- Written by
- Lawrence, Carol Munday, American
- Produced by
- Lawrence, Carol Munday, American
- Directed by
- Zagone, Robert N., American, born 1938
- Published by
- Beacon Films, American
- Nguzo Saba Films, Inc., American, founded 1973
- Subject of
- Norris, Eunice, American, born 1897
- Greenway, Frank, American
- Ellison, George, American
- Recorded by
- Odetta, American, 1930 - 2008
- Owned by
- D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
- Date
- 1979
- Medium
- acetate film
- Dimensions
- Duration: 28 min.
- Physical extent (film): 1000 ft
- Caption
- The Black West relies on the oral histories of three early Black settlers of the American West—George Ellison, Frank Greenway, and Eunice Norris. Throughout the film they each recall their lives on the frontier and the unique challenges experienced by Black homesteaders in the late 19th/early 20th century. The film’s musical score was arranged by famous folk singer and civil rights activist, Odetta.
- This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
- Description
- A documentary film with the title The Black West from the mini television series Were You There? It consists of a single reel of positive 16mm acetate film with bilateral variable-area optical sound.
- The film depicts the experiences of African American cowboys and the settler families of the late 1800s and early 1900s, relying on reenactments and personal narratives. Some of the individuals featured in the film include black cowboy George Ellison, rodeo competitor Frank Greenway, and Eunice Norris, who discusses her experience as a black child growing up in the West.
- Place used
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Place filmed
- Colorado, United States, North and Central America
- Arizona, United States, North and Central America
- Place made
- United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- DC Public Library Film Collection
- Portfolio/Series
- Were You There?
- Classification
- Time-based Media - Moving Images
- Topic
- Agriculture
- American West
- Children
- Documentary films
- Film
- Gender
- Migrations
- Race discrimination
- Race relations
- Rodeos
- Rural life
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2017.55.1.1a
- Restrictions & Rights
- Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




