while learning about the experiences and feelings of her parents and new black friends in college. 1995. 30 min. Video/C 5009
- Black to the Promised Land
- A group of problem students from the Street Academy High School of Brooklyn are taken on a trip to Israel. They experience the everyday life of the Jewish community in a kibbutz. Both Jewish and Black youngsters seem surprised in finding that love, respect and friendship can grow in spite of ethnic differences and the color of their skin. Produced and directed by Madeleine Ali. 1991. 97 min. Video/C 9796
- Black Women On: The Light, Dark Thang.
- Explores the politics of color within the African-American community. Afro-American women, representing a variety of hues, speak candidly about the longstanding "caste system" that permeates black society and share personal stories about how being too light or too dark has profoundly influenced their life and relationships. c1999. 52 min. Video/C 7982
- Black Women, Sexual Politics and the Revolution
- Black feminist women speak candidly on issues of sex, class and gender roles. The film examines how African American women deal with issues of poverty, battering, and lack of health care, and addresses how women's roles in community activism are often overlooked or ignored. Also examines the media portrayal of Afro-American women with an emphasis on the representation of Black women in music videos. Dist.: Third World Newsreel. 1991. 30 min. Video/C 5578
- Blacks & Jews
- Early in the 20th century black and Jewish Americans joined forces against bigotry and for civil rights but in the late 1960's each group turned inward and the coalition fell apart. This film examines the history of this collaboration and recent racial conflicts between Afro-Americans and Jews and attempts at understanding and reconciliation, with particular emphasis on events in New York City and Oakland, California. A film by Deborah Kaufman. 1997. 85 min. Video/C 4712
- [The Complete] Blue Eyed [with Jane Elliott].
- Contents: 30-minute blue eyed (the most concise version) / producers, Claus Strigel, Bertram Verhaag (30 min.) -- Essential blue eyed (trainer's ed., with debriefing with Jane Elliott) / producers, Claus Strigel, Bertram Verhaag (90 min.) -- Blue eyed (original version) / producers, Claus Strigel, Bertram Verhaag (93 min.) -- [Blue eyed] Trainer's manual (suggestions for using "blue eyed" in diversity training programs).
For over 30 years Jane Elliott has been America's most highly acclaimed diversity trainer. Her powerful and controversial "blue eyed/brown eyed" exercise has had a life-changing impact on thousands in schools, corporations and government. The original "Blue eyed," the definitive record of her technique, proved so powerful that is has been made into three separate versions so it can be conveniently used in any setting. 2004. DVD 3054
- The Body Beautiful.
- Film situated in England examines the relationship between a Caucasian mother and her bi-racial Caucasian/Nigerian daughter. Producer/director/writer, Ngozi Onwurah. 1991. 23 min. Video/C 3274
- Can You See the Color Gray?
- Attitudes and feelings about race are expressed by children and teenagers. An exploration of the subtle development of racial attitudes in children of varying ages, some of whom are followed over a two-year period. The video is divided into two parts, followed by a brief intermission, providing an opportunity to address questions or begin discussing the issues that have been raised. Produced, edited and directed by Alexandra K. Corbin. 1996. 54 min. Video/C MM785
- Class Divided.
- Documents a reunion of Iowa teacher Jane Elliott and her third-grade class of 1970, subjects that year of an ABC News television documentary entitled: The eye of the storm. Shows how her experimental curriculum on the evils of discrimination had a lasting effect on the lives of the students. 26 min. DVD 5915; also vhs Video/C 1143
- Eye of the Storm Video/C 3984
- Coffee Colored Children.
- A semi-autobiographical story set in England of racism, prejudice, and self-definition experienced by bi-racial children of a Caucasian/Nigerian marriage. A film by Ngozi Onwurah. 1988. 17 min. Video/C 3280
- The Color of Fear.
- Eight North American men of Asian, European, Latino and African descent talk together about how racism affects them. A film / by Lee Mun Wah. 90 min. Video/C 3588
- Color Schemes: America's Washload in 4 Cycles.
- The theme is society's intolerance for cultural diversity. 28 min. Video/C 1776
- Colors.(Way We Live: Introduction to Sociology; 12)
- For racial and ethnic minorities, the struggle for recognition and equality is nothing new. Perhaps nowhere is this more visible than in the United States. The polarizing effects of stereotyping, racial prejudice and discrimination, and its impact on generations of Black Americans are discussed. Learners will also meet the Bazzy family - an Arab-American family in Michigan who must cope with local misconceptions and generalizations about Arab culture in the wake of 9/11. 2005. 27 min. DVD 4807
- Combing Thru the Kinks!
- African-American women ages nine to ninety-two discuss their hair joys, struggles and dilemmas, with emphasis on hair braiding and its ethnic roots and how their choices of hair styles affect their personal identities. 1999. 41 min. Video/C 8131
- Domino: Interracial People and the Search for Identity
- Portrays the stories of six interracial people, exploring issues of identity, cultural isolation, and the search for community. Through these personal stories, each person recounts how their identity is affected by their parents' history, hierarchies of race, gender roles, and class. Ultimately, these six individuals demonstrate how living intimately with two cultures can be a source of strength and enrichment. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1994. 45 min. Video/C 4997
- The Eye of the Storm.
- Award winning documentary records an innovative experiment in which a third-grade teacher divides her all-white class into "blue-eyes" and "brown-eyes," making each group superior or inferior on successive days. The program demonstrates the nature and effects of bigotry by showing changes brought about in the children's behavior and learning patterns. 26 min. Video/C 3984
- A Class Divided 26 min. Video/C 1143
- Finding Christa.
- A partly documentary film concerning an artist who leaves her three-year old daughter at a children's home and that daughter, a performing artist, who later, at the urging of her adoptive mother, seeks her out. Film by Camille Billops and James Hatch. 1991 55 min. Video/C 4721
- Deans, Jill R. "Performing The Search In Adoption Autobiography: Finding Christa and Reno Finds Her Mom." Biography 2001 24(1): 85-98.
Lane, Jim
"Black Autobiographical Documentary." Jump Cut /40, Mar 96; p.38-46.
- Four Hundred Years Without a Comb.
- A documentary/drama in African American history and tradition as told through various combs. Beauty is a big part of Africa and its people around the globe. The advent of slavery and the lack of combs and the ability to groom caused a social, individual, health, and spiritual death for the slaves giving rise to inferiority attitudes regarding hair, skin, nose and lips still present in African-Americans of today. In this film the emphasis is on the hairdressing of African-American women as a manifestation of this "inferior seed". Based on a book of the same title by Willie L. Morrow, published in 1973. 60 min. Video/C 7523
- Fuori/outside
- A young woman whose father was Italian American and mother was African American reflects on racism in her family and in her community. Written in the form of a letter to her aging white grandmother, she talks about racism against African Americans by New Yorkers from Southern Italy who had experienced racism themselves. 1997. 13 min. Video/C MM243
- Hair Piece: A Film for Nappy-Headed People
- An animated satire on the question of self image for African American women from the perspective of hair styling. Lively tunes and witty narration accompany a quick-paced inventory of relaxers, gels and curlers, rituals all-too familiar to African American women, and indeed to all women confronted with an unattainable ideal of beauty. 1985. 10 min. Video/C 7977
- I Am a Man
- An exploration of "what it means to be a black man in America... confronting issues of race, and racism, through the lens of gender, probing deep within the traditional American ideals of manhood in order to draw out the complex and often ambivalent nature of black male identity. A documentary by Byron Hurt and Andrew Jones. Dist.: Media Education Foundation. 1998. 60 min.
- In Search of our Fathers.
- Marco Williams, a young filmmaker from Harvard, decided to try to track down his father, a man he never knew. In searching for his roots, he interviews his large family in which nobody had a known father, in order to find out all he could about his own mysterious father. His mother refused to tell him any details about his father, but in 1987 his mother relented and spoke about the affair. James Berry in Springfield, MA was the man he was looking for. After great effort Berry agreed to meet his son. 61 min. Video/C 4429
- Lane, Jim
"Black Autobiographical Documentary."
Jump Cut /40, Mar 96; p.38-46. On the approach to subjectivity, temporality and narrative in the
African-American autobiographical documentaries "In Search of our Fathers"
and "Finding Christa".
- Interracial Marriage: Blending the Races in America.
- Examines how and why couples of different colors, religions, and ethnic roots are drawn to one another, how their differences affect their marriages, and how they deal with their friends and family. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1993. 52 min. Video/C 4994
- Just Black?: Multi-Racial Identity.
- In this documentary several young people whose parents are of mixed racial heritage talk about their struggle to establish, acquire and assert a racial identity. 57 min. Video/C 2262
- Lockin' Up
- By letting her hair coil into dreadlocks, Jamaican-born filmmaker, T. Nicole Atkinson, challenges society's and her own conflicted notions of beauty. Surveys the origins and cultural significance of dreadlocks, including the stereotypes which reflect the racism inherent in Western standards of beauty. A videotape by T. Nicole Atkinson. c1997. 29 min. Video/C 8085
- Middle Passage-n-roots
- Attitudes about hair and its connection to self-image and self-worth are examined in this insightful documentary. Afros, processed, corn rows, braids and dreds are all explored and explained in this look at the love/hate relationship African-Americans have with their hair. Directed, produced and written by Ada M. Babino. c1995 30 min. DVD 9540 [preservation copy]; vhs Video/C 7451
- The Mirror Lied
- How does a young African American woman deal with the ideals of feminine beauty imposed by a white society? This film shows the struggle of the filmmaker's fifteen-year-old sister, Jantre, to accept her appearance. Though she spends an hour each day trying to tame her unruly hair, she never feels attractive. 199? 27 min. Video/C 6524
- Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible
- Features the up close and personal stories of white activists and their ongoing journeys of transformation. Participants talk about being unconscious about their learned and internalized sense of white supremacy. They share what was required and what actions they took to move through the common first stages of denial, defensiveness, guilt, fear and shame into making solid commitments towards ending racism. The video uses art, theatre, movement, photographs and music to amplify stories that share richly varied experiences and life processes informed by deep reflection and social justice action. The individuals' interviews are also enhanced by historical sources, spoken word, photographs and video archives which serve to address systemic racist oppression. Directed by Shakti Butler and Rick Butler. 2006. 50 min. DVD 6946
- Nappy.
- Ten African American women discuss the reasons why they chose to stop straightening their hair and go natural. The film also touches on the consequences of their decisions and on the importance and significance of hairstyles in African American culture. Written and directed by Lydia Ann Douglas, 1997. 28 min. Video/C 6680
- One Drop Rule
- Explores the recurring and divisive issue in African American communities of skin color. The film inter-cuts intimate interviews with darker skinned African Americans, lighter skinned African Americans and inter-racial children of black and white parents. It investigates the sensitive topic of color consciousness within the African American community with great tact and a clear commitment to healing divisions. 2001. 49 min. Video/C 8280
- Our House: Lesbians and Gays in the Hood.
- A hard-hitting and highly informative look at issues, activism and discrimination in the U.S. from the view points of lesbians and gay men of color. "Up front, in your face, hard-hitting interviews with Black Gays and Lesbians provides an uncompromising look at homophobia, racism, alienation and empowerment for Queer African Americans. This riveting documentary gives voice to the multiple identities of gay, women, Black, and the strength inherit in their unity. A new perspective on what is "Black Enough," this video powerfully contextualized gay and lesbian identity within the African American experience." [from Third World Newsreel (distributor) catalog] 60 min. Video/C 3312
- Passing
- The filmmaker's grandmother recounts memories of a trip she took through the segregated South in 1959. A film by Kym Ragusa. Dist.: Third World Newsreel. 1996. 9 min. Video/C MM244
- Perfect Image?
- Exposes stereotypical images of black women and explores women's own ideas of self-worth. Poses questions about how black women see themselves and each others and the pitfalls that await those who internalize the search for the "perfect image." 30 min. Video/C 3370
- The Politics of Love - In Black and White.
- Confronts interracial romance on America's campuses. 33 min. Video/C 2969
- A Question of Color.
- Examines the issue of color consciousness within the black community. This film explores a caste system based on how closely skin color, hair texture and facial features conform to a European ideal. A variety of African Americans give their experiences and attitudes towards the questions of color. 58 min. Video/C 2540
- Race is the Place
- Focusing on the topic of racism in the United States, the program presents an assemblage of taped monologues, commentaries, readings, musical performances, and stills of visual artworks interspersed with documentary sequences, archival images, and dialogue exemplifying the topic found in American mass media and product packaging. Featuring: Amiri Baraka, Andy Bumatrai, Kamau Daaood, Mayda del Valle, Michael Franti, Lalo Guerrero, Barry "Shabaka" Henley, Danny Hoch, James Luna, Culture Clash, Richard Montoya, Willie Perdomo, Kate Rigg, Boots Riley, Ricardo Salinas, Beau Sia, Herbert Siguenza, Piri Thomas, Haunani-Kay Trask, Lois Ann Yamada ; visual artists: Enrique Chagoya, Michael Ray Charles, Paula de Joie, Faith Ringgold, Betye Saar, Ben Sakoguchi, Cora Yee. Produced and directed by Raymond Telles, Rick Tejada-Flores. c2005. 92 min. DVD 6153
- Race: The Floating Signifier.
- Stuart Hall, a renown public speaker and teacher, presents a lecture on race and the meaning of racial signifiers (like skin color) at Goldsmiths' College, New Cross, London. Weaving a compelling argument that includes a critical engagement with the work of Anthony Appiah and W.E.B. Du Bois, Hall concludes that because the meaning of race is never fixed but is dependent upon cultural context, it can be described as a "floating signifier." Includes a question and answer period at end of lecture and an interview with Hall by Sut Jhally. 1996. 85 min. DVD 4916; vhs Video/C 4655
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UC Berkeley users only - Requires Windows Media Player or Flip4Mac - Race, The Power of an Illusion
- A three part series exploring the history of race perceptions and behaviors towards races in the United States, within the context of recent scientific discoveries which have have toppled the concept of biological race. c2003. 56 min. each installment
The Difference Between Us. Follows students who sequence and compare their own DNA looking for a "race marker." It also looks at the history of racism in the U.S., the advent of stereotypes based on physical attributes attributed to races and somatotypes with particular reference to African Americans. DVD 3046; Video/C 9574
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The Story We Tell. Traces the race concept to the European conquest of the Americas, including the development of the slave system, which eventually crystalized into an ideology of white supremacy. By the mid-19th century, race had become the "common sense" wisdom of white America, revealing how social and political inequalities came to be recognized as "natural." DVD 3046; also VHS Video/C 9575
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The House We Live In. Focuses on how institutions shape and create race, giving different groups vastly unequal life chances. After WWII, whiteness increasingly meant owning a home in the suburbs, aided by discriminatory federal policies. DVD 3046; Video/C 9576
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- Skin Deep.
- A diverse group of college students reveal their honestfeelings and attitudes about race and racism. Students from 3 major universities are interviewed alone on topics including the climate toward talking about race on campus, self separation of ethnic groups, discrimination, affirmative action policies and individual responsibility for change. Concludes with a diverse group of 23 students from 6 major American universities who spent 3 days together to collectively challenge one another with dialogue focusing on such topics as the concept of individual responsibility, feeling separated from each other, wanting others to understand and what can be done to move awareness to action. 53 min. DVD 3705; also VHS Video/C 4055.
- Skin Deep, 1960. (People's Century)
- Skin deep examines the fight against legal, institutionalized racism in the United States and South Africa. In 1948, South Africa became unique among nations by writing segregation into the law of the land. The architects of apartheid took comfort in the fact that racial segregation was also found in the world's greatest democracy--the United States. 1997. 56 min. Video/C 6436
- Talking About Race.
- A diverse group of college students reveal their honest feelings and attitudes about race and racism. In part 1, students from 3 major universities are interviewed alone on topics including the climate toward talking about race on campus, self separation of ethnic groups, discrimination, affirmative action policies and individual responsibility for change. In part 2, a diverse group of 23 students from 6 major American universities spend 3 days together to collectively challenge one another with dialogue focusing on such topics as the concept of individual responsibility, feeling separated from each other, wanting others to understand and what can be done to move awareness to action. 25 min. Video/C 4054. See Also: Skin Deep
- Tongues Untied.
- A Film by Marlon Riggs. Derogatory accusations, judgments, and jokes in our culture are met head-on by this video about black, male, and gay identity. Poetry, personal testimony, and drama unite to oppose the homophobia and racism that attempt to split a person into opposing loyalties. 55 min. Video/C 1783
- I Shall Not Be Removed: The Life of Marlon Riggs. Video/C 4463
- Bibliography of articles/reviews on Tongues Untied
Description from Frameline catalog
Independent Television Service's "Black Is...Black Ain't web page
Gravity's web site devoted to Marlon Riggs
Tongues Untied censorship information
- Understanding Race.
- Examines the history and power of the artificial distinction called "race", viewing it within historical, scientific, and cultural contexts. Topics include the anthropological unity of Homo sapiens; sanctioned discrimination, such as segregation; cultural biases based on racial stereotypes; and the underlying humanity that inextricably links us all. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1999. 52 min. Video/C 7183
- Urban Tribe (Dreadlocks and Braids -- The Politics of Hair)
- Shows African-American "natural hair" styles provided from a salon in Chicago. Customers talk about their attitudes and feelings, while having their hair braided. Directed, edited and photographed by Jennifer Halliday. c2000. 26 min. Video/C MM712
Literature and the Arts
Includes works on the representation of African Americans in film and literature- Harlem Renaissance
Literary & Dramatic Readings (for works by individual African American authors
Literary Criticism and Biography (for works about individual African American authors)
Film History (for works about individual African American actors and directors)
The Movies, Race & Ethnicity (for evolving images of African Americans in the movies)
Musical Traditions of the World (for works about individual African American musicians and muscial contributions and performance works)
Musical Traditions of the World (for works about individual African American musicians and muscial contributions and musical performances)
Dance (for works about individual African American dancers and choreographers, and dance performances)
- Achievements in American Black History: Early Black Cinema.
- Examines the beginnings of the American Black cinema which flourished between 1916 and the early 30's. 40 min. Video/C 83
- Africa to America to Paris: The Migration of Black Writers.
- Traces the path of African-American literature from the shores of the U.S. to the Left Bank of Paris at the end of World War II through the late 1960s. The program provides context by first exploring the New Orleans salon poetry of Desdunes and then discussing the historic suppression of black activists in the U.S. after the Harlem Renaissance. This program primarily traces the lives of James Baldwin, Richard Wright and Chester Himes who immigrated to Paris seeking greater intellectual freedom. Includes remembrances of fellow artists and readings from their diaries and works. 1997. 53 min. Video/C 5624
- African Americans in Cinema: The First Half Century
- Contains a rich body of primary and secondary source material, critical essays by prominent film scholars, biographies, film reviews and clips, tracing the history of African Americans in film and black films from 1894 to 1950. Includes an interactive searchable database that contains more than 3,300 movies emphasizing the contributions of African Americans to cinema. Compu/D 564
- Amos and Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy
- Takes a fond look at the controversial radio and television show and attempts to determine if the series was a positive first step for Blacks into the world of entertainment or not and examines the events that led to the show's expulsion from the airwaves in 1966 after complaints from civil rights activists. Highlighted with rare clips of radio show creators Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, and hilarious clips from the Amos n' Andy TV series. Commentary by Alvin Childress, Ernestine Wade, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Redd Foxx, Marla Gibbs, and Henry Lee Moon. 1983. 60 min. Video/C MM1157
- Art of Darkness.
- The slaves of the Caribbean contributed not only to the wealth of their masters, but also to the cultural heritage of the British Empire. Documented through letters, paintings and poetry, the eighteenth century is shown to be both an age of high culture and of cruelty. Film shows how the art of the period romanticized the servitude of the plantation blacks as they were depicted as precious, exotic ornaments, even as they were being brutalized in real life. Director, David Maloney. 52 min. Video/C 3963.
- [Baldwin, James] James Baldwin: Questions and Answers, Wheeler Auditorium, UCB, 4/26/74 Video/C 2092 pt. 1-2
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Requires Windows Media Player or Flip4Mac - [Baldwin, James] Patience and Shuffle the Cards: James Baldwin at U.C. Berkeley 1981
- "A celebration of the ideas of James Baldwin, punctuated by original music and a ride through the city of Oakland during one of his visits. Also includes additional excerpts from his work read by Professor Erskine Peters, and an illuminating speech by Baldwin." 98 min. Video/C 9305
- [Baldwin, James] James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket.
- Presents a look at the life and influence of author James Baldwin, at once a major twentieth century American author, a Civil Rights activist and, for two crucial decades, a prophetic voice calling Americans, Black and white, to confront their shared racial tragedy. Through interviews with writers and friends, this documentary captures the passionate intellect and courageous writing of a man who was born Black, impoverished, gifted and gay. 1990. 87 min. DVD 3039; also VHS Video/C 1185
- [Baldwin, James] James Baldwin.[Sound recording]
- This collection of James Baldwin's speeches, talks and readings includes rare recordings made between 1962 and 1968, one of the most turbulent periods in American history. Disc 1. After the murder of four children (September 25, 1963) -- Men and women in the arts concerned with Vietnam (March 16, 1968) -- Talk at the San Francisco Masonic Auditorium (1961). Disc 2. The artist's struggle for integrity (September 1962) -- Short stories: readings from his second novel, "Giovanni's Room" (October, 1963) -- Interview with James Baldwin by Elsa Knight Thompson & John Leonard (May 7, 1963). Disc 3. Black Muslims vs. the Sit-Ins (April 25, 1961) -- Question and answer session with Baldwin at the Masonic Temple in San Francisco (May 7, 1963).
James Baldwin. Pacifica Radio Archives. Sound/D 226
- [Baldwin, James] See also:
- [Baraka, Amiri] Straight, No Chaser
- An interview with Amiri Baraka who discusses the cultural and political significance of African American music, rap, and motion pictures. He also addresses the activities of politician Jesse Jackson and motion picture producer Spike Lee. 1992. 60 min. Sound/C 1521
- [Baraka, Amiri] See also:
- [Bearden, Romare] Griots of Imagery: A Comment on the Art of Romare Bearden and Charles White
- A presentation on the art of two Afro-American artists who are true African keepers of history and culture or "griots", based on the 1993 exhibition of Romare Bearden and Charles White. Bearden's art is based on his reflections concerning what he called "the prevalence of ritual" in African-American life. White's art reflects his concern with the struggle of Black Americans to transcend the vissicitudes of American life. 28 min. Video/C 5271
- [Bearden, Romare] Romare Bearden: Visual Jazz.
- An intimate and personal look at the life and work of the bold, brilliant artist Romare Bearden who created collages and paintings of humanity in which he sought to "redefine the image of man" in terms of the African-American experience. Film includes rare footage of Bearden at work. 1995. 28 min. Video/C 5563
- The Big Black Comedy Show.
- Host: Mo'Nique ; co-host: Rodney Perry ; performers: Esau Ali, Doug Williams, DeRay Davis, Chris Spencer. series of large venue, live comedy concerts showcasing the talent of today's most popular African-American stand-up comedians. 2005.
Vol. 1. 88 min. DVD 6922
Vol. 2. 92 min. DVD 6923
Vol. 3. 94 min. DVD 6924
Vol. 4. 94 min. DVD 6925
Vol. 5. 94 min. DVD 6926
- Black Hollywood: The Way It Was (Library of Black History)
- An extensive exploration of the "Hollywood treatment" given to blacks by the film moguls since the beginning of the film industry. Through interviews with film historians and generous film clips examines how and why stereotypes were created and used by the movie industry. It also explains the economics of the film business and probes the impact of racism, the Depression, and World War II on film production and distribution. Contents: Film excerpts: Birth of a nation -- Scar of shame -- By right of birth -- Black king -- Emperor Jones -- So red the rose -- Broken strings -- Blood of Jesus -- Sports cavalcade -- Cabin in the sky. Originally shown on the television program: Tony Brown's journal. c1986. 104 min. Video/C 8261
- Black Picket Fence
- Director Sergio Goes' hard-hitting documentary about Tislam Miller, a struggling rapper living in the public housing projects of Brooklyn's East New York, one of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods. Tiz is making impressive strides in his career, but remains tied to his old life, primarily through his drug-dealing best friend, Mel, who has just gotten out of prison. Tiz comes to real that escape may a goal beyond possibility. 2003. 93 min. DVD 5835
- Black Shadows on a Silver Screen.
- A tribute to the Black film industry which co-existed with the Hollywood motion picture industry from 1915 to 1950. Includes segments from such rare films as By Right of Birth (1917), Body and Soul (1925), and Siren of the Tropics (1932). Features performances by Paul Robeson, Cab Calloway, Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong and others. 52 min. Video/C 1063
- Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement.
- Pt.1. Pioneers (41 min.)--Pt.2. A theatre of our own (37 min.)--Pt.3. Black theatre and beyond (35 min.). Performers: Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Lonne Elder, Lloyd Richards, James Earl Jones, Imamu Amiri Baraka, Vinnette Carroll, Ed Bullins, Richard Wesley, Ntozake Shange. Produced & directed by Woodie King, Jr. 110 min. Video/C 2537
- Black Women Writers
- A discussion dealing with criticism by black men that black women writers have achieved their success by focusing criticism on black males. 28 min. Video/C 4252
- Body and Soul. Part 2, Soul
- Singer Ray Charles traces the roots of today's "soul music" through the blues, jazz, hymns, prison laments and work songs. An interpretation of its development is illustrated with performances by Billie Holiday, Mahalia Jackson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Aretha Franklin. A CBS News production, 1968. DVD 8426 [preservation copy]; Video/C MM736
- Boneshop of the Heart: Folk Offerings from the American South.
- Explores a rich vein of American individuality through incisive portraits of five contemporary southern folk artists four of whom are African American. Includes interviews with the folk artists Enoch Tanner Wickham, Charlie Lucas, Vollis Simpson, Thornton Dial Sr., Bessie Harvey, Lonnie Bradley Holley. 1990. 53 min. Video/C MM612
- Born For Hard Luck.
- A biographical study of Arthur Jackson, known as Peg Leg Sam, a Black street corner musician, telling of his days as a hobo and performer with patent medicine shows in the South. 30 min. Video/C 890
- Breakin' In: The Making of a Hip Hop Dancer.
- music videos. Follows three young women as they compete for roles in hip hop music videos. Through their eyes we see how this world has impacted their personal values, their career ambitions and their concepts of beauty and self-image. Written and directed by Elizabeth St. Philip. Dist.: National Film Board of Canada. 2005. 71 min. DVD 6687
- Brian Winston Reads Black Sitcoms: Stereotypes and Lotsa Laffs.
- Discusses the ways that black sitcoms reinforce stereotypical racial images, giving examples from The Cosby Show. 30 min. Video/C 2577
- [Brooks, Gwendolyn] See :
- [Butler, Octavia] 25 Years of Kindred
- Renowned science fiction author Octavia Butler, in celebration of Black History Month 2004, presents a lecture discussing how racism, denial, myth-making, and racial stereotypes have influenced our understanding of our cultural heritage; how the past shapes present reality and how we can best use our historical memory to move forward. Program held in the University of California Doe Library, Morrison Room on February 17, 2004. 72 min. DVD 9273 [preservation copy]; vhs Video/C MM111
- Classified X.
- A film by Melvin Van Peebles. Examines the treatment of black characters throughout the history of American cinema, using examples from classic films beginning with footage by Thomas Edison in 1903 to the present, tracing how Hollywood has aided and abetted the public perception of the African-American. From its earliest days, Hollywood reflected society's fear of blacks and countered with wish-fulfilling images of African-Americans as servile, ignorant, superstitious, or untrustworthy. 1997. 50 min. Video/C 5588
- Color: A Sampling of Contemporary African American Writers.
- San Francisco, CA : The Poetry Center and American Poetry Archives, SFSU, 1994. Amiri Baraka, George Barlow, Conyus Calhoun, Xam Wilson Cartier, Barbara Christian, Lucille Clifton, Rita Dove, David Henderson, June Jordan, Etheridge Knight, Yusef Komunyakaa, Clarence Major, Colleen J. Mcelroy, Harryette Mullen, Ishmael Reed, Mona Lisa Saloy, Sonia Sanchez, Ntozake Shange, Luisah Teish, Lorenzo Thomas, Alice Walker, Al Young. 57 min. Video/C 3477
- Color Adjustment.
- Written by Marlon T. Riggs and performed by Ruby Dee. A historical view of stereotypical depictions of African-Americans in television and through that depiction traces the roots of racism and race relations in America. 1991. 58 min. DVD 3047; also VHS Video/C 2145
(Requires RealAudio player) - Cycles.
- Drawing on Caribbean folklore, this exuberant experimental drama uses animation and live action to discover a film language unique to African American women. The multilayered soundtrack combines a chorus of women's voices, with the music of Africa and the diaspora--including Miriam Makeba, acappella singers from Haiti, and trumpetiste Clora Bryant. A film by Zeinabu Irene Davis. 1989. 17 min. Video/C 4901
- Dance on the Wind: Memoirs of a Mississippi Shaman
- Performer, street and stage dancer Eno Washington tells and dances the story of how he discovered the West African roots of African-American dance. Included are details of how he learned to dance, the black dance traditions with which he grew up, his visits to West Africa and the connections he subsequently made among dances whose movements reappear under different names with each generation. Features many performances, current and historical. Produced by Marty Frame, Ivor Miller. Dist. Cinema Guild. 1992. 27 min. Video/C 5562
- The Dancing Man: Peg Leg Bates
- Documentary on the life and work of tap dancer Peg Leg Bates, much of it told in his own words. Profusely illustrated with archival footage, including many scenes of Bates dancing at different times of his life on stage, in films, and on television. Bates' performing career is complemented by his work as the owner and operator of a resort in the Catskills, which welcomed blacks in the years before integration. Commentary by his contemporaries offer insights into the difficulties faced by early black performers, as they critique Bates' dancing and the impact of his success as a black performer and resort owner. c1992. Director, Dave Davidson. Dist. Cinema Guild. 58 min. Video/C 8168
- The Darker Side of Black.
- Gangsta chic, violence and nihilism, the hard edge of Rap and Reggae increasingly dominates the image of black popular culture. This film investigates the issues raised by the genre, such as ritualized machismo, misogyny, attitudes towards homosexuality and religion, and gun glorification. Filmed in dance halls, hip hop clubs, and using interviews and music video clips, film takes us to London, Jamaica and the U.S. to examine the "darker" side of contemporary black music. 59 min. Video/C 3969
- [Dash, Julie] The Cinematic Jazz of Julie Dash.
- Afro-American filmmaker, producer, writer and director Julie Dash talks about her life and work and the difficulties she has had getting her films distributed and accepted. Interspersed with her comments are clips from three of her films, Daughters of the Dust, Illusions, and Diary of an African Nun, and she talks about the making of a fourth film, Four Women. One of her principal aims, she says, is "to redefine images of black women on the screen." Written and produced by Yvonne Welbon. 1992. 27 min. Video/C 7081
- Didn't We Ramble On.
- Film examines how West African people have passed down their rites and spiritual fervor, generation by generation, through the black marching band. As long as 700 years ago, the Yaruba's had musicalprocessions at funerals. By the 17th century, African musicians were seen in Turkish marching bands and admired and copied by the monarchs of Europe. During both World Wars black military bands played a major role in maintaining troop morale. In the U.S. today, the tradition of the black marching band continues on the football fields as exemplified by the Forida A&M Marching Band. In New Orleans today, a jazz procession, a direct cultural link to the Yoruba ceremony of 700 years ago, is an integral part of the Afro-American funeral observance. Producer, Billy Jackson. 15 min. Video/C 3975
- Dignity of Man and Origins of African-American Theatre.
- A brief history of Black American performers. Includes excerpts from "Colored People's Time." 15 min. Video/C 4842
- The Directors. The Films of Spike Lee.
- Through in-depth interviews, behind the scenes footage and clips from his films, Spike Lee talks about the ideas, influences, motivations, struggles and successes behind his work. "I have been blessed with the opportunity to express the views of black people who otherwise don't have access to power and the media. I have to take advantage of that while I am still bankable." 1997. 60 min. Video/C 7090
- [Ellison, Ralph] Ralph Ellison: An American Journey
- This first documentary on one of the most gifted and intellectually provocative authors of modern American literature establishes Ralph Ellison as a central figure in contemporary debates over art, politics, race and nationhood. Also presented here are the first scenes ever filmed from Ellison's landmark novel, Invisible man. c2001. 87 min. Video/C 8923
- Ethnic Notions.
- Written and directed by Marlon Riggs. Covering more than one hundred years of United States history, traces the evolution of Black American caricatures and stereotypes that have fueled anti-Black prejudice. Loyal Toms, carefree Sambos, faithful Mammies, grinning Coons, savage Brutes and wide-eyed Pickaninnies roll across the screen in cartoons, feature films, popular songs, advertisements, household artifacts, even children's rhymes. These caricatures permeated popular culture from the 1820s to the Civil Rights era and implanted themselves within the American psyche. 1986. 57 min. DVD 3049; also VHS Video/C 1024
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UC Berkeley users only - Requires Windows Media Player or Flip4Mac- Separate bibliography of articles and books about this film
Description from California Newsreel catalog
- Furious Flower: Conversations with African American Poets.
- A four part video anthology of African American poetry from the 1940s to 1995 offering intimate portraits of leading poets reading and discussing their own works. Originally presented at the Furious Flower Conference held September 29-October 1, 1994 at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Volume 1, Elders: Part 1 introduces poets who laid the groundwork for today's Black poetry renaissance and mentored many of the younger voices represented in this series. These writers, many of whom began writing during the 1940s provided the wisdom and strong literary voice which brought Black verse to competence and maturity. Featuring Samuel W. Allen, Mari Evans, Naomi Long Madgett, Alvin Aubert, Pinkie Gordon Lane. 114 min. Video/C 6023Volume 2, Warriors: Part 2 examines the poets of the movements of the 1960s. Their works defined a strong Black cultural identity and waged a war for literary self-determination. Here these veterans read from works which stirred a generation and discuss the achievements and unfulfilled hopes of their movement. Featuring Amiri Baraka, Haki R. Madhubuti, Kalamu ya Salaam, Sonia Sanchez, Eugene Redmond, Nikki Giovanni. 114 min. Video/C 6024Volume 3, Seers: Part 3 looks at the poetry that followed the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, which was marked with a broadened scope. While retaining the same political commitment, the poets extended their vision into new regions, exploring personal, sometimes taboo subjects and imbuing traditional forms with a contemporary intensity. Featuring Rita Dove, Toi Derricotte, Dolores Kendrick, Sherley Anne Williams, Gerald Barrax, E. Ethelbert Miller, Michael S. Harper. 114 min. Video/C 6025Volume 4, Initiates: Part 4 highlights the younger poets of the 1990s who represent the promise and diversity of Black poetry as it develops into the 21st century. Featuring Elizabeth Alexander and members of the Dark Room Collective: Thomas Sayers Ellis, Kevin Young, Sharan Strange, Major Jackson, Vera Beatty, John Keene. 27 min. Video/C 6026
- A Great Day in Harlem
- Commentators: Art Kane, Robert Benton, Gerry Mulligan, Bud Freeman, Mike Lipskin, Nat Hentoff, Milt Hinton, Soville Browne, Eddie Locke, Horace Silver, Art Farmer, Robert Altschuler, Art Blakey, Mona Hinton, Steve Frankfurt, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Marian McPartland, Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Max Kaminsky, Buck Clayton. A documentary about a photograph taken in 1958 by Art Kane of the jazz greats of the period. Includes home movie footage of that day of the musicians arriving and greeting each other the morning of the shoot. Also includes conversations with musicians and archival performance footage. 60 min. Video/C 4197
- Griots of Imagery: A Comment on the Art of Romare Bearden and Charles White
- A presentation on the art of two Afro-American artists who are true African keepers of history and culture or "griots", based on the 1993 exhibition of Romare Bearden and Charles White. Bearden's art is based on his reflections concerning what he called "the prevalence of ritual" in African-American life. White's art reflects his concern with the struggle of Black Americans to transcend the vissicitudes of American life. 28 min. Video/C 5271
- [Himes, Chester] Chester Himes: A Writer's Turbulent Journey.
- A program on the life of novelist Chester Himes, who began writing detective novels in his fifties while he was in prison. In his works he created a violent and cynical picture of the African-American experience in the U.S. Here Himes speaks of his youth, the Harlem he knew so well before World War II, his early ventures into writing, his life as an expatriate in France and Spain, the art of fiction and the role of the African-American writer in America. [1999?] 30 min. Video/C 7816
- Hip-hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes
- A look at the conceptualization of masculinity in hip-hop culture. Pays tribute to hip-hop while challenging the rap music industry to take responsibility for too often perpetuating destructive, deeply conservative styles of manhood that glamorize sexism, violence, and homophobia. Includes interviews with prominent rappers, music industry executives, and social critics. Produced, directed and written by Byron Hurt Dist.: Media Education Foundation. 2006. 61 min. DVD 6448
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UC Berkeley users only - Requires Windows Media Player or Flip4Mac - [Hughes, Langston] Looking for Langston: A Meditation on Langston Hughes (1902-1907) and the Harlem Renaissance.
- A tribute to Langston Hughes, this film attempts to reclaim him as an important black gay voice in American culture. A film by Isaac Julien. 45 min. DVD 6018; Video/C 2911
"A visual tour-de-force, "Looking for Langston" is a beautiful and lyrical meditation of black and white gay identities. Using the life and work of Langston Hughes during the jazz/blues infused Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's, the film weaves together the poetry of Hughes and Essex Hempill, music, sylized dramatic sequences and archival material in a celebration of gay desire and a testament to contemporary society's attempt to shatter multiple identitites." [from Third World Newsreel catalog]
- [Hughes, Langston] See :
- [Hunter, Clementine] Clementine Hunter: American Folk Artist
- This video profiles the life and work of one of America's greatest African-American folk artists. In 1940, when she was already in her 50s, Clementine Hunter began to paint her memories of her life in the early part of this century. The resulting images, painted until her death at age 101, are vivid remembrances, pictures "put in her head by God," of a hard but joyous life. Shot on location in northwestern Louisiana, this program shows many of Hunter's colorful paintings and includes commentary by the artist herself and by those who knew her well. By Katina Simmons for the Museum of African American Life and Culture, Dallas. 1993. 30 min. Video/C MM539
- [Hurston, Zora Neale] Alice Walker on Zora Neale Hurston.
- Discussion and reading at the American Poetry Archives, San Francisco State University, 10/20/80. Video/C 1222
- [Hurston, Zora Neale] Zora is My Name!
- A funny, stirring story based on the life of Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most distinctive writers of the American South and how a turn-of-the-century Black woman captured the folklore of the rural South. 90 min. Video/C 1838
- I Shall Not Be Removed: The Life of Marlon Riggs.
- A film biography of Marlon Riggs, the gifted, gay, black filmmaker who produced documentary films addressing issues of identity among Afro-Americans and gays. Clips from his films show how he evolved a unique experimental documentary style, mixing poetry, criticism, the personal and the political. It also documents his long battle against AIDS until his death in 1994 and includes interviews with family, friends, and co-workers. 58 min. Video/C 4463
- Description from California Newsreel catalog
Independent Television Service's "Black Is...Black Ain't web page
Gravity's web site devoted to Marlon Riggs
- I'll Make Me a World. 1999. 57 min. each installment
- Lift Every Vice: 1900-1924. Looks at the trials and tribulations of the first generation of African-Americans born into freedom, focusing on the contributions of this generation to the arts and to the birth of jazz... specifically, Bert Williams and George Walker in vaudeville; Oscar Micheaux in film; and many other early Afro-American performers. Video/C 6262
Without Fear or Shame: 1920-1937. This program discusses the lives of African-American leaders W.E.B DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, and Marcus Garvey; the Harlem Renaissance and its major figures, such as Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and women blues singers; and examines the conflicts which arose over what art should express when community leaders seek to use it in the struggle for racial justice. Video/C 6263
Bright Like a Sun: 1935-1954. Discusses the creative visions of African-American artists such as singer, actor, and activist Paul Robeson, who used his fame and artistry to fight for social justice; sculptor Augusta Savage, who built an art school in Harlem to nurture African-American talent; jazz musicians Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, playing the bebop that will become a recognized musical genre. Video/C 6264
The Dream Keepers: 1940-1965. Looks at African-American artists after World War II, and the impact of African-American "firsts" in the arts and other areas of society on the nation as a whole. Focuses on playwright Lorraine Hansberry, ballerinas Delores Browne and Raven Wilkinson, and author James Baldwin and others. Video/C 6265
Not a Rhyme Time: 1963-1986.From the 1960's through the 1980's, African-American artists make inroads both in civil rights and in the performing arts. Focuses on artist Romare Bearden, poet Gwendolyn Brooks and the Black Arts Movement, and author Alice Walker among others. Video/C 6266
The Freedom You Will Take: 1985-The Present. Looks at the contemporary cultural landscape, which has been transformed by the power of African-American film, performance, dance, rap music, and the spoken word art forms. Focuses on Spike Lee and his influence on American independent cinema; choreographer Bill T. Jones and how his work challenges stereotypical views of race, sexuality, and fear; and how hip-hop expresses the hopes and challenges of young African-Americans. Video/C 6267
- In Black & White
- Using archival newsreels, feature film footage and interviews with Afro-American actors and directors, this film explores the inception, struggle, suppression, and survival of the Black Cinema from the 1920s through the 1950s. This detailed documentary, a stinging indictment of racism in the arts and in American culture, examines the lives and influence of Paul Robeson, Josephine Baker, Oscar Micheaux, Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, Marcus Garvey and many others on Afro-American cinema. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1992. 92 min. Video/C 5501
- International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
- Focuses on the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, an all-female multi-racial jazz band of postdepression years with a strong brass section, heavy percussion and a deep rhythmic sense. Includes interviews with former band members, other musicians, and fans. Dist.: Cinema Guild 30 min. Video/C 4080.
- [Jordan, June] See :
- Know Your Enemy.
- Using video animation and a collage of stills film examines the controversy surrounding politically or socially offensive lyrics in "hip-hop" and rap music. A film by Art Jones. Dist. Third World Newsreel. 27 min. Video/C 3314
- The Legend of Bop City.
- From 1950 to 1965, an after-hours jazz club called Jimbo's Bop City became an emblem of the spirit and vitality of African-American society, local and world-wide. Located in San Francisco's legendary Fillmore District, Bop City hosted jazz legends Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. c1998. 52 min. DVD 7109 [preservation copy]; vhs Video/C 6393
- [LeGon, Jenni] Jeni LeGon: Living in a Great Big Way
- Explores the fascinating life of the tap dancer, Jeni LeGon who overcame barriers to become the first Black woman to sign a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio. She subsequently appeared in over a dozen films, yet despite her talent, there were many hard lessons to be learned in a segregated Hollywood. This film showcases the path that Jeni forged for herself and the gift of inspiration that she gave a generation of dance students. The film includes interviews with the tap dancer Fayard Nicholas and archival footage of the Nicholas Brothers, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Fats Waller, Paul Robeson and Cab Calloway. Dist. Cinema Guild. 1999. 49 min. Video/C 7464
- Lip
- It is Hollywood's favorite role for black women: the maid. Sassy or sweet, snickeringly attentive or flippantly dismissive, the performers who play them steal every scene they are in, and this entertaining video collage reveals the narrow margin Hollywood has allowed black actresses to shine in. But shine they do. Giving lip is proven an art form in these scenes from 1930's cinema to present-day movies featuring a remarkable roster of undervalued actresses and their more celebrated white costars. A video collaboration between Tracey Moffat and Gary Hillberg. 1999. 11 min. DVD 4791
- Long Train Running: a History of the Oakland Blues.
- A film by Marlon Riggs. Examines taverns and clubs in Oakland, California where a distincitive style of blues music unique to Oakland was developed and performed. Includes interviews with blues musicians in the Oakland area and segments from the San Francisco Blues Festival. 29 min. DVD 1187; also on VHS Video/C 3799
- Looking for Langston: A Meditation on Langston Hughes (1902-1907) and the Harlem Renaissance.
- A tribute to Langston Hughes, this film attempts to reclaim him as an important black gay voice in American culture. A film by Isaac Julien. 45 min. DVD 8495; Video/C 2911
"A visual tour-de-force, "Looking for Langston" is a beautiful and lyrical meditation of black and white gay identities. Using the life and work of Langston Hughes during the jazz/blues infused Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's, the film weaves together the poetry of Hughes and Essex Hempill, music, sylized dramatic sequences and archival material in a celebration of gay desire and a testament to contemporary society's attempt to shatter multiple identitites." [from Third World Newsreel catalog]
- [Lorde, Audre] The Edge of Each Other's Battles: The Vision of Audre Lorde
- Documents black lesbian poet and activist Audre Lorde's (1934-92) social vision, using footage from the four-day conference: I am your sister: forging global connections across differences, held in Boston in 1990. At the conference 1,200 men, women and young people from 23 countries examined the issues of the relations between race, class, gender and sexuality through Lorde's work. Interviews with the organizers of the conference are intercut with conference footage, including performances, controversies and speeches. Producer, director, writer, Jennifer Abod. 2000. 59 min. DVD 7917
- [Lorde, Audre] A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde
- Audre Lorde, poet and lesbian-feminist talks about being lesbian and black in New York in the 1950s and her social/political activity. Includes conversations and readings by Lorde and comments by other writers and family members. 1996. 56 min. Video/C 5667
American Library Assn. Video Round Table Notable Films for Adults, 1999
- Many Steps: The Origin and Evolution of African-American Collegiate Stepping /
- The origin and evolution of African American collegiate stepping is explored in this energetic and informative documentary. Stepping dates back to the early 20th century, when black veterans of World War I enrolled in colleges and brought to their dances a highly rigorous, drill-like component and combined it with elements from other black dances. Stepping today is a popular communal art form in which teams of young dancers compete, using improvisation, call and response, complex meters, propulsive rhythms and a percussive attack. 2002. 28 min. Video/C 9421
- Material Witness: Race, Identity and the Politics of Gangsta Rap.(Race & Diversity Series)
- Contents: Living with difference -- The denial of race -- Race and language -- Black essentialism as defense -- American hybridity -- Complexity of black identity -- An American mix: DuBois & the classics -- Hip-hop culture as material witness to urban neglect -- Representin' the afflicteds' story -- Gangsta rap and the market -- The burden of the race artist -- A limited choice: purity or stereotype -- A wrong response: the elders react -- Towards a politics of anti-essentialism.
Michael Eric Dyson talks about the important issues of essentialism and notions of identity within the context of race, and discusses hip hop culture and the conflicts around gangsta rap. 42 min. Video/C 4493
- Media Assassin.
- A discussion of Hip-Hop, Black culture, and racism in America. The audio features an interview with Harry Allen, and the video displays a collage of stills and video animation. 17 min. Video/C 3317
- Memories of Duke.
- Features Duke Ellington and his band on their 1968 Mexican tour, filmed in Mexico City's Palacio de Bellas Artes as well as in Guadalajara. Historic scenes from early films and interviews with band members, Cootie Williams and Russell Procope are included. A film by Art Jones. Dist.: Third World Newsreel. 85 min. Video/C 3317
- [Micheaux, Oscar] Midnight Ramble: Oscar Micheaux and the Story of Race Movies.
- Recounts the story of race movies produced for Afro-Americans from the 1920s through 1950 and the role played by Oscar Micheaux, the leading Afro-American producer and director. These movies were designed for Afro-Americans and were frequently shown at midnight. They presented Afro-Americans in a positive light. Featuring interviews with Afro-American actors and actresses, and historians. 58 min. Video/C 3614
- The Movies Race and Ethnicity for MRC Micheaux holdings
- About Oscar Micheaux, Micheaux Films and "Race Films" (article by John DeBartolo)
On the Trail of Oscar Micheaux, the Early Years of a Pioneer Filmmaker
Geechee Girls Productions Oscar Micheaux Web site Information on Micheaux from the Internet Movie Database
Midnight Ramble: The Negro in Early Hollwood
Black Folks Make Movies website
- [Micheaux, Oscar] Oscar Micheaux, Film Pioneer.
- Oscar Micheaux is remembered for his work as a pioneer producer-director whose films offered a positive image and an alternative for African Americans in the 1920s and 1930s. The program is built around the on-camera reminiscences of two performers who appeared in Micheaux films: Bee Freeman, and Lorenzo Tucker. Also included are dramatic reenactments of Micheaux directing and touring the country to sell his films. Dramatic sequences: Danny Glover (as Micheaux). c1981. 28 min. Video/C 8264
- [Naylor, Gloria] Gloria Naylor: A Conversation with Gloria Naylor.
- Gloria Naylor reads from her works and discusses the value and difficulty of maintaining an African American identity in a world dominated by whites. 21 min. Video/C 2542
- [Micheaux, Oscar] Race Movies: The Popular Art of the Black Renaissance
- Explores the involvement of black filmmakers in filmmaking, from its earliest days through the 1920s with particular emphasis on the work of James Weldon Johnson, Oscar Micheaux, and Richard D. Maurice. Focus is on the movies that were made and the production companies that produced them. 1985. 20 min. Video/C 8293
- [Morrison, Toni] Identifiable Qualities: A Film on Toni Morrison.
- Interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning black novelist Toni Morrison. Here she addresses the events of the Sixties which led to her first novel, the use of personal experience as sources for her strong, black female characters, and the advantage to publishers of placing black writers in the mainstream. 26 min. Video/C 2346
- [Morrison, Toni] The Dick Cavett Show: Toni Morrison.
- Host Dick Cavett interviews the African-American novelist Toni Morrison about her views on American literature and her own writings. September 23 and 23, 1983. 60 min. Video/C 6793
- Toni Morrison.
- Readings from Morrison's novel, Beloved. Morrison also talks about the writing process. 52 min. Video/C 1393
- [Morrison, Toni] Toni Morrison (World of Ideas with Bill Moyers).
- Bill Moyers talks with Toni Morrison about how the invented world of fiction connects with life, about the inner city, the liberation of love and motherhood, the new world black woman who defies the master narrative. Running time not available. Video/C 1573
- [Morrison, Toni] Charlie Rose.
- Charlie Rose interviews Nobel and Pulitzer prize winning author Toni Morrison, discussing her new book, "Paradise", her life, and her views on America and the issues facing the country. Episode number and air date from cassette label. Broadcast Jan. 19, 1998. 58 min. Video/C 7673
- Toni Morrison: A Conversation with Toni Morrison.
- Morrison reads from her two novels, Beloved and Jazz and discusses her views of the contributions made to American literature by the experiences of African Americans. 25 min. Video/C 2543
- [Morrison, Toni] Toni Morrison--A Writer's Work With [ World of Ideas with Bill Moyers].
- Parts I & II. Toni Morrison discusses the difficulties of writing about the painful subjects that occur in her novels. 60 min. Video/C 2315
- Movies of Color: Black Southern Cinema
- A portrait of independent African-American filmmaking in the Southern region of the United States prior to World War II ... an incredible body of truly independent filmmaking made under the most hostile set of circumstances, including racial prejudice, unimaginably low budgets, and crude technical conditions. The film clips shown here, which are a mirror of the Black experience from the 1920s through mid-1950's, focus on the innovative works of film makers Spencer Williams, Oscar Micheaux, Eloyse Gist, and Clarence Muse. Special features: "Includes 2 bonus short films (an extra 107 min.): "The Blood of Jesus and "Go down, death"; scene access. 55, 107 min. 2000. DVD 1589
- Negro Novelists/Books and Authors with David Littlejohn.
- Littlejohn discusses and interprets the work of three African-American novelists; Richard Wright's Native Son, Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, and James Baldwin's Going to Meet the Man. Also included is a reading by Littlejohn, of poems by Gwendolyn Brooks and Le Roi Jones (now Imamu Amiri Baraka). 60 min. Video/C 2009
- The "New Negro" Arts Movement (Art: Transatlantic Modernism)
- Between WWI and WWII nearly 2 million blacks migrated to Harlem making it an exciting and culturally rich neighborhood. Although there was still much bigotry directed towards blacks it was the first time that America saw the potential for major art to come out of a great black community. Here Professor Corn shows numerous examples of African-Americans being "in vogue" in the 20's -- one example is famed dancer Josephine Baker, whose high moment of fame in Paris -- "Revue Negre" made her a symbol of the "new woman." 1998. 60 min. Video/C 7276
- New Orleans' Black Indians: A Case Study in the Arts
- Pre-lenten Mardi Gras in New Orleans serves as the background for this study of a mixture between American Indians and Blacks who compose the Black Indian tribes of New Orleans. The traditions, costumes, songs and dances date back more than 100 years and create living history of their folk art which is passed from generation to generation. 1983. 23 min. Video/C 9885
- No Maps on My Taps.
- Veteran jazz tap dancing stars, including Bunny Briggs, Chuck Green, and Sandman Sims, reminisce about their art and careers. Dist.: Direct Cinema. 58 min. Video/C 2318
- The Original Kings of Comedy
- Directed by Spike Lee. Features: Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, Bernie Mac. Documentary capturing four major African American stand-up comedians. Filmed in Charlotte North Carolina during their "Kings of Comedy" tour, they crack jokes about race, sex, families and human responses. Includes backstage footage and interviews. 2000. 115 min. DVD 557
- Panorama of African-American Theatre.
- Dignity of Man and Origins of African-American Theatre. A brief history of Black American performers. Includes excerpts from Colored People's Time. 15 min. Video/C 4842
Emergence of the African-American Performing Arts Includes brief history of black American performers, and excerpt from Simply heavenly, by Langston Hughes. 15 min. Video/C 4843 Power of the African-American Playwright. A brief survey of the work of Afro-American playwrights. Includes excerpts from Raisin in the sun, Purlie Victorious, and The Colored Museum.15 min. Video/C 4844
Present and Future Direction of African-American Theatre. A brief examination of current and future trends in Afro-American drama. Includes excerpts from the plays Fences and and The Colored Museum. 15 min. Video/C 4845
- [Poitier, Sidney] Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
- Explores the life and career of accomplished actor, writer, director, humanitarian and diplomat, Sidney Poitier through his body of work and through the words of his colleagues and admirers. Still the only black American to receive an Academy Award for "Best Actor," he forever altered the racial perceptions held by motion picture audiences and Hollywood executives. Directed and narrated by Lee Grant. 2000. 60 min. DVD 5570
- Race Movies: The Popular Art of the Black Renaissance
- Explores the involvement of black filmmakers in filmmaking, from its earliest days through the 1920s with particular emphasis on the work of James Weldon Johnson, Oscar Micheaux, and Richard D. Maurice. Focus is on the movies that were made and the production companies that produced them. 1985. 20 min. Video/C 8293
- Racism in Literature.
- An entertaining and informative look at how racism is handled in comic books and speculative fiction. The program features interviews with minority science fiction authors and cartoonists including black science fiction writer Sanuel R. Delany, native American writer, Owl Goingback, Asian American science fiction writer William F. Wu, and many others. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1995. 30 min. Video/C 5503
- Rainbow: Black Poet Sarah W. Fabio
- A portrait of Black poet, critic, and historian Sarah Webster Fabio. Includes readings of her works and interviews in which she discusses her approaches to writing, the relationship of the Black experience to her work, and her early influences. Originally released in 1976. 31 min. Video/C MM890
- Rap, Race & Equality.
- This documentary is an informative look at the issues which rap artists attempt to deal with through their music, such as racism, economic and social inequality and race relations. It suggests that rap music flows out of the African storytelling tradition and shows how it enhances the African American sense of identity. Also examines such controversial areas as sexism and censorship as it applies to rap music. Includes interviews with musicians from Ice Cube, Ice T, Public Enemy, and Naughty by Nature. 52 min. Video/C 3968
- Religion, Rap and the Crisis of Black Leadership: Cornel West.(World of Ideas with Bill Moyers)
- A conversation and interview with Cornel West, professor at Harvard University, about religion, rap music, and the crisis of black leadership in America. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1994. 30 min. Video/C 4993
- [Riggs, Marlon] Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien: No Regret.
- A film by Marlon Riggs, five gay Black men who are HIV-positive discuss how they are battling the double stigmas and racism surrounding their infection and homosexuality. 29 min. Video/C 2646
- I Shall Not Be Removed: The Life of Marlon Riggs. Video/C 4463
- Description from Center for Asian American Media catalog
Independent Television Service's "Black Is...Black Ain't web page
Gravity's web site devoted to Marlon Riggs
- Right on! Poetry on Film.
- The Original Last Poets. During 1968 on the hot streets of New York a trio of young black performers, calling themselves The Original Last Poets, were creating a hip new form of guerrilla poetry woven of soul, jazz, the blues and gospel. Today they are credited as the tap-root artists of Rap. This film, set on the rooftops and back alleys of the Lower East Side, presents the trio in the full range of performance from satire and power to tenderness and affirmation. 73 min. Video/C 3403
- [Ringgold, Faith] Faith Ringgold: The Last Story Quilt. (Portrait of an Artist)
- Presents her view of the black female in society. Influenced by authors James Baldwin and Amiri Baraka, Ringgold is credited with developing the "Black Light" color palette. 28 min. Video/C 2690
- [Ringgold, Faith] Faith Ringgold Paints Crown Heights
- Faith Ringgold details the creation of the quilt she created to represent the twelve diverse cultures and traditions comprising the area of Crown Heights in New York City. 1995. 28 min. Video/C 5564
- [Robeson, Paul] Paul Robeson.
- James Earl Jones gives a stirring performance as singer citizen Paul Robeson in this stage production. A man of extraordinary versatility, Paul Robeson achieved distinction as both a scholar and an athlete before he became an internationally-honored concert artist and stage and screen actor in the 1930's and 40's. James Earl Jones illuminates with only a few props and a bare stage, Robeson's life and truly heroic persona with a superlative performance that matches the remarkable subject. Originally presented as a broadcast on PBS networks on October 8, 1979. 118 min. Video/C 9569
- [Robeson, Paul]Paul Robeson.
- A biography of the black man who became both a famous singer and actor who used his international acclaim to focus world attention on racial injustices suffered by Afro-Americans. His efforts world-wide for working class people in the 1930s, 40s and 50s are highlighted in this documentary. By 1950, Robeson's battle for freedom had cost him his rising career. Includes film clips from his performances, including Black spirituals and folk songs of other nations, interviews and archival photographs. 1994. 36 min. Video/C 5417
- [Robeson, Paul]Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
- Presents the life and achievements of Paul Robeson, an athlete, singer, scholar and champion of the rights of the poor, disenfranchised and people of color. c1999. 127 min. DVD 454; also on VHS Video/C 6429
- [Robeson, Paul] Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (Paul Robeson : Portraits of the Artist)
- Traces Paul Robeson's career through his artistic triumphs, political activism and his socially charged performances of his signature song, "Ol' Man River." Special features: Audio commentary for the Emperor Jones by historian Jeffrey C. Stewart ; Our Paul: remembering Paul Robeson, a new video program with filmaker William Greaves and actors Ruby Dee and James Earl Jones ; Robeson on Robeson, a new video interview with Paul Robeson, Jr. 1979. 29 min. DVD 7280
- [Robeson, Paul] Tribute to Paul Robeson.[Sound recording}
- Paul Robeson performs many of his songs, along with excerpts from his theatrical and opera performances. 151 min. SOUND/C 39
- [Shange, Ntozake] See :
- Sisters in Cinema
- A documentary tracing the careers of inspiring African American women filmmakers from the early part of the 20th century to the present. Realizing that she wasn't going to find her sisters in cinema in Hollywood, the producer traveled the independent path to uncover a wide range of films directed by African American women outside of the Hollywood studio system. Early filmmakers include Tressie Souders, Zora Neale Hurston, Madame C. J. Walker, Maya Angelou, Madeline Anderson, Kathleen Collins Prettyman, Darnell Martin, Kasi Lemmons, Julie Dash and Eloyce Gist. Produced and directed by Yvonne Welbon. 2003. 62 min. Video/C MM408
- Small Steps, Big Strides
- This tribute celebrates African American silver screen legends. Included are interviews and rare footage documenting the kinds of roles black actors were first given, the challenges these performers met, and the real behind-the-scenes story of their acceptance and triumphs in Hollywood. Includes special mention of Darryl Zanuck who was the first to open major roles to African American actors. Performers: Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Nicholas Brothers, Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, James Earl Jones, Gregory Hines, Hatti McDaniel, Duke Ellington, Ink Spots, Sidney Poitier, Stepin' Fetchit, Harry Belafonte, Ethel Waters, Darryl Zanuck. c1997. 60 min. Video/C 8208
- [Smith, Anna Deavere] Anna Deavere Smith [Interview]
- Interview with Anna Deavere Smith, writer, performer and social commentator on her view of the state of race relations in the United States. Concludes with a brief look at human rights films by the Black Audio Film Collective of London, which concerns itself with Black and Afro-Caribbean experiences in the United Kingdom. Segment from the television program Rights & wrongs broadcast April 23, 1994. 27 min. Video/C 6707
- Steppin'
- An overview of step dancing, an African-American dance and chanting art, whose cultural roots stem from traditional African dance, military marching, and hip-hop. Shown here are college fraternity and sorority team competitions, with commentary and interviews from competitors and teachers on the history and current direction of step shows. 1992. 55 min. Video/C 8167
- Straight from the Streets
- Six years in the making, this film begins with footage of the 1992 Los Angeles uprising, and concludes with the Million Man March. It explores the realities of urban life for Afro-Americans focusing on the positive role rap music has played in bringing messages from popular culture to mass audiences. It looks at community self-empowerment, the prevention of gang formation and violence including interviews with rap artists, community leaders and Afro-American citizens. Featuring: Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Cypress Hill, Rage, DJ Quik, KAM, Kurupt, Maxine Waters, Louis Farrakhan, Denzel Washington, Supreme, Jorge Rivas, SLIP, Tony "Bogard" Thomas, Sen Dog, Lady of Rage, April, Big Ship, Cliff Stearns, Dick Gregory. A documentary film by Keith O'Derek and Robert Corsini. c1999. 110 min. Video/C 6408
- Straight Outta Hunters Point: A Hardcore Hip-hop Documentary.
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Presents a documentary look at life in the Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco in an emotionally intense reality check focusing on the daily drama of gang-related rap wars which result as rival gangs dispute over who is the best rap artist. Includes interviews with gang members and residents in a community fighting for social and economic survival. 2002. 74 min. DVD 2940
- Straight Up Rappin'.
- This documentary is about Rap, without music. Examines the political consciousness of a new generation. 29 min. Video/C 2901
- Strange Fruit
- A documentary exploring the history and legacy of the anti-lynching protest song made famous by Billie Holiday. The film examines the history of lynching, the courage of those who fought for racial justice, and the interplay of race, labor and the left and popular culture as forces that would give rise to the Civil Rights Movement. It also presents the story of the composer Lewis Allan, a Jewish schoolteacher and union activist from the Bronx who wrote the poem and later set it to music. c2002. 58 min. Video/C 8924
ALA Video Round Table Notable Video for Adults
- Television & the African American Experience, Civil Rights & Beyond: On the Front Lines: Television and African-American Issues
- A three part satellite seminar series examining how television has covered and reflected black history and culture over the past fifty years. In this first segment panelists explore issues from the 1950s and 1960s and how television news has interpreted various racial issues and such divisive events as the Rodney King verdict and the confirmation of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas. Presented at the Museum of Television and Radio, Los Angeles, California on November 7, 2001. 93 min. Video/C 8496
- Television & the African American Experience, Civil Rights & Beyond: Images of African-Americans on Prime-time Television
- A three part satellite seminar series examining how television has covered and reflected black history and culture over the past fifty years. In this second segment panelists examine the stereotypes of Amos 'n' Andy in the postwar era, the success of the Cosby show in the 1980s, and the recent trend of burgeoning networks concentrating on African-American-themed programming. Presented at the Museum of Television and Radio, Los Angeles, California on November 7, 2001. 93 min. Video/C 8497
- Television & the African American Experience, Civil Rights & Beyond: Bebopping, Hip-hopping, & Slam-dunking: the Influence of African-American Endeavors in Music and Sports on Mainstream Culture
- A three part satellite seminar series examining how television has covered and reflected black history and culture over the past fifty years. In this second segment panelists examine the stereotypes of Amos 'n' Andy in the postwar era, the success of the Cosby show in the 1980s, and the recent trend of burgeoning networks concentrating on African-American-themed programming. Presented at the Museum of Television and Radio, Los Angeles, California on November 7, 2001. 90 min. Video/C 8498
- That Rhythm--Those Blues (American Experience 110)
- Focuses on the rhythm and blues music performed by black musicians during the 1940s and 1950s through the small towns and cities of the South. 58 min. Video/C 1532
- To Be Young, Gifted, and Black: A Portrait of Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words
- Uses excerpts from the letters, diaries, and plays of the late writer Lorraine Hansberry to show her struggle for recognition as a black writer and artist. 90 min. Video/C 5650
- [Walker, Alice] A Celebration of Black Women in Literature, Alice Walker.
- Dramatization of part of Alice Walker's novel, Meridian, with comments and insights by the author. 25 min. SOUND/C 679
- [Walker, Alice] Alice Walker.
- Poetry reading at the American Poetry Archives, San Francisco State University, 3/21/79. 40 min. Video/C 1223
- [Walker, Alice] Alice Walker (Lannan Literary Videos; 14).
- Pulitzer Prize winner Alice Walker reads poems and excerpts from her novels, "The Color Purple" and "The Temple of My Familiar" in Los Angeles on January 9, 1989. Evelyn White interviews Walker at her home. 60 min. Video/C 3484
- [Walker, Alice] Alice Walker: A Conversation with Alice Walker (In Black & White)
- Alice Walker discusses her life, contemporary America, the "womanist" perspective, and reads from her poetry. 30 min. Video/C 2544
- [Walker, Alice] Alice Walker: A Portrait in the First Person.
- Interview with the author. Walker discusses issues including family violence and the position of black women in America. 30 min. Video/C 1407
- [Walker, Alice] Alice Walker: Possessing the Secret of Joy.
- Alice Walker talks about her novel "Possessing the Secret of Joy" which addresses issues of female genital mutilation, and social protest in Africa and America. Archival footage, dramatized scenes from the book and additional interviews with Gloria Steinem and Barbara Christian and others shed light on Alice Walker's career and issues of womanhood worldwide. Originally produced by SBS, Australia and broadcast on the program Masterpiece on 5/31/93. Dist.: Films Media Group. 53 min. Video/c 6891
- [Walker, Alice] Visions of the Spirit: A Portrait of Alice Walker.
- This documentary chronicles the life and work of Pulitzer prize winning author, Alice Walker. Video/C 1488
- [White, Charles] Griots of Imagery: A Comment on the Art of Romare Bearden and Charles White
- A presentation on the art of two Afro-American artists who are true African keepers of history and culture or "griots", based on the 1993 exhibition of Romare Bearden and Charles White. Bearden's art is based on his reflections concerning what he called "the prevalence of ritual" in African-American life. White's art reflects his concern with the struggle of Black Americans to transcend the vissicitudes of American life. 28 min. Video/C 5271
- [Wideman, John] John Wideman: A Conversation with John Wideman.
- Wideman candidly discusses the dilemma of the committed African American intellectual torn between the urban underclass and a predominantly white, middle class literary audience. He writes because "African Americans have to carry alternative versions of reality in our heads and the model for doing that exists in art." 26 min. Video/C 2546
- Wild Women Don't Have the Blues.
- The story of Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Ida Cox, and other pioneering women blues singers. This film recreates the stories of these women who left an indelible mark on the music world. 58 min. Video/C 2320
- [Wilson, August] August Wilson: A Conversation with August Wilson.
- The playwright, August Wilson, describes his role as passing down the practical and spiritual wisdom of the African American community and his plays and writings. He expounds upon the influence of black traditions like storytelling and blues music in contributing to his plays. 22 min. Video/C 2545
- [Wright, Richard] Richard Wright: Black Boy.
- Biographical sketch of the Afro-American writer, Richard Wright. Includes a discussion of his literary works and the times in which he lived, weaving together dramatic recreations from Wright's work and recollections of friends and scholars. It follows Wright's journey from a childhood of poverty through the Chicago Black cultural renaissance of the 1930's, the Communist Party during the Depression, the MacCarthy-era, the American expatriate community in 1950's Paris and his final years. 1994. 87 min. DVD 3037; also VHS Video/C 3634
- [Wright, Richard] Richard Wright: Writing is His Weapon
- Discusses the life, work, and ideas of the black American novelist Richard Wright. Born to poor sharecroper parents in the deep South in 1908, this self-taught author, whose novels focus on the harsh life experiences of Afro-Americans refused to let the obstacles of segregation, limited educational facilities and racism discourage him. 1995. 25 min. Video/C 5342
African Americans and the Educational System
- African American History 1950 - 1970 (for works on Brown v Board of Education and other Civil Rights-era educational issues and events)
- Affirmative Action: The History of an Idea.
- Explores the historical roots of affimative action and the current debate over its usefulness. Looks at several different affirmative action programs including the Univ. of California, Berkeley, the U.S. Army, federal aid to minority businesses, and affirmative action in the Chicago Police Dept. Includes archival footage and features interviews with a wide array of academic scholars. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1996. 56 min. Video/C 4999
- Affirmative Action Under Fire: When is it Reverse Discrimination?
- The account of a reverse discrimination court case over the firing in 1989 of a white teacher in a Piscataway, New Jersey high school because of her race. Shows how this court case became a national battle for affirmative action and how affirmative action preference advocates paid the white teacher $450,000 to drop her case in order to avoid a Supreme Court decision that would potentially invalidate all affirmative action programs in the United States. Originally produced for the ABC television program Nightline aired on November 11, 1997 under the title: Black teacher, white teacher, affirmative actio
