Produced by
Bourne, St. Clair, American, 1943 - 2007
National Educational Television, American, 1954 - 1970
Greaves, William, American, 1926 - 2014
Interview of
Fuller, Howard, American, born 1941
Subject of
X, Malcolm Liberation University, 1969 - 1973
Dr. Shabazz, Betty, American, 1934 - 1997
X, Malcolm, American, 1925 - 1965
Harambee Singers, American, founded 1966
Reagon, Bernice Johnson, American, born 1942
Owned by
Bowser, Pearl, American, 1931 - 2023
Date
1969
Medium
acetate film and metal
Dimensions
Duration: 10 Minutes
Length (Film): 320 Feet
Caption
This 16mm film is a short documentary made for National Educational Television's Black Journal television program. Producer St. Clair Bourne chronicles the opening of Malcolm X Liberation University in Durham, North Carolina on October 25, 1969.
Description
A film clip with the title “Malcolm X Liberation University.” The clip is a short documentary made for National Educational Television's Black Journal television program. In it, producer St. Clair Bourne chronicles the opening of Malcolm X Liberation University in North Carolina. The film consists of a single reel of 16mm color acetate film with optical sound (2012.79.1.68.1a), an original 400-foot film reel (2012.79.1.68.1b), and an original 400-foot film canister (2012.79.1.68.1c).
The film opens with a student meeting/rally at Duke University, in which one unidentified student speaker (male) states why they no longer wish to participate in a system they don't believe speaks to the needs of African American college students. A male narrator begins to speak, explaining what the Black Student Movement at Duke University was and how it originated and morphed into a separate institution. An interview with Howard Fuller begins to play, and he expresses why he doesn't believe in institutionalized black studies programs. Footage of him announcing the opening of Malcolm X Liberation University begins to play and is followed by clips of the opening celebratory parade and rally. The narrator describes the new university's proposed curriculum and study abroad program in Africa.
Howard Fuller addressed the crowd by reading a statement from Stokely Carmichael and introduced guest speaker Betty Shabazz. During her speech, white train workers in a nearby train yard rang a train car bell to interrupt her speech. A visiting professor who was in attendance climbed on top of the train car and silenced the bell so Betty Shabazz could finish her speech. A small group of women sing "The Black Magician" onstage. Courtland Cox, a representative from Malcolm X Liberation University's sister school in Washington, DC, closed the ceremony. The film ends with an interview with Howard Fuller speaking on the role of Malcolm X Liberation University and hopes to play in the black liberation struggle.
Place filmed
Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Pearl Bowser Collection
Portfolio/Series
Black Journal
Classification
Media Arts-Film and Video
Type
sound films
color films (visual works)
short subjects
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Civil rights
Education
Film
Islam
Public television
Race discrimination
Race relations
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser
Object number
2012.79.1.68.1abc
Restrictions & Rights
© National Educational Television
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ff49a8a3-10f3-473a-8719-85e8e5f89db0

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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