Directed by
Greaves, William, American, 1926 - 2014
Produced by
Greaves, William, American, 1926 - 2014
Written by
Greaves, William, American, 1926 - 2014
Narrated by
Peters, Brock, American, 1927 - 2005
Composed by
Blake, Eubie, American, 1887 - 1983
Photograph by
Van Der Zee, James, American, 1886 - 1983
Subject of
Powell, Adam Clayton Jr., American, 1908 - 1972
Ellington, Duke, American, 1899 - 1974
Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994
Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975
Smith, Bessie, American, 1894 - 1937
Waller, Fats, American, 1904 - 1943
Robeson, Paul, American, 1898 - 1976
Schomburg, Arturo Alfonso, Puerto Rican, 1874 - 1938
Cotton Club, American, 1923 - 1940
Garvey, Marcus, Jamaican, 1887 - 1940
Douglas, Aaron, American, 1899 - 1979
Owned by
D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
Date
1974
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration: 30 Minutes
Length (Film): 1100 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 From These Roots. It consists of a single reel of black-and-white acetate film with optical sound. The film describes the history of the Harlem Renaissance through the use of narration by actor Brock Peters and still images, many of which were taken by James Van Der Zee. The documentary opens with a brief discussion of the various ethnic groups that occupied Harlem prior to the Renaissance, before moving to a discussion of significant African Americans that lived in Harlem and their contributions to the community. Some of the individuals discussed include A'Lelia Walker, James Van Der Zee, Adam Clayton Powell, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Josephine Baker, Ethel Walters, Bessie Smith, Fats Waller, Florence Mills, Paul Robeson, Marcus Garvey, Aaron Douglas and several others. Additionally, the narrator recites works of poets such as Claude McKay and Langston Hughes. Scholars such as Arturo Schomburg and literary publications such as Opportunity magazine and The Messenger are also examined. There is also footage of the 1917 Silent Protest Parade along New York City’s Fifth Avenue. At the end of the documentary, the narrator explores the question of what caused the Harlem Renaissance.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
DC Public Library Film Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Movement
Harlem Renaissance (New Negro Movement)
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
short subjects
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Art
Documentary films
Film
Independent films
Literature
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.55.65.1a
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd55b23f5de-c23f-4287-99dd-5cdbd6073557

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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