Special Edition - Over 2 hours!

 4 DVD Culture-Black History-Civil Rights Box Set

Disc I of IV: BLACK HISTORY & CIVIL RIGHTS FILMS

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This is an essential collection of rare black history and civil rights movement films, digitized and preserved for history on DVD.  Many famous people of black history are shown and heard in these vintage movies, including Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Jackie Robinson and Bayard Rustin. The civil rights movement, its leaders and its history are very important pieces of our modern history. These videos are the best historical video documentation we have on these subjects.

Whether you're interested in learning more about the history of the black civil rights movement, Martin Luther King speeches and his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, black history month or African American history and culture , this civil rights movement history DVD is an entertaining and educational visual resource, as well as a key component of any African American history collection.

Title #1: Integration Report

Production Date:1960

Running Time: 20 minutes

Brief Description: This is an amazing film featuring speeches by numerous famous African Americans and civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr,  Bayard Rustin, Maya Angelou (voice only), and Jackie Robinson.  This movie shows important video and pictures from the history of the civil rights movement in America, including footage of sit-ins and marches from Brooklyn, Washington D.C., and Montgomery.

Title #2: Negro Colleges In Wartime

Production Date: 1944

Running Time: 8 minutes

Brief Description: This short film about the training regiment of African American soldiers in WWII will strike up constructive educational dialogue about the racist treatment black American soldiers received during the WWII. Great video of African American military culture and history  abounds in this film from the 40s, including footage of the historic Muskagee airmen.  Watching the segregated military practices of this time period shows why the civil rights leaders, both during the Korean War and the Vietnam War, were very concerned with the mass enlistments of young African Americans.

Title #3: The Plantation System In Southern Life

Production Date: 1950

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: See how the centuries of African American slavery has effected Southern culture and life in the South. A rare and invaluable piece of black history.

Title #4: Social Class in America

Production Date:1957  

Running Time: 15 minutes

Brief Description: This 1957 documentary follows three boys from three different social classes in the United States.  A fascinating look at the history of socioeconomic determinism in the US.

Title #5: Harlem Review

Production Date: 1930's

Running Time: 9 minutes

Brief Description: A "soundie" film (the first versions of music videos), Harlem Review is chopped full of the typical black entertainer stereotypes from the early 20th century.  This rare video is a great historical find that unfortunately feeds into so many of the racist African American stereotypes of the era.

Title #6: Teddy

Production Date: 1971

Running Time: 16 minutes

Brief Description: A social seminar film that picks the brain of Teddy, a politically concious teenage African American male.  Teddy talks about police brutality, war, the Watts community of L.A., The Black Panthers and "The System."  Nice unknown movie to show during black history month or to kick start any black history or political discussion.

Title #7: All The Way Home

Production Date: 1957

Running Time: 28 minutes

Brief Description: This is an uplifting film that demonstrates how cultural integration can be beneficial to society.  The beginnings of the "melting pot" theory can been seen in this video classic, which seems to indicate that a real shift in American cultural propaganda was occurring in the mid-1950s.

Title #8: What About Prejudice?

Production Date: 1959

Running Time: 11 minutes

Brief Description: Another positive film looking toward the social benefits of keeping an open mind and embracing all cultures, regardless of color, religion or creed.  This film encourages teens to look within themselves, as opposed to listening to the racist teachings of society, to find the sources and reasons behind prejudice. 

Disc II of IV: Classic Black Panther Film

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This film features interviews with Minister of Defense, Huey P. Newton (from Alameda County Jail), Eldridge Cleaver, Minister of Information, and Chairman Bobby Seale.  The film also features scenes from a Black Panther rally at Hutton Memorial Park demanding the release of Mr. Newton.  This film does contain adult language.

Title #1: Black Panthers

Production Date: 1960s

Running Time: 14 minutes

Brief Description: The founders of the Black Panther Party, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale are interviewed in this culturally significant historical film.  The film intertwines footage of a Black Panther Party protest with scenes from the interviews.  Huey Newton describes The Black Panther Party as "the vanguard of the revolution" and discusses the police brutality that is commonplace in African American neighborhoods and calls for the equal treatment in the judicial system in which biased White juries judge Blacks .  Bobby Seale outlines the 10 points of the Black Panther Party Program which are, (1) Freedom (2) Full Employment (3) Decent Housing (4) End of Robbery of Black Communities by Whites (5) Education (6) Exemption of Blacks from Military Service (7) End police brutality and murder of Blacks (8) All Blacks to be released from jail and prison (9) Fair Trails (10) Land, Bread, Housing, & Education. 

Discs III of IV:Classic March On Washington Film

Brief Synopsis of DVD: On March 18th, 1963, 250,000 people assembled on the lawn of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. in what has been billed by many as, "the single most important event in the 20th century."  Performances by Odetta, Joan Baez & Marian Anderson set the stage for speeches by civil right leaders A. Philip Randolph, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and others.  Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech was masterful.  The crowd, which included 60,000 white participants, erupts as Dr. King orates his closing statement,  "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Title #1: The March On Washington

Production Date: 1963

Running Time: 33 minutes

Brief Description: The 1963 March on Washington civil rights rally was one of the greatest events in American history and will forever be etched into the American consciousness.  This extraordinary film begins by documenting the preparations for the massive march, including food, sign building, and transportation.  Next, crowds of people are seen marching towards the final destination, the Lincoln Memorial.  The performances and speeches begin.  Martin Luther King gives his "I Have a Dream" speech, one of the greatest speeches of all time, and leaves the crowd in a delightful uproar.  This film is a priceless piece of history and can also be utilized as a fantastic teaching tool or student visual aide.

Disc IV of IV: Classic Poor People's March

Brief Synopsis of DVD: Part of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, "The Poor People's Campaign" specifically attacked the issue of economic justice for impoverished Americans. Although the ultimate goal of the program was to fight poverty, the non-violent campaign also called for racial harmony and social justice for all people.

Title #1: Poor Peoples March Greensboro

Production Date: 1968

Running Time: 12 minutes

Brief Description: On a sunny day in May 1968, thousands of citizens took to the streets in Greensboro, North Carolina demanding economic justice for all. Known as The Poor Peoples Campaign, the movement originated in Mississippi and spread across the country until the assassination of Martin Luther King. Greensboros peaceful demonstration was a spirited event. A racially mixed crowd (as poverty is color-blind) sang, clapped, and marched through the streets of the Deep South. In a show of unity, some of the demonstrators formed circles, interlocked their arms and sang songs of freedom. Unfortunately, this momentous event was recorded without sound, so the film is silent.