Directed by
Koff, David, American, 1939 - 2014
Subject of
Hay, Courtney, British
Howe, Darcus, British, 1943 - 2017
Huntley, Jessica, British, 1927 - 2013
Jones, Claudia, Trinidadian, 1915 - 1964
Phillips, Ron, British, 1935 - 1998
Prescod, Colin, British, born 1944
Sealy, Tony
John, Gus, British, born 1945
Recorded by
Steel Pulse
Owned by
D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
Date
1978
Medium
polyester film
Dimensions
Duration: 50 Minutes
Length (Film): 1800 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 documentary film with the title Blacks Britannica. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm polyester film with optical sound.
The documentary opens with alternating clips of a street protest and the band Steel Pulse performing in a studio before cutting to a scene with British sociologist Colin Prescod discussing racial discrimination against black people in England. In his opening statement he says that “Weren’t one weary of talking about conspiracy, one would say that there is clearly a conspiracy against blacks in this country.”
The rest of the film utilizes a combination of interviews and archival footage to discuss racism in England. Some of the topics explored include the ghettoization of black people in England; West Indians migrating to England in search of better economic opportunities; as well as the difference in perspective between first-generation and second-generation West Indian immigrants. Additionally, there is some archival footage of interviews and speeches by British politicians such as Enoch Powell, Margaret Thatcher, Kingsley Reid, and others.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place filmed
England, United Kingdom, Europe
Collection title
DC Public Library Film Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
sound films
color films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
African diaspora
Documentary films
Film
Identity
Immigration
Migrations
Politics
Race discrimination
Race relations
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.55.63.1a
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5f4e311ef-1c8c-4404-9a71-0f759c38a5af

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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