Black Journal: 9; Tribute to Malcolm X

Object Details

Produced by

National Educational Television, American, 1954 - 1970

Edited by

Madeline Anderson, American

Subject of

Malcolm X, American, 1925 - 1965

Dr. Betty Shabazz, American, 1934 - 1997

Owned by

Pearl Bowser, American, 1931 - 2023

Caption

This 16mm film is a short documentary made by Madeline Anderson for National Education Television's Black Journal television program to commemorate the four year anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X.

Description

A short documentary made for the National Education Television's Black Journal television program. It consists of a single reel of 16mm black-and-white acetate film with optical sound and was made from compiled footage of Malcolm X to commemorate the four-year anniversary of his assassination.

This film opens with footage of the public attending the funeral/wake of Malcolm X, and a voice-over of a male narrator recounts the sentiments of some individuals describing what Malcolm X meant to the African American community during his life and after his assassination. Malcolm X's wife, Betty Shabazz, discusses Malcolm's early childhood roots, family, stints in foster care and boys' homes, and his struggle to stay on the straight and narrow in Boston, MA. The narrator then picks back up describing Malcolm X's biography and attitude towards race relations and integration in America. Excerpts from various television interviews with Malcolm X play.

During the first interview clip, Malcolm explains why he believes integration has not been successful and cannot be successful (during that particular point in time) unless certain issues are addressed. In the second interview clip, Malcolm discusses why he was silenced by the Nation of Islam for a comment he made shortly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He elaborates on what he actually meant by saying that "chickens are coming home to roost" amid an unaddressed climate of hate in the United States. The third interview is with Malcolm after he returned from his pilgrimage to Mecca. American reporters ask him about his feelings on integration in America, now that he has returned from Mecca, where Muslims from all over were participating in the pilgrimage to Mecca together. Malcolm states that his feelings on integration have not changed as a result of the brotherhood he experienced during his trip to Mecca.

An interview with Betty Shabazz picks up again, and she further explains her late husband's beliefs concerning integration and his wish to redirect the goal of the black struggle from civil rights to human rights by internationalizing the struggle and aligning African Americans with other marginalized groups around the world. Another interview with Malcolm X plays, and he explains, in his own words, how human rights is an international issue that should be addressed by the United Nations. Footage of a civil rights demonstration plays. Malcolm X addresses students in Selma, Alabama and talks about charging the United States with human rights violations. Further, he tells a story in which he defines what he believes to be the difference in mentality between what he calls a "field negro" and a "house negro". He states that he is a "field negro" ready to fight for his freedom.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser

1969

Object number

2012.79.1.37.1a

Restrictions & Rights

© National Educational Television

Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Type

sound films

black-and-white films (visual works)

short subjects

16mm (photographic film size)

Medium

acetate film

Dimensions

Physical extent (film): 500 ft

Duration: 14 min.

Place filmed

Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Pearl Bowser Collection

Portfolio/Series

Black Journal

Classification

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Movement

Civil Rights Movement

Black Nationalism

Title

Film clip from Black Journal: Episode 9

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

Black power

Civil Rights

Documentary films

Film

Funeral customs and rites

Islam

Mass media

Public television

Resistance

Social reform

U.S. History, 1961-1969

Record ID

nmaahc_2012.79.1.37.1a

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd57efc83f7-85eb-4584-b0b4-fc285ae6a92d