Directed by
Smight, Jack, American, 1925 - 2003
Subject of
McNeil, Claudia, American, 1917 - 1993
MacLachlan, Janet, American, 1933 - 2010
Christian, Robert, American, 1939 - 1983
Scott, Larry B., American, born 1961
Freeman, Morgan, American, born 1937
Ruffin, Lark, American
Owned by
D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
Date
1978
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration (Reel 1): 37 Minutes
Length (Film): 1300 Feet
Duration (Reel 2): 35 Minutes
Length (Film): 1250 Feet
Duration (Reel 3): 33 Minutes
Length (Film): 1200 Feet
Caption
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 dramatic film with the title Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. It consists of three (3) reels of color 16mm acetate film with optical sound.
Set in Mississippi in 1933, the film follows Cassie Logan (Lark Ruffin) who tells the story of the racial discrimination her family faced during the Great Depression and their attempts to retain the land that has been in their family for three generations. In the opening scenes, Cassie narrates some of the Logans’ family history, including her grandfather purchasing their land which was previously part of the Granger plantation and Mr. Granger's desire to buy the land back from the Logans. She also describes her mother convincing other African Americans in the neighborhood to boycott a store owned by the Wallaces, a hostile white family, and the Wallaces’ violent retaliation.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
Mississippi, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
DC Public Library Film Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
sound films
color films (visual works)
feature films
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Actors
American South
Families
Film
Race discrimination
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.55.106.1abc
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd57a72c687-3113-49a4-873b-9a89e25bf9c5

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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