Directed by

Bourne, St. Clair, American, 1943 - 2007

Produced by

Greaves, William, American, 1926 - 2014

National Educational Television, American, 1954 - 1970

Subject of

Kenneth A. Gibson, American, born 1932

Wonder, Stevie, American, born 1950

Baraka, Amiri, American, 1934 - 2014

Owned by

Bowser, Pearl, American, born 1931

Medium

16mm Film (a): acetate film

Dimensions

Duration: 9 Minutes

Length (Film): 330 Feet

Type

motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place filmed

Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Date

1970

Caption

A short documentary subject made for National Educational Television's Black Journal television program documenting a political rally in Newark, the 1970 mayoral campaign of Ken Gibson, and an African American voter registration drive with special musical performance by Stevie Wonder.

Description

A short documentary subject made for National Educational Television's Black Journal television program documenting a political rally in Newark, the 1970 mayoral campaign of Ken Gibson, and an African American voter registration drive with special musical performance by Stevie Wonder.

Consists of: 16mm Film (a).

2012.79.1.79.1a: 16mm film. The film open with close ups of audience members listening to Amiri Baraka giving a speech about black mobilization in local elections. Multiple shots of Newark, New Jersey play as the narrator explains how demographic shifts are impacting political power in the city and what African Americans are doing to exercise their newly acquired power. The narrator discusses the formation of an alliance between black and Puerto Rican groups based around "operational unity." A shot of a poster reveals a call to constituents to "Select qualified candidates to lead our city" and list Rep. Julian Bond, Dick Gregory, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee as speakers. An interview with Donald Tucker, a member of the convention organizing committee, begins. Tucker talks about the voter registration percentages in the black, Puerto Rican and white communities, and how this black and Puerto Rican political coalition will help create a government that addresses the needs of their communities. An interview with Hilda Hidalgo, a Puerto Rican member of the convention organizing committee, discusses where poor whites fit in with their political organization. She talks about how many poor whites don't believe they are in the same boat as the black and Puerto Rican communities, but nonetheless they are in need and deserving of the same services. She continues to make clear that the alliance is not anti-white, but rather that these communities must unify in order to make progress. The film returns to Amiri Baraka's speech; he puts out a rallying cry for the audience to get out the vote and elect the convention's endorsed candidates. After Baraka finishes his speech, the audience erupts in the Swahili chant, "Harambe," which is call for unity and collective work and struggle of the family. The narrator then explains the shift from the convention to running the election campaign itself. There is a scene of a Puerto Rican man holding a flyer endorsing Ken Gibson for mayor. The narrator further explains that Gibson is a different kind of candidate; instead of the candidate leading the community, the community leads the candidate. Multiple shots of Gibson and Stevie Wonder surrounding by people walking through the streets of Newark. Gibson states that this is more than just a political crusade, but a movement to get real political power into the hands of the people. Stevie Wonder is interviewed and talks about how he's happy to hear about increases in voter registration. A series of brief interviews with people on the street explaining their support for Gibson's candidacy. A man registers people to vote outside a local store, Stevie Wonder dances on a Gibson campaign float, and the film ends with a campaign truck urging people vote April 2nd.

Topic

African American

Activism

Film

Mass media

Musicians

Politics (Practical)

Race relations

United States--History--1969-2001

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser

Object number

2012.79.1.79.1a

Restrictions & Rights

© National Educational Television

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Pearl Bowser Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, American, founded 1821

Edited by

Bishop Taylor, James Clair, American, 1893 - 1954

Used by

Rev. Clarence Lowe, Barbadian American, 1893 - 1974

Medium

ink on paper, metal

Dimensions

H x W x D: 10 1/8 × 6 15/16 × 3/16 in. (25.7 × 17.6 × 0.5 cm)

Type

periodicals

Place made

Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States, North and Central America

Date

July 1945

Description

Periodical of the A.M.E. Zion Quarterly Review. The blue cover has a black border with a cross design. Below the title is a list of topics in this issue which begins with [The Church of Christ in / the New Testament / J. Leonard Farmer]. The booklet is fastened with two (2) staples. The title and year is printed in black on the spine. The back cover has [CLIFTON PRINTING, CO., INC.] printed in the center and a mailing label addressed to Rev. Clarence Lowe in the upper left.

Topic

African American

Communication

Religion

Religious groups

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2015.97.40.61

Restrictions & Rights

© A.M.E. Zion. Permission required for use.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, American, founded 1821

Edited by

Bishop Taylor, James Clair, American, 1893 - 1954

Used by

Rev. Clarence Lowe, Barbadian American, 1893 - 1974

Medium

ink on paper, metal

Dimensions

H x W x D: 10 3/16 × 6 15/16 × 1/4 in. (25.9 × 17.6 × 0.6 cm)

Type

periodicals

Place made

Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States, North and Central America

Date

1946

Description

Periodical of the A.M.E. Zion Quarterly Review. The red cover has a black decorative border. The top of the cover has a scroll graphic with the date of 1796 and a list of names. Below this is the title followed by [Summer Issue / SESQUICENTENNIAL YEAR / 1946]. The booklet is fastened with two (2) staples. The title and year is printed in black on the spine. The table of contents begins with [Bishops' Proclamation on the Sesquicentennial of the A.M.E. Zion Church]. The back cover has [CLIFTON PRINTING, CO., INC.] printed in the center and a mailing label addressed to Rev. Clarence Lowe in the upper left.

Topic

African American

Religion

Religious groups

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2015.97.40.62

Restrictions & Rights

© A.M.E. Zion. Permission required for use.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Written by

Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968

Received by

Louis Tate, American, 1911 - 1964

Subject of

Southern Christian Leadership Conference, American, founded 1957

Rev. Abernathy, Ralph David, American, 1926 - 1990

Rev. Dr. Walker, Wyatt Tee, American, 1929 - 2018

Signed by

Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 11 x 8 7/16 in. (27.9 x 21.4 cm)

Type

letters (correspondence)

Place used

Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Place made

Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America

Date

February 12, 1964

Description

Typewritten letter from Martin Luther King Jr. to Louis Tate. The letter is signed by King in blue ink. The letter is written on SCLS letterhead and dated February 12, 1964. The letterhead is printed in black at the top. The letter begins "This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of recent date inviting me to speak in Paterson under the auspices of the Trustee Board of St. Augustine Presbyterian Church sometime in March or April..." The back of the document is blank.

Topic

African American

Civil Rights

Correspondence

Religious groups

Social reform

United States--History--1961-1969

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jyl C. Woolfolk

Object number

2012.166.4

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Subject of

Davis, Sammy Jr., American, 1925 - 1990

Medium

lithographic ink on paper , wood

Dimensions

H x W x D: 30 3/4 x 29 1/16 (78.1 x 73.8 x 0.1 cm)

Type

portraits

posters

Place used

32 North Kentucky, Atlantic City, Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Date

1955-1975

Description

(2013.2.3a) A black and white poster of an image of Sammy Davis, Jr. He is seen from the chest up, wearing a tuxedo, bow tie, and white shirt. On his shirt there are small dark pin stripes and three (3) dark buttons can be seen. In this front pocket is small, white pocket square. Davis is seen smiling into the camera. In the lower left corner along the bottom is a small white triangle with Davis' name in capital, black letters: [SAMMY DAVIS JR]. (2013.2.3b) A wooden frame holds the poster.

Topic

African American

Actors

Entertainers

Nightlife

Segregation

Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of CBBHFI-Henrietta Shelton

Object number

2013.2.3ab

Restrictions & Rights

@ Getty Images. Permission required for use.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Anyabwile, Dawud

Subject of

Big City Comics, Inc., American, 1989 - 1996

Corpart Inc., American

Medium

ink on bristol

Dimensions

H x W: 11 × 14 in. (27.9 × 35.6 cm)

Type

drawings

Place made

East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Date

1995

Description

A black and white illustration of a party scene. A large crowd of people are dancing in the background and more people are walking down a stairway. Text at the top of the image reads “I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED IT BUT TONIGHT WOULD BECOME THE TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE.” Two men are in the foreground next to a record player. The person on the left is wearing a black hat. Both men are wearing jackets. Speech bubbles are above their heads. The speech bubble above the man on the right is slightly higher and says “YO Vic! I WICH THERE WAS A WAY TO KEEP THE MUSIC GOING INSTEAD OF STOPPING AFTER EACH RECORD.” The speech bubble above the man in the hat reads “IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN.” The picture is in a wood frame. A white label with black text is on the back of the frame at the bottom. It reads “CORP ART / PICTURE FRAMING / PRESIDENTIAL CORPORATE / 888-CORPART / WW.CORPART.NET / If Walls Could Talk, They’d ask For Us.” Handwritten in graphite on the back of the frame at top is “DAWUD ANYABWILE / “BROTHERMAN #11” / ORIGINAL PAGE / 1995 / INK ON BRISTOL / BROTHERMANCOMICS.COM.”

Topic

African American

Art

Comics and graphic novels

Graphic design

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Brotherman Comics / Big City Entertainment, Inc.

Object number

2017.116.5.2

Restrictions & Rights

© Big City Entertainment, Inc.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Visual Arts

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Anyabwile, Dawud

Subject of

Big City Comics, Inc., American, 1989 - 1996

Medium

acrylic on canvas

Dimensions

H x W x D: 56 11/16 × 56 11/16 × 1 3/4 in. (144 × 144 × 4.5 cm)

Type

paintings

Place made

East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Date

1992

Description

A color painting of Brotherman by Dawud Anyabwile. The image depicts Brotherman from the waist up. He is wearing a blue suit with a large “B” on his forehead and another “B” on his chest. His arms are extended out towards the viewer and his hands are clenched in fists. “BROTHERMAN” is written in blue stylized text above the image. “Dictator of Discipline” is written in white stylized text across the bottom of the image. Written in silver paint in the bottom right corner is “©DAViD J. A. SiMS 1992.”

Topic

African American

Art

Comics and graphic novels

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Brotherman Comics / Big City Entertainment, Inc.

Object number

2017.116.5.7

Restrictions & Rights

© Big City Entertainment, Inc.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Visual Arts

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Written by

Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968

Received by

Tate, Roberta M., American, 1912 - 2011

Signed by

Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Type

letters (correspondence)

Place made

Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

October 23, 1958

Caption

This letter was sent as a thank you for a condolence message sent by Roberta Tate to Dr. King "in connection with the unfortunate incident he experienced in New York." The incident refers to the September 20, 1958 attack on Dr. King in Harlem, New York. While signing copies of his book, Stride Toward Freedom, Izola Curry stabbed Dr. King in the chest with a letter opener. She believed that Dr. King was conspiring against her with communists. Doctors were able to save Dr. King's life after hours of surgery.

Description

Typewritten letter from Martin Luther King Jr. to Roberta Tate. The letter is signed by King in blue ink and is dated October 23, 1958. The letterhead is printed in black at the top center, in a gothic font. The letter begins with "Dear Mrs. Tate: Thank you so much for the kind message / you sent to me in connection with the unfortunate incident I experienced in New York..." The back of the document is blank.

Topic

African American

Civil Rights

Correspondence

Social reform

United States--History--1953-1961

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jyl C. Woolfolk

Object number

2012.166.1

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Written by

Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968

Received by

Tate, Roberta M., American, 1912 - 2011

Signed by

Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Type

letters (correspondence)

Place made

Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Date

December 24, 1958

Caption

Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story, published in 1958, is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic account of the 1955-56 Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Description

Typewritten letter from Martin Luther King Jr. to Roberta Tate. The letter is signed by King in black ink and is dated December 24, 1958. The letterhead is printed in black at the top in a gothic font. The letter begins with "Dear Miss Tate: This is just a note to acknowledge receipt of your very kind letter..." The back of the document is blank.

Topic

African American

Civil Rights

Correspondence

Social reform

United States--History--1953-1961

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jyl C. Woolfolk

Object number

2012.166.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Written by

Louis Tate, American, 1911 - 1964

Subject of

Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968

St. Augustine Presbyterian Church, American

Ebenezer Baptist Church, American, founded 1886

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W (page 1): 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

H x W (page 2): 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Type

letters (correspondence)

carbon copies

Place made

Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America

Date

January 10, 1964

Description

Carbon copy of a typewritten letter from Louis Tate to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tate wrote to ask King to speak at an event at the St. Augustine Presbyterian Church of Paterson, NJ. Two separate pages. Both pages have a red stamp in the center, with a diagonal orientation. It reads "COPY." The letter begins with "Dear Dr. King: As Chairmen of the Trustee Board of the St. Augustine Presbyterian Church of Paterson, N.J. I am responsible for one outstanding program a year in relation to raising funds for a new church which we hope will be completed by early spring..." The back of both pages of the document are blank.

Topic

African American

Civil Rights

Correspondence

Religious groups

Social reform

United States--History--1961-1969

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jyl C. Woolfolk

Object number

2012.166.3ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture