Color Us Black Part 1
Color Us Black Part 1
Extreme close-up of young adult African American hands playing neck of guitar; young adult African American male clapping hands and chanting Black Power slogan. VS of young adult African Americans gathered together, clapping hands and chanting Black Power slogan in unison in front of building; young adult African American male playing guitar. Zoom in to three young adult African American males clapping together, and chanting Black Power slogan; NET Journal title card.
Color Us Black Part 1
Face of elderly adult Caucasian male saying “Black Power business” will create a negative reaction from U.S. government, chastising it and its leaders, like Stokely Carmichael. Young adult African American females serving cups of coffee to other adult African American females and males. Adult African American female talking on the telephone. Young adult African American male, sitting on blanket, playing chess on the floor. Three young adult African Americans, two females and one male, lying on a bed, chatting with each other. Young adult African American male sitting cross legged on blanket, playing cards on the ground. Young adult African American women lying on a pile of blankets/sheets on the floor, reading. Young adult African American man wearing a Howard University shirt, sleeping.
Color Us Black Part 1
Elderly adult African American man arguing with young adult African American males about their protest, in front of Howard University Administrations Building; a few adult Caucasian males in the crowd holding microphones and cameras. Young adult African American male calls the elder man an "Uncle Tom". Young adult African American male looking serious, wearing a beret. Young adult African American males leading chant with young adult African American and Caucasian males in a dance line behind him; young adult African American males and females watching in BG. President of the Freshman class at Howard University, Michael Harris, states this is not America, though the education system, including Howard University, says it is, which puts them in an inferior position going out into the world, being shoved into a flawed system. VS of young adult African American males singing, clapping, young adult African American watching; inter-cut with portrait of General Oliver Otis Howard.
Color Us Black Part 1
Howard University initials engraved on open book. Zoom out to Howard University wrought iron gate; camera pans to campus beyond the gate; adult male (o/s) narrates the legacy of Howard University for African Americans. Founders Library. Young adult Caucasian male walking with a young adult African American female on campus. VS of young adult African American males and females walking on campus. Narrator notes that Howard University “has been spared the often bloody convulsions of other negro universities”; noting the demonstration by 39 students in early 1968, resulted in disciplinary action against all involved, including President of the Freshman class, Michael Harris. Harris talking with other young adult African American males; walks away. Elderly adult Caucasian woman walking with young adult African American men towards Founders Library.
Color Us Black Part 1
Low angle view of President of the Freshman class, Michael Harris, walking with a young adult African American male; Harris (v/o): "Negro and Howard is a figment of a white man’s imagination. It's like we're playing a part founded by white missionaries...And they're gonna come and save all the dirty, black slaves.” Still photo of a middle-aged adult Caucasian male minister. Young adult African American males and females gathered outside Founders Library, protesting the probable expulsion of 39 students; young adult African American male speaking into large megaphone. Harris criticizes the Administration for their actions on closing the school, ultimately hurting those in and outside the community; the school is content to shuffle, bend the knee, kiss feet in order to get ahead and preach the same to the students.
Color Us Black Part 1
President of Howard University, James M. Nabrit, Jr., seated in office. He states that Howard University has confronted the struggles faced by African Americans within the last hundred years. By its very existence and support, including the federal government, it has served the interests and improvement of African Americans' lives, opportunities, and education. Stained glass windows in church depicting adult Caucasian male ministers and villages; zoom out to young adult African American males and females singing in the choir, Reverend Wyatt Walker stands beside. VS of choir members singing, adult African American males and females seated in church pews. Rev. Walker walks up to the podium and speaks about the need for African Americans to find their identity, especially future generations; VS of African American males and females of all ages listening.
Color Us Black Part 1
President of the Freshman Class at Howard University, Michael Harris, states: “When a black person looks at himself in the context of America, that’s what he has to decide: Who am I?” He states that Howard University should show African Americans who they are. Adult African American female believes it's better for Howard University to be shut down, than continue poisoning the minds of the youth and making “imitation white people out of them”.
Color Us Black Part 1
Group of young adult African American females, wearing black leotards in a dance class led by adult Caucasian female instructor beating a drum. VS of the dancers practicing rhythm.
Color Us Black Part 1
Zoom out from Founders Library clock tower. Marie Frazier, widow of famed author Edward Franklin Frazier who taught and wrote at Howard University; two cars driving through main entrance gates. Marie doesn’t understand what the students mean when they claim they’re being forced into a “white image”. She states you must conform to the society in which a person lives; live in it or live outside of it. All the bourgeois students she knows went to Howard University, came there already bourgeois. Maybe Howard University can be criticized for not taking that characteristic away, but they were already bourgeois coming to Howard University; the school had nothing to do with creating them.
Color Us Black Part 1
Young adult African American female members of Alpha Kappa Alpha wearing black dresses, encircling four rows of African American female children, performing modern song and dance routine. The AKA sorority conducts a weekly “charm school” for children of the Washington, D.C. ghetto. President of the Freshman Class at Howard University, Michael Harris (o/s) questions the relevancy of the performances, starting with the Greek origin and mythology behind the sorority; who he believes, “live in a world of their own, filled with Greek gods and fantasy”; women singing and dancing in FG, children watching. Close-up of woman dancing and singing. Single female child smiling, watching the dancers counting out their moves for the children to practice. VS of the children practicing dance moves; Harris (o/s) says you can't be someone else, you must be yourself, which is what he thought Howard University would foster.
Color Us Black Part 1
Young adult African American female using ladle to fill paper cup; President of Freshman Class at Howard University, Michael Harris (o/s) talks about how Howard University students didn’t know or understand their own plight or were detached from it. Young adult African American female passing out napkins. Another young woman taking food from tray offered to them by young woman. Young adult African American female eating, sitting with friends, socializing. Young adult African American female smiling. African American female child, soft-spoken, saying it's interesting to learn how to dress, wear proper clothes for the right occasion. Old photograph of adult African American female; zoom out to see her dressed in early 20th century fashion, sitting on steps of front porch, surrounded by other adult women.
Color Us Black Part 1
Young adult African American female protestor wearing sunglasses, announcing a sit-in taking place in the Administration Building; beside her is President of the Freshman Class at Howard University, Michael Harris, and other young adult, predominantly African American, males. She says if the federal government issues an injunction against them, they are prepared to stay and be arrested; young adult African American female nodding along and smiling.
Color Us Black Part 1
Three young adult African American females seated together. One talks about expectation to be “the ladies of Howard,” expected to compete with “white man’s woman," which they can’t do in appearance or behavior. The others have similar criticisms of administration’s expectations of black women, with one saying female empowerment and freedom through African American eyes, differing from “white man’s concept of freedom." Another woman talks about being taught to be separate since slaves were brought over and families were broken apart and sold off. “The white man taught the black man how to desert his children.” She states that African Americans are taught to be “white-orientated” and only allow themselves some black pride and knowledge; being taught to be proud of George Washington because he never told a lie, but that’s patently false. Another woman believes this is a new generation of leaders and the old generation needs to adapt or be left behind.
Color Us Black Part 1
Samuel Proctor, Director of the Institute for Services to Education at Howard University, seated in office. Proctor believes every administrator over 40 knows where African American women are on the totem pole of society. There are few advantages to being an African American woman, whether it be in defending her womanhood, chastity, or personhood. She is likely to suffer abuse unless someone interferes on her behalf. College administrators go to sleep every night with these concerns in mind.
Color Us Black Part 1
President of the Freshman Class at Howard University, Michael Harris: “There’s nothing as strong as an idea whose time has come. And there’s nothing as weak as an idea whose time has passed.” That's where he feels his generation is now and the message they go out with into the community. Harris considers himself a moderate on campus, because he is still willing to talk to “the man." He knows those who won’t talk, and he couldn’t stop them even if he tried. Despite talk of Stokely Carmichael being a “hate-monger”, Harris believes he is making the last peaceful attempt to bring it around. The Black Power movement is the last peaceful attempt, otherwise African Americans will rise and “wipe out the country.” Harris believes it better to die fighting to be free than live as a slave; Dr. Nathan Hare shadow boxing in front of a mirror.
Color Us Black Part 1
Dr. Nathan Hare practicing on the speed bag, adult male (o/s) provides his credentials as an author and professor, noting his termination from Howard University after his participation in an anti-draft demonstration; Dr. Hare jumping rope, another adult African American male jumps rope in BG. Young adult African American male watching Dr. Hare hit punching bag; Dr. Hare narrating (o/s) that he knows how to teach and fight to make a living, and if he can’t teach, then he’ll fight. Adult Caucasian male preparing Dr. Hare’s boxing shoes and taping his hands in preparation for boxing match; Dr. Hare narrates (o/s) that this shows students they need not have to fall in line with unfair or impossible demands that society demands of them. Pepsi-Cola sponsored clock in Washington Coliseum, camera pans down to the boxing ring; Dr. Hare believes a man has a choice to make in life where you can make your own history or have it made for you.
Color Us Black Part 1
Dr. Nathan Hare, wearing a robe with his name on it and a towel over his head, shadow boxing, getting loose, preparing for boxing match; adult African American boxer and trainer in BG. Dr. Hare walking, led by a couple of adult African American males into the boxing ring at Washington Coliseum; he comments (o/s) that boxing is also metaphor for fighting back against Howard University for firing him; adult Caucasian and African American males seated around the ring. Dr. Hare staying loose in his corner; couple of adult African American males and one elderly adult Caucasian male standing in the ring with him. VS between Dr. Hare staying loose and meeting his adult Caucasian male opponent and the adult Caucasian males seated around the ring. VS of the boxing match between Dr. Hare and his opponent; adult African American male referee. Dr. Hare knocks his opponent down and the referee calls the match; knockout win in the first round. Sweaty face of Dr. Hare.
Color Us Black Part 1
Young adult African American male singing, clapping along with young adult African Americans around him; “Closed” sign in BG.
Color Us Black Part 1
Claude Brown, Howard University Alumna, Class of 1965, and author of the book “Manchild in the Promised Land” walks with NET reporter Lou Potter, fellow alumna, Class of 1959 on the campus of Howard University. Young adult African American male walking across the campus. Brown and Potter talking at restaurant table; a few young adult African American males watching in BG. Brown states he prefers being in Mississippi to being at Howard University; he thinks students and faculty are being “emotionally and psychologically bludgeoned into silence”.
Color Us Black Part 1
NET reporter Lou Potter, Howard University alumna, Class of 1959, smoking cigarette, listening to Author Claude Brown, Howard University Alumna, Class of 1965, seated opposite him. Brown states that the black press doesn’t want to accept anybody that hasn’t already been accepted by the white press, and that is the general behavior by Howard University as well; that unless a view is accepted by the white mainstream first, it is suppressed at Howard. Panning view around Howard University campus; Brown continues criticizing Howard University by stating that it is preventing students and faculty from thinking critically, “de-education”, and, by extension, hurting the African American community. If the university doesn’t realize this and change, it should be burned to the ground, and cotton planted in its place, so at least there is something of economic value to be gained.
Color Us Black Part 1
Samuel Proctor, Director of Services for Education, seated in office, talking about differences between current and older generations within the context of current troubles at Howard University. The administrators are more formal in approach, have structure and protocols in place that are followed. However, the current generation of students is not impressed with these structures and formalities. In Proctor’s view, this creates a formidable communication gap between students and administrators, and there are very few administrators who can communicate with students, understanding their idioms and jargon.
Color Us Black Part 1
President of the Freshman Class at Howard University, Michael Harris, seated across from President of Howard University, James M. Nabrit, Jr. Harris claims students feel disconnected from faculty, administration, and university. Nabrit, Jr. says there are always gaps between generations, but they are bound together in wanting to see everybody, regardless of race, class, religion, or economics being able to advance in society. Conditions of African Americans have improved over the years. Harris states he's surprised each day how little African Americans know about their own culture, such as students not knowing who Charles Drew was despite living in Drew Hall. Marie Frazier, widow of author Edward Franklin Frazier who taught and wrote at Howard University, states the older generation is too critical of youth. Youth must be allowed to find their own way, make their own mistakes as all people do and have.
Color Us Black Part 1
Young adult African American males and females and one Caucasian female seated together, speaking with one another on stage with microphone hanging in middle. Young adult African American female, holding cigarette, thinks it will be awful to get out into the real world and not know how to act like “negros," and she is met in agreement with another girl who believes their problems mirror middle-class white Americans. Howard University has the resources with majority of students being African American and drama department nearly being all black, but they do not utilize these resources to their benefit, to exercise Black Power. Young adult African Americans, predominantly male, theater students performing full-dress Elizabethan play on stage which appears to be a trial; male judge calls male counselor who speaks while another male sits with open book and large quill above him.
Color Us Black Part 1
Young adult African American male theater student complains Howard University is not “reflecting the black man today at all”; same male playing role in Elizabethan drama play, wearing robes and large hat, holding large quill. He says maybe LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) is no Shakespeare, but he has something to say and is a playwright. The material may be angry and repulsive at times, but that’s a reflection of current times. It needs to be shown, and theater is the best place to show it. Another young adult African American male relays story where he wanted to learn lighting and sound skills in the drama department, pleaded with the professor to teach him, but was told he had to follow the steps, wait until he got to his lighting and sound class; fellow young adult African American male and females listening to him.
Color Us Black Part 1
Ben Land, a director and student at Howard University, speaking to young adult African American and Caucasian females; adult male (o/s) narrates that Ben is making a film around the theme “Black Self-Awareness," and will be provided only technical facilities at NET, the rest of the project is his alone. Young adult Caucasian female looking up. Ben Land speaking about bedroom scene. Young adult African American male sitting up in bed, smoking cigarette, while young adult Caucasian female lies in bed, sheets covering her. Quick cuts of young adult African American male looking at something, young adult Caucasian female in bed, looking at camera. Land talking about script. Young adult Caucasian female looking down.
Color Us Black Part 1
Young adult African American males talking about relationships with society always coming back to man/woman dynamic, then into taboo nature, yet evolving nature, of inter-racial relationships; one of the men lights a cigarette. VS young adult African American males and females and one young adult Caucasian female sitting while two men continue discussing inter-racial relationships in relation to societal inequalities, expectations, and freedom. Ben Land uses clapperboard in front of camera outside on terrace. Land goes over expectations and plans for upcoming scenes with young adult Caucasian female and young adult African American male. Fade into Land directing two young adult African Americans embraced in twirling hug on train station platform, then asking camera whether it can come in and go around their twirling hug. NET End of Part One.