BMA: Black Media Archive

In this episode, author Alice Walker reads her short story, "Roselilly" (1973), the story of a rural African-American woman from Mississippi who is about to escape poverty and disgrace by marrying a man she barely knows, a Muslim from the North. Afterwards she describes the story and how she wrote it about her first marriage to a civil rights attorney.

Movie: In the film "Hi De Ho" (1947) Cab Calloway plays himself in a plot about jealousy, night clubs, and gangsters. Bandleader Cab Calloway is tiring of his sexy girlfriend Minnie, who in turn is jealous of Cab's manager Nettie. When Nettie gets Cab a job at the Brass Hat Club, Minnie retaliates for his imagined infidelity by setting gangster Boss Mason, owner of a rival club, against him. Will she regret her action before it's too late? (This plot resolves halfway through the film; the rest is a series of 'soundies' featuring the Calloway band's inimitable jive).

Movie: In the film "Hi De Ho" (1947) Cab Calloway plays himself in a plot about jealousy, night clubs, and gangsters. Bandleader Cab Calloway is tiring of his sexy girlfriend Minnie, who in turn is jealous of Cab's manager Nettie. When Nettie gets Cab a job at the Brass Hat Club, Minnie retaliates for his imagined infidelity by setting gangster Boss Mason, owner of a rival club, against him. Will she regret her action before it's too late? (This plot resolves halfway through the film; the rest is a series of 'soundies' featuring the Calloway band's inimitable jive).

Movie: In the film "Hi De Ho" (1947) Cab Calloway plays himself in a plot about jealousy, night clubs, and gangsters. Bandleader Cab Calloway is tiring of his sexy girlfriend Minnie, who in turn is jealous of Cab's manager Nettie. When Nettie gets Cab a job at the Brass Hat Club, Minnie retaliates for his imagined infidelity by setting gangster Boss Mason, owner of a rival club, against him. Will she regret her action before it's too late? (This plot resolves halfway through the film; the rest is a series of 'soundies' featuring the Calloway band's inimitable jive).

Movie: In the film "Hi De Ho" (1947) Cab Calloway plays himself in a plot about jealousy, night clubs, and gangsters. Bandleader Cab Calloway is tiring of his sexy girlfriend Minnie, who in turn is jealous of Cab's manager Nettie. When Nettie gets Cab a job at the Brass Hat Club, Minnie retaliates for his imagined infidelity by setting gangster Boss Mason, owner of a rival club, against him. Will she regret her action before it's too late? (This plot resolves halfway through the film; the rest is a series of 'soundies' featuring the Calloway band's inimitable jive).

In the short film "Joshua" (1969), it’s Joshua’s last day in Harlem before leaving for a college in Texas where he has earned a track and field scholarship. He runs joyfully through New York’s central park but his joy ends when he is the victim of a racial slur uttered by a five year old boy that he had befriended. Later, on his way home Joshua is able to work out his anger during a fight with a boy his age. The confrontation releases Joshua’s frustration and after the fight , in a dramatic scene Joshua is able to fly a uniquely designed kite that the boy had built but was unable to get airborne. The film tells its simple story with a basic message that confrontations between blacks and whites can be constructive.

In the short film "Joshua" (1969), it’s Joshua’s last day in Harlem before leaving for a college in Texas where he has earned a track and field scholarship. He runs joyfully through New York’s central park but his joy ends when he is the victim of a racial slur uttered by a five year old boy that he had befriended. Later, on his way home Joshua is able to work out his anger during a fight with a boy his age. The confrontation releases Joshua’s frustration and after the fight , in a dramatic scene Joshua is able to fly a uniquely designed kite that the boy had built but was unable to get airborne. The film tells its simple story with a basic message that confrontations between blacks and whites can be constructive.

"All Together" (c. 1970) is a Naval recruitment video narrated by none other than Lou Rawls. This film was meant to lure the young black man or woman who is tired of the limited work opportunities available to him or her. While the Navy did offer more opportunities to minorities than the civilian world, this film exploits the dissatisfaction the many minorities felt regarding racial equality in the workplace.

"All Together" (c. 1970) is a Naval recruitment video narrated by none other than Lou Rawls. This film was meant to lure the young black man or woman who is tired of the limited work opportunities available to him or her. While the Navy did offer more opportunities to minorities than the civilian world, this film exploits the dissatisfaction the many minorities felt regarding racial equality in the workplace.

This episode is a 1950 interview with Joe Louis by Big Joe Wright at a golf outing in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In this interview Joe Louis announces his return to the ring from retirement.

This episode is a 1950 interview with Joe Louis by Big Joe Wright at a golf outing in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In this interview Joe Louis announces his return to the ring from retirement.

This episode is the autobiography "Behind the Schenes" or "Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House" (1868) by Elizabeth Keckley, 'formerly a slave, but more recently modiste, and friend to Mrs. Abraham Lincoln'. Elizabeth Keckley was a former slave turned successful seamstress who is most notably known as being Mary Todd Lincoln's personal modiste and confidante beginning during the years leading up to the beginning of the Civil War.

This episode is the autobiography "Behind the Schenes" or "Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House" (1868) by Elizabeth Keckley, 'formerly a slave, but more recently modiste, and friend to Mrs. Abraham Lincoln'. Elizabeth Keckley was a former slave turned successful seamstress who is most notably known as being Mary Todd Lincoln's personal modiste and confidante beginning during the years leading up to the beginning of the Civil War.

In June 1963, Malcolm X delivered this speech concerning the subject "We Want Complete Separation".

In June 1963, Malcolm X delivered this speech concerning the subject "We Want Complete Separation".