Arts and Crafts
- African American
African American Art: Past and Present
1992 Reading & O'Reilly
Available from Crizmac
ISBN# 0-924041-97-8
This series of three videos presents a comprehensive survey of African
American art. Artistic contributions from Africa including basketry, pottery
and iron work, are presented along with a historical survey of contemporary
artists such as Joshua Johnson, Jacob Lawrence, and Faith Ringgold. The
material is divided into 10 to 15 minute segments and a teacher's guide
is included for each program.
Life and Art of William Johnson, The
1991 Smithsonian
Available from Crizmac
ISBN# 0-924041-94-3
The story and social history of life in the 1920-1940's are woven together
in this biography of William Johnson. The first part chronicles Johnson's
life and art. Part Two is an art appreciation lesson discussing the spiritualism,
symbolism and the composition of Johnson's paintings.
A teacher's guide accompanies the video and a collection of quality reproductions
is also available.
Biography
B.B. King
(Great Performances)
1994 Allan Albert Productions
Available from PBS
This documentary from the PBS "Great Performances" series presents
the life and music of the blues musician B.B. King.
Colin Powell: Military Leader
(Black Americans of Achievement Video Collection)
1992 Schlessinger Video Productions
Available from Social Studies School Service
ISBN# 1-879151-17-0
This biography based on the Chelsea House book covers the life of Colin
Powell from his birth to his appointment as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff. The video contains lively interviews, archival footage, and photographs.
Ebony/Jet Guide to Black Excellence: The Entertainers
1992 Johnson Publishing Company
Available from Social Studies School Service
ISBN# 0-945800-09-6
Highlights three successful celebrities in entertainment and the arts
who, through unrelenting determination, catapulted their talent into national
renown: Bill Cosby, who journeyed from the streets of Philadelphia to become
one of America's most powerful entertainers and TV's No. 1 dad; Maya Angelou,
who triumphed over a troubled youth that included rape and teen pregnancy
to become an award-winning author and professor; and Charles Dutton, who
overcame a prison sentence to become a Broadway, film, and television star.
Student workbook suggests activities to accompany viewing.
Ebony/Jet Guide to Black Excellence: The Leaders
1992 Johnson Publishing Company
Available from Social Studies School Service
ISBN# 0-945800-07-X
Highlights three African-American trailblazers who assumed positions
of leadership that opened doors for others: L. Douglas Wilder, governor
of Virginia; Marian Wright Edelman, a human rights activist; and Dr. James
P. Comer, a pioneer in education and child development.
Ebony/Jet Guide to Black Excellence: The Entrepreneurs
1991 Johnson Publishing Company
Available from Social Studies School Service
ISBN# 0-945800-05-3
Highlights three African-American achievers who built their own successful
businesses: John H. Johnson, owner and CEO of Johnson Publishing Co.; Joshua
Smith, Chairman and CEO of Maxima Corporation; and Oprah Winfrey, owner
of her own production studio and one of America's most recognized and beloved
television personalitites.
Frederick Douglass
Zenger Video
Available from Social Studies School Service
Inspired by John F. Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles
in Courage, this film follows the life of Frederick Douglass, the famous
abolitionist, who was known for his gift of persuasive oratory.
Frederick Douglass: When the Lion Wrote History
1994 WETA, Washington, DC, and LOJA Productions
Available from Knowledge Unlimited
Douglass' life spans an era of great historical events, the abolitionist
movement, the early days of the women's movement, the Civil War, the Reconstruction
and the end of the 19th century. Live-action reenactments and archival photographs
blend with quotes from Douglass' writings and commentary by noted historians.
Freedom Man
Bob Walsh and Leroy Morais
1989 Network Home Entertainment
Available from Social Studies School Service
Ossie Davis stars in this docudrama about Benjamin Banneker, the early
African-African scientist and patriot who worked with the Underground Railroad
and fought prejudice through his writings.
Half Slave, Half Free: Solomon Northrup's Odyssey
Gordon Parks
1984 Past American, Inc.
Available from Social Studies School Service
True life story of Solomon Northrup, a free black man who lost a dozen
years of his life to Jim Birch & his gang of slave-trading kidnappers.
High Five: Celebrating African-American Teens
John Caps
1992 Human Relations Media
Available from Art Rowles Assoc.
This program presents five accomplished African-American teens whose
success shows their determination, confidence and pride in their heritage.
Teacher's guide suggests discussion and research activities.
King
Abby Mann
1978 Orion
Available from Art Rowles Assoc.
At an explosive moment in American history, King seized the issue of
social injustice and led his people in a non-violent revolution. Paul Winfield
as King and Cicely Tyson as Coretta Scott. Two volume set.
Life and Art of William Johnson,The
1991 Smithsonian
Available from Crizmac
ISBN# 0-924041-94-3
The story and social history of life in the 1920-1940's are woven together
in this biography of William Johnson. The first part chronicles Johnson's
life and art. Part Two is an art appreciation lesson discussing the spiritualism,
symbolism and the composition of Johnson's paintings.
A teacher's guide accompanies the video and a collection of quality reproductions
is also available.
Richard Wright: Black Boy
Madison Lacy
1995 PBS
Available from Social Studies School Service
This biography of the controversial author of "Black Boy" and
"Native Son" focuses on Wright's belief that "words can be
weapons against injustice." The in-depth examination of Wright's turbulent
life, from childhood poverty to best-selling author and exile in Paris,
documents the autobiographical elements of his masterpieces. Includes historical
footage, dramatic excerpts from his works, and interviews with friends and
scholars. Accompanied by a teacher's guide.
Sojourner Truth
(Black Americans of Achievement Video Collection)
1992 Schlessinger Video Productions
Available from Social Studies School Service
ISBN# 1-879151-19-7
The famous leader of the abolitionist movement is immortalized through
her electrifying speeches for black freedom and women's rights. Based on
the Chelsea House biography, this video includes historical background,
quotations, period music and interviews with authorities on black history.
W.E.B. Du Bois
Louis Massiah
1995 National Black Programming Consortium
Available from California Newsreel
The life story of Dr. Du Bois is told in a collection of four chronological
documentaries, each written and narrated by a leading contemporary African
American scholar: Toni Cade Bambara, Amiri Baraka, Wesley Brown and Thulani
Davis. The key events include the struggle of African American integration
in the wake of Reconstruction, the birth of the NAACP, the Pan-African conferences,
the cultural movements of the Harlem Renaissance, economic cooperatives,
anticolonial struggles and the rebuilding of Africa.
Woman Called Moses: Harriet Tubman, A
Paul Wendkos
1992 Xenon Video, Inc.
Available from Social Studies School Service
The story of Harriet Tubman, founder of the Underground Railroad, who
led hundred of slaves to freedom in the North before the Civil War. Starring
Cicely Tyson and narrated by Orson Welles.
Civil Rights
Movement
America's Civil Rights Movement
Charles Guggenheim
1994 Teaching Tolerance
Available from Teaching Tolerance
Using the voices of participants and historical photography, this award
winning video tells the story of the civil rights movement from 1954 to
1965. Also included are a student text and teacher's guide.
Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Movement 1993 Public
Broadcasting Service
Available from Public Broadcasting Service
ISBN# 0-7936-1146-6
This comprehensive collection of the highly acclaimed PBS series "Eyes
of the Prize" includes six one-hour videos in Part 1 and eight one-hour
videos in Part 2. The series begins with the lynching of 14-year-old -Emmett
Till in 1954 and concludes with an examination of two American cities in
the early 1980s, Miami and Chicago, as they continue the struggle for civil
rights. A video reference system consisting of an on-screen clock that correlates
with a printed, cross-referenced alphabetical and subject index allows students
and teachers to quickly locate the exact reference they need in this immense
video collection.
Freedom on My Mind
(American Experience)
Connie Field and Marilyn Mulford
1995 PBS
Available from PBS
This film calmly and clearly tells the story of how a grass-roots movement
upended the Mississippi system that held blacks in political and economic
binds nearly 100 years after the Civil War. Newsreel footage from the 1960s
and interviews with the key figures in the Student Non-Violent Coordinating
Committee (SNCC) reveal the tremendous political and personal changes that
emerged from the efforts of poor blacks and progressive young white volunteers.
History of the Civil Rights Movement, A
1994 Schlessinger Video Productions
Available from Art Rowles Assoc.
This program captures the most dramatic moments in the civil rights movement
as well as the efforts of ordinary men and women who risked their lives
for social justice.
King
Abby Mann
1978 Orion
Available from Art Rowles Assoc.
At an explosive moment in American history, King seized the issue of
social injustice and led his people in a non-violent revolution. Paul Winfield
as King and Cicely Tyson as Coretta Scott. Two volume set.
Civil War
Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry, The
Jacqueline Shearer
1991 PBS
Available from PBS
ISBN# 0-7936-0627-6
Historical narratives and archival photos and drawings document the story
of the first officially sanctioned regiment of African American Union soldiers
to fight in the Civil War.
Entertainment
That's Black Entertainment
William Greaves
1989 Skyline/T.B.E. Limited
Available from Art Rowles Associates
ISBN# 1-55739-250-1
Historic footage from films made by the black film industry in the 1930s
and 1940s when blacks were not welcome in white theaters and were badly
represented in white movies.
Fiction
Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich, A
Ralph Nelson
1977 Radnitz/Mattel
Available from Art Rowles Assoc.
ISBN# 0-7921-1968-1
Paul Winfield and Cicely Tyson in a family drama about a ghetto mother,
stepfather and a bright 13-year-old boy struggling with the pressures of
drugs and crime.
Frontier
Life
Untold West: The Black West
Nina Rosemblum
1993 Turner Home Entertainment
Available from Art Rowles Assoc.
ISBN# 0-7806-0499-7
The story of the black cowboys told through live-action reenactments,
archival photography and interviews with descendants of western pioneers.
Narrated by Danny Glover.
History -
African
Africa: A Voyage of Discovery
Basil Davidson
1984 RM Arts
Available from Social Studies School Service
This eight part video set offers a comprehensive overview of African
history, geography, and culture from ancient times to the present. In "Different
but Equal," the great civilizations of ancient Africa and the rise
of racial prejudices in Europe are explored. In "Mastering a Continent,"
profiles of three different communities show how African people carve out
an existence in an often hostile environment. "Caravans of Gold"
traces the routes of the medieval gold trade from Africa to Asia and Europe.
"Kings and Cities" explores how traditional African kingdoms
functioned. The impact of the slave trade on Africa is portrayed in "The
Bible and the Gun" and "This Magnificent African Cake." Struggles
for independence are the subject of "The Rise of Nationalism"
and "The Legacy" examines the problems of Africa today.
Identity
Black Is...Black Ain't
Marlon Riggs
1995
Available from California Newsreel
What is black identity? Riggs uses his grandmother's gumbo as a metaphor
for the rich diversity of black identities. His camera crosses the country
to show us black folk, young and old, rich and poor, rural and urban, gay
and straight, grappling with the paradox of numerous, often contested definitions
of blackness. He mixes performances by choreographer Bill T. Jones and the
poet Essex Hemphill with commentary by noted cultural critics Angela Davis,
bell hooks, Cornel West, Michele Wallace, Barbara Smith and Maulana Karenga.
High Five: Celebrating African-American Teens
John Caps
1992 Human Relations Media
Available from Art Rowles Assoc.
This program presents five accomplished African-American teens whose
success shows their determination, confidence and pride in their heritage.
Teacher's guide suggests discussion and research activities.
Morehouse Men, The
Sabita Kumari-Dass
1995 Final Draft Films
Available from PBS
Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia is the only African-American men's
college in the United States. This film follows a group of freshmen students
and explores the formal and informal processes whereby boys are molded into
"Morehouse Men."
Question of Color, A
Kathe Sandler
1992
Available from California Newsreel
This first documentary to confront "color consciousness" in
the black community explores the devastating effect of a caste system based
on how closely skin color, hair texture and facial features conform to a
European ideal. It provides a unique window for examining cross-cultural
issues of identity and self-image for anyone who has experienced prejudice.
Military
Colin Powell: Military Leader
(Black Americans of Achievement Video Collection)
1992 Schlessinger Video Productions
Available from Social Studies School Service
ISBN# 1-879151-17-0
This biography based on the Chelsea House book covers the life of Colin
Powell from his birth to his appointment as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff. The video contains lively interviews, archival footage, and photographs.
Music
B.B. King
(Great Performances)
1994 Allan Albert Productions
Available from PBS
This documentary from the PBS "Great Performances" series presents
the life and music of the blues musician B.B. King.
Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music
1984 Channel Four Television
Available from Home Vision, 5547 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60640
This seven-part video series surveys the history of African American
music from its roots in traditional West African music through gospels and
spirituals to rhythm and blues and jazz. The final video circles back to
look at the popular music of contemporary Africa including Highlife of Ghana,
Afro-beat, and Juju of Nigeria.
Story of Gospel Music, The
(Great Performances)
1996 PBS
Available from PBS
This video traces the key composers and performers who have transformed
the power of gospel music from its early roots in church congregations to
its emergence into the international mainstream.
Race Relations
Dutchman
Amiri Baraka
1967 California Newsreel
Available from California Newsreel
Baraka's parable remains after 25 years one of the most explosive and
devastating statements on race in American literature. Set in a claustrophobic
subway car, Baraka uses the clash between a middle class black man and a
psychotic white woman as a searing metaphor for race relations in America.
Steps in Time: Scenes From 1840 Baltimore
1988 PBS
Available from PBS
ISBN# 0-7936-0512-1
This historical drama highlights the struggles and joys of everyday life
in Baltimore in the time before the Civil War. The impact of racial struggle
and class differences on the family relations of whites and free blacks
is explored.
Slavery
Frederick Douglass
Zenger Video
Available from Social Studies School Service
Inspired by John F. Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles
in Courage, this film follows the life of Frederick Douglass, the famous
abolitionist, who was known for his gift of persuasive oratory.
Frederick Douglass: When the Lion Wrote History
1994 WETA, Washington, DC, and ROJA Productions
Available from Knowledge Unlimited
Douglass' life spans an era of great historical events, the abolitionist
movement, the early days of the women's movement, the Civil War, the Reconstruction
and the end of the 19th century. Live-action reenactments and archival photographs
blend with quotes from Douglass' writings and commentary by noted historians.
Freedom Man
Bob Walsh and Leroy Morais
1989 Network Home Entertainment
Available from Social Studies School Service
Ossie Davis stars in this docudrama about Benjamin Banneker, the early
African-African scientist and patriot who worked with the Underground Railroad
and fought prejudice through his writings.
Half Slave, Half Free: Solomon Northrup's Odyssey
Gordon Parks
1984 Past American, Inc.
Available from Social Studies School Service
True life story of Solomon Northrup, a free black man who lost a dozen
years of his life to Jim Birch & his gang of slave-trading kidnappers.
History of Slavery in America, A
1994 Schlessinger Video Productions
Available from Social Studies School Service
This program explores the institution of slavery in North America from
the 1600s to the early days of Reconstruction.
Race to Freedom: The Story of the Underground Railroad
Don McBrearty
1993 Xenon Home Video
Available from Knowledge Unlimited
A docudrama about the courageous men and women who dared escape enslavement
on Southern farms and plantations by following the "underground railroad"
to Canada.
Roots of Resistance: A Story of the Underground Railroad
(American Experience)
1989 PBS
Available from PBS
The underground railroad is explored through the use of filming of documented
escape routes, as well as by archival materials, music and interviews with
descendants of slaves and activists.
Sojourner Truth
(Black Americans of Achievement Video Collection)
1992 Schlessinger Video Productions
Available from Social Studies School Service
ISBN# 1-879151-19-7
The famous leader of the abolitionist movement is immortalized through
her electrifying speeches for black freedom and women's rights. Based on
the Chelsea House biography, this video includes historical background,
quotations, period music and interviews with authorities on black history.
Woman Called Moses: Harriet Tubman, A
Paul Wendkos
1992 Xenon Video, Inc.
Available from Social Studies School Service
The story of Harriet Tubman, founder of the Underground Railroad, who
led hundred of slaves to freedom in the North before the Civil War. Starring
Cicely Tyson and narrated by Orson Welles.
Sports
Only the Ball was White
1992 MPI Home Video
Available from Social Studies School Service
ISBN# 1-56278-556-7
Paul Winfield narrates this documentary of the Negro Baseball Leagues
which pays tribute to the exceptional African American baseball players
who were denied entrance to the big leagues because of their skin color.
Interviews and archival film document the history of the Negro Leagues.
Stereotypes
Color Adjustment
Marlon Riggs
1991 California Newsreel
Available from California Newsreel
Marlon Riggs brings the pathbreaking study of racial stereotyping he
began in "Ethnic Notions" into the television age in this Peabody
Award winning film traces how network television reluctantly, and selectively,
"integrated" African Americans into prime time TV shows. Clips
from "Amos 'n' Andy," "Good Times," and "The Cosby
Show" and interviews with producers illustrate how network television
covers deep-seated racial conflict in the non-threatening format of prime
time television.
Ethnic Notions: Black People in White Minds
Marlon Riggs
1987
Available from California Newsreel
This classic Emmy Award winning documentary by Marlon Riggs traces the
evolution of the deeply rooted stereotypes which have fueled anti-black
prejudice.
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