Created by
Unidentified
Subject of
Malachy, Norman, American
Brown, R. Jess, American, 1913 - 1990
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, American, founded 1909
Garrett, Al, American, died 1959
Parker, Mack Charles, American, 1936 - 1959
Owned by
Bowser, Pearl, American, 1931 - 2023
Date
May 26, 1959
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration: 11 min.
Physical extent (film): 400 ft
Caption
This 16mm silent, black and white film features footage from a NAACP protest rally at the Siloam Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn. The main speaker is Norman Malachy, and he recalls the events surrounding the Mack Charles Parker lynching that happened on April 25, 1959, near Poplarville, Mississippi. Mack Charles Parker was kidnapped while he was in jail on charges that he raped a white woman on February 24, 1959.
Description
Film footage of a NAACP protest rally. It consists of a single reel of 16mm black-and-white acetate film with optical sound (a). It was shot at the Siloam Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn. The main speaker is Norman Malachy, and he recalls the events surrounding the Mack Charles Parker lynching that happened on April 25, 1959, near Poplarville, Mississippi. Mack Charles Parker was kidnapped while he was in jail on charges that he raped a white woman on February 24, 1959. When Malachy finishes speaking, R. Jess Brown asks him follow up questions at the podium. Brown appears later in the film and speaks about the murder of Al Garrett by a police officer in the Gates Ave. Police Station in Brooklyn on April 17, 1959. An unidentified minister also briefly speaks at the podium.
The film begins with Malachy recounting the police questioning him about the events on the night of February 24, 1959, when he was riding in the same car as Parker. He recalls this story for over six minutes, and then Brown approaches the podium and asks Malachy some direct questions about how long Malachy knew Parker, as well as some follow up questions about answers he provided to the police. This exchange goes on for about 2 minutes. For most of the final minute, Brown talks about the murder of Al Garrett. While there is sound for much of the film, there are some moments when there is no sound, and other moments when the film cuts in and out abruptly. A minister begins to introduce a speaker following the exchange between Malachy and Brown. The film jumps ahead to Brown approaching the podium to speak about Al Garrett. The film cuts out while Brown is speaking.
Place filmed
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Pearl Bowser Collection
Classification
Media Arts-Film and Video
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Civil rights
Justice
Lynching
Presbyterian
U.S. History, 1953-1961
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser
Object number
2012.79.1.103.1a
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5fda50c16-fb19-4a21-86fe-a057d76956fe

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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