Directed by
Howe, John, Canadian, 1926 - 2008
Written by
Dick, Ronald
Weintraub, William, Canadian, 1926 - 2017
Narrated by
McInnis, Edgar, Canadian, 1899 - 1973
Owned by
D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
Date
1957
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration: 28 Minutes
Length (Film): 1000 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 Black and White in South Africa. It consists of a single reel of black-and-white 16mm acetate film with sound.
Through the use of contextual narration by Edgar McInnis, archival footage, reenactments and still imagery, the documentary explores the causes and consequences of Apartheid in South Africa. The opening scenes focus on early encounters between the Dutch and native peoples of southern Africa. Other scenes and topics explored include conflicts between the British and the Dutch in the 19th century; the conflict between Dingane, king of the Zulus, and the settlers on December 16, 1938 at Blood River; discovery of natural resources such as diamond and gold; the circumstances that led to the Boer War and the mass death of women and children in concentration camps; the circumstances that led to Apartheid and relations between South Africa's white population and the Bantu people; South Africa's "separate but parallel" doctrine; the arguments used to defend South Africa's racial segregation, such as fears of miscegenation and the economic concerns of poor whites; as well as the rise of anti-Apartheid groups such as the African National Congress, the Black Sash and other protest groups. The documentary ends with the host making an appeal for racial equity in South Africa.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
South Africa, Africa
Collection title
DC Public Library Film Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Movement
Anti-apartheid movements
Type
documentaries
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
short subjects
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Africa
British colonialism
Documentary films
Dutch colonialism
Film
Race relations
Segregation
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.55.77.1a
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5d3e59cbb-2e9a-4384-b903-43f2eaf4b5dd

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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