Videos on the Social Sciences

African American art past and present 1992

Rare and historical photographs, beautiful reproductions of paintings, sculpture and crafts, and brilliant musical selections combine to make this an outstanding educational program for children and adults.

3 videocassettes (90 min.) :

DOUGLASS. DOUGLASS. DOUGLASS 160 cassette 1 160 cassette 2 160 cassette 3

The African American cinema I, Oscar Micheaux's Within our gates (1919) 1993

The earliest surviving feature directed by an African-American, Within our gates tells the story of a young African-American woman who seeks a Northern white patron for a Southern school for Black children. The scenes of lynching and attempted white-on-Black rape may be a response to D.W. Griffith's The birth of a nation.

1 videocassette (79 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2805

The African American cinema. II, The scar of shame (1923) and Sissle and Blake (1926) 1993

Sissle and Blake is a short filmed in Lee De Forest's New York studio with his sound-on-film process in 1923, four years before Hollywood began to experiment with sound. Pianist Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle perform their jazz composition "Affectionate Dan" and a jazzed-up spiritual. Scar of shame: In no film was the racial theme more apparent than in this story about an ill-matched marriage between a black concert painist and a poor, lower class black woman. Secretly ashamed of her, the young man keeps his wife hidden from his socially-prominent middle-class mother.

1 videocassette (80 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2809

Against the odds the artists of the Harlem Renaissance 1994

Documents the story of a group of black visual artists working during the 1920s and 1930s, who for the most part were unable to show their work in mainstream museums and galleries. Highlights the influential role the Harmon Foundation played in the development of African American art in the United States.

1 videocassette (57 min) :

MEDIA 2-2568, 4002

Aida's brothers & sisters Black voices in opera 2000

Presents the history and current situation of African-American opera singers in America. Combines rare and contemporary footage of some of the greatest performers of the century and includes interviews with many notable black singers (including Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, Leontyne Price, Kathleen Battle, Jessye Norman, Robert McFerrin, and members of Opera Ebony) as well as musicologists, directors, and historians.

1 videocassette (90 min.) :

DANA 1819

Alex Haley a conversation with Alex Haley 1992

Alex Haley recounts the transformation of a college drop-out into one of America's most powerful non-fiction writers.

1 videocassette (50 min.) :

MEDIA DANA 2-5980 369

Ali 2002

Dramatic biography of boxing great Muhammad Ali, which focuses on the ten-year period of 1964-1974. In that time, the brash, motor-mouthed athlete quickly dominates his sport, meets and marries his first wife, converts to Islam (changing his name from Cassius Clay), and defies the United States government by refusing to submit to military conscription for duty in Vietnam. His world heavyweight championship title thus stripped from him entirely for political reasons, the champ sets about to win back his crown, culminating in a legendary unification bout against George Foreman in Zaire, dubbed the "Rumble in the Jungle.".

1 videodisc (157 min.) :

MEDIA 10-162

Alice Walker a conversation with Alice Walker 1992

Alice Walker shares with us her remarkable spiritual journey from a sharecropping childhood in rural Georgia to the peace and creativity of her present retreat in Northern California. She reads from her poetry and discusses contemporary America with an anger and urgency rooted in an abiding optimism.

1 videocassette (30 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 389 2-1973

Alma's Rainbow 1996

Rainbow is the daughter of Alma, "the no-nonsense owner of a popular beauty parlor"..."Ruby, Alma's free-spirited sister, unexpectedy arrives after a ten year absence, bringing the beauty and warmth Rainbow craves, and a few secrets from Alma's past.".

1 videocassette (88 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3785

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 1986

Four short compositions performed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, with an introduction by Alvin Ailey and commentary by each choreographer.

1 videocassette (140 min.) :

DOUGLASS 177

As I remember it a portrait of Dorothy West 1991

From the perspective of her 83 years, the still-active African-American writer Dorothy West relates her memories of growing up black, privileged and enthralled by literature.

1 videocassette (56 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5032

August Wilson 1994

Playwright August Wilson talks about his roots in the black community, how his plays express the African-American experience, how the African heritage of Black Americans is both expressed and repressed in American society today, and the importance of blues as cultural expression.

1 videocassette (ca. 22 min.)

MEDIA 2-7461

August Wilson 2003

Bill Moyers interviews playwright August Wilson on the importance of the blues in Wilson's life and his writing. Also talks about finding an African-American cultural identity and what Wilson sees as the false portrayal of black Americans on television.

1 videodisc (30 min.)

MEDIA 10-643

August Wilson a conversation with August Wilson 1992

Playwright August Wilson talks about his roots in the black community, how his plays express the African-American experience, how the African heritage of Black Americans is both expressed and repressed in American society today, and the importance of blues as cultural expression.

1 videocassette (22 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 365 2-1974

Black conservatives 1994

"In this specially adapated Phil Donahue program,, Armstrong Williams, Kevin Pritchett, Phyllis Berry Meyers, and Dr. Khalid Al-Mansor say that the existing welfare system has become just another form of slavry; that blacks should strive for self-empowerment and not depend on the Democratic Party, which takes their votes for granted; and that the traditional black leadership has been detrimental to African Americans."--Container.

1 videocassette (28 min.) :

DANA 855

Black Indians an American story 2000

This video explores the issue of racial identity among Native and African Americans. This in-depth documentary examines the coalescence of these two groups in American history.

1 videodisc (60 min.)

DANA 153

Black is-- black ain't a personal journey through black identity 1995

American culture has stereotyped black Americans for centuries. Equally devastating, the late Marlon Riggs argued, have been the definitions of "blackness" African Americans impose upon one another which contain and reduce the black experience. In this film, Riggs meets a cross-section of African Americans grappling with the paradox of numerous, often contradictory definitions of blackness.

1 videocassette (88 min.) :

ALEXANDER. DANA. MEDIA 424 424 2-2903

Black Israel 2003

Documentary presents scenarios of Africans and African Americans who live in the Jewish communities of Israel, and are Jewish by birth or by conversion. The positive and the negative ways in which people are affected by their heritage makes for a vibrant portrait of pluralistic 21st-century Jewish identities.

1 videocassette (88 min.)

MEDIA 2-6772

The black king 1993

The main character, "Charcoal" Johnson, through connivance, becomes the minister/leader of a Logan, Mississippi congregation from which he attempts to extort money for a "Back to Africa" movement. He proclaims himself King of the United States of Africa.

1 videocassette (70 min.)

DANA 1913

Black like me 1992

A white writer travels through the racially torn South of the 1950's as a black man by chemically darkening his skin color and cutting and dyeing his hair to personally experience and write about racism and prejudice.

1 videocassette (107 min.) :

DANA 1009

Black religion in the 20th century 1993

Dr. Simmons' lecture explores Black religion in the twentieth century and two prominent new religious movements, Black Muslim and Pentecostal. Also included is an interview by Dr. Simmons with Dr. Abdul Salaam of the Nation of Islam.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

DANA 1456

Black theatre the making of a movement 1978

The meaning of black theatre is discussed by accomplished playwrights, directors, producers and performers. Includes interviews with James Earl Jones, Amiri Baraka, Ed Bullins and others.

1 videocassette (114 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 359 2-1978

Black to the promised land 1992

A group of problem students from the Street Academy High School of Brooklyn are taken on a trip to Israel. They experience the everyday life of the Jewish community in a kibbutz. Both Jewish and Black youngsters seem surprised in finding that love, respect and friendship can grow in spite of ethnic differences and the color of their skin.

1 videocassette (97 min.)

MEDIA 2-6787

Blues masters history of the blues 2002

Rare performances and historical footage tracing the development of American blues music.

1 videodisc (103 min.)

DANA 59

Bluesland a portrait in American music 1993

This video explores the blues-- with all its poetic irony and sly humor, its eroticism and timeless power. It traces its roots from the beginning of the 20th Century through the Mississippi Delta to Louisiana, Texas, Kansas City and Chicago. It includes music by: Son House, Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy, Bessie Smith, Count Basie, Louis Jordan, Jimmy Rushing, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Dinah Washington and many others.

1 videocassette (ca. 85 min) :

DANA 1561

Body and soul 1998

Paul Robeson in his first screen role, plays two parts, an evil preacher and his good brother, who wage a personal war for the body and soul of the heroine.

1 videocassette (100 min.) : 1 videocassette (75 min.) :

MEDIA DANA 2-3557 598

Boyz 'n the hood 1998

For three young men growing up in South Central Los Angeles, the "hood" is a place of drive-by shootings, unemployment, drugs and pain. But their reactions to the world around them vary- one is an unambitious drug dealer, his brother is a college bound teenage father, and the brother's best friend is guided by a strong father who hopes for a better life for his son.

1 videodisc (112 min.) :

MEDIA 10-45

Buck and The Preacher 2007?

"Buck, an ex-Union Army Cavalry sergeant ... becomes a scout for freed slaves heading to the Colorado frontier. Tagging along with him are his wife and a Bible-thumping con artist known as The Preacher. Attacked by racist bounty hunters determined to return the former slaves to a life of sharecropping in Louisiana, Buck and his followers must summon all the courage they have in order to reach their destination and help settle the Wild West"--container.

1 videodisc (117 min.) :

DANA 448

The Charles Burnett collection 2007

Killer of sheep: An African-American slaughterhouse worker searches for tiny moments of beauty in his predominantly bleak life. My brother's wedding: A young African-American man navigates his conflicting obligations while trying to figure out what he really wants in life.

2 videodiscs (332 min.) :

MEDIA 10-1198

Chester Himes the long climb 1996

A program on the life of novelist Chester Himes, who began writing while he was in prison and achieved fame for his detective stories.

1 videocassette (30 min.) :

DANA 1255

Clementine Hunter American folk artist 1993

Presents the art of Clementine Hunter with interviews with the artist and commentary by collectors from Natchitoches, Louisiana.

1 videocassette (28 min.) :

DANA 576

Coffy 1998

Pam Grier plays a nurse by day, avenging angel by night in order to retaliate against a greedy drug pusher who has corrupted her younger sister. She carries out her mission of vengeance to the very top.

1 videocassette (90 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5178

Commitments 2001

With money, power, prestige and a beautiful apartment in New York City, super stockbroker Fox Giovanni thought she had it all. She loved life in the fast lane, until a heart attack changed everything. Ordered by her doctor to rest, she calls her only friend in the world, her foster mother, who invites her to recover in the small town of Slumber, North Carolina. Now, far from everything she knows, she's examining who she is, falling in love and finding her way in a strange new place that feels surprisingly like home.

1 videodisc (93 min.)

DANA 88

Cotton comes to Harlem 1999

St. Jacques is Coffin Ed Johnson and Cambridge is Gravedigger Jones, black cops who suspect preacher Lockhart's back-to-Africa campaign is a swindle. Neatly combines action and comedy.

1 videocassette (ca. 96 min.) :

MEDIA DANA 2-5179 133

Culture shock 2000

Series of four documentaries explores why particular works or forms of art became (and some remain) controversial, gives points of view on the effects of the arts on individuals and on society, and addresses censorship and education. Each also is a self-contained documentary that analyses the particular form or work and presents the cultural milieu in which it was created.

4 videocassettes (270 min.) :

DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA 1527 cassette 1 1527 1528 cassette 2 1529 cassette 3 1530 cassette 4

Dancing on the edge, vol. 2 1992

A collection of selected performance highlights form the American Dance Festival.

1 videocassette (45 min.) :

DOUGLASS 169

Dignity of man and origins of African-American theatre 1991

Includes brief history of Black American performers, excerpt from Colored People's Time, by Leslie Lee.

1 videocassette (15 min.) :

DANA 1369

Do the right thing 1989

Spike Lee's powerful film combines humor and drama with memorable chararcters while tracing the course of a single day on a block in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, New York.

1 videocassette (120 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 55 2-838

Duke is tops 1994

Lena Horne, in her film debut, plays a successful singer who very nearly loses her man because his career as a producer is on the skids.

1 videocassette (72 min.) :

DANA 597

The edge of each other's battles the vision of Audre Lorde 2007

Documents black lesbian poet and activist Audre Lorde's (1934-92) social vision, using footage from the four-day conference: I am your sisters: forging global connections across differences, held in Boston in 1990. At the conference 1,200 men, women and young people from 23 countries examined the issues of the relations between race, class, gender and sexuality through Lorde's work. Interviews with the organizers of the conference are intercut with conference footage, including performances, controversies and speeches.

1 videodisc (59 min.) :

MEDIA 10-1159

Emergence of the African-American performing arts 1991

Includes brief history of black American performers, and excerpt from Simply heavenly, by Langston Hughes.

1 videocassette (ca. 15 min.) :

DANA 1370

Faith Ringgold 1991

"Share an insider's look at how one African-American woman, through patience, perseverance and education fulfilled her dream of becoming an artist....A painter by profession, she has moved away from traditional framed canvases to 'tankas,' paintings on quilted canvas with frames of quilted fabric."--Container.

1 videocassette (28 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 760 2-3177

Faith Ringgold paints Crown Heights 1995

Faith Ringgold details the creation of the quilt she created to represent the diverse cultures and traditions comprising the area of Crown Heights in New York City.

1 videocassette (ca. 28 min.) :

DOUGLASS 163

Faith Ringgold the last story quilt 1991

Faith Ringgold discusses aspects of her childhood, incidents from her life, and her art education. She talks about her artwork and shows it to the viewer.

1 videocassette (28 min.) :

DOUGLASS 153

Fires in the mirror Crown Heights, Brooklyn and other identities 1993

Nineteen theatrical portraits, interspersed with news photos and footage, convey the characters and feelings of the people who experienced the racial conflicts between African-American and Jewish residents of Crown Heights in 1991. Based on verbatim excerpts from interviews.

1 videocassette (80 min.) :

MEDIA DANA 2-2043 1816

Five on the black hand side 2001

Mr. Brooks is the domineering head of his middle-class, African American family. However, Mr. Brooks must do some soul-searching after his previously subordinate wife joins their children in rebelling against her husband's authoritative behavior.

1 videodisc (96 min.)

DANA 301

For love of Ivy 2004

A wealthy family, afraid of losing their housekeeper to a secretarial career, fix her up with a man-about-town, who is secretly involved in illegal gambling.

1 videodisc (ca. 101 min.)

DANA. MEDIA 178 10-462

For my people the life and writing of Margaret Walker 1998

Through interviews with writers, scholars, and Walker herself, this documentary examines the life and work of Margaret Walker,focusing on the influence that her writing had on Black women writers.

1 videocassette (28 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 1639 2-5981

Forever Ella a celebration of Ella Fitzgerald, legendary American singer 2000

Chronicles the personal life and singing career of the well- known jazz artist and discusses her impact on contemporary music.

1 videocassette (100 min.) :

MUSIC 438

Free to dance Go for what you know 2001

The history of African American dance; during the 1960s through the 1980s a dance explosion happens. There are more modern dancers, more dance companies.

1 videocassette (57 min.) :

DOUGLASS 236

Free to dance Steps of the gods 2001

The history of African American dance; examines the early history of Black dance that began when Katherine Dunham returned from the Caribbean Islands and taught her approach to movement that became known as the Dunham technique.

1 videocassette (57 min.) :

DOUGLASS 235

Free to dance. What do you dance 2001

The history of African American dance; examines the early development of modern dance set against the background of the Harlem renaissance, racial segregation and the great depression.

1 videocassette (57 min.) :

DOUGLASS 234

The freedom you will take 1999

In reaction to the narrow depiction of African Americans, the contemporary culture landscape has been transformed by the power of African-American film, dance, rap-music and spoken-word scene.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-4295

From these roots a review of the "Harlem Renaissance" 1974

Uses still photographs and filmed sequences to recreate the social and political climate of the Harlem renaissance--a period of great artistic and cultural activity in the 1920's which had, and still has, a profound influence on black American art and self-awareness and life-style.

1 videocassette (ca. 30 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1703

Fun facts of American history 1997

Enjoy vintage film footage and hear offbeat tales of our great American heritage.

1 videocassette (45 min.) :

DANA 1113

Furious flower : conversations with African American poets 1998

A four part video anthology of African American poetry from the 1940s to 1995 offering intimate portraits of leading poets reading and discussing their own works. Part 4 highlights the younger poets of the 1990s who represent the promise and diversity of Black poetry as it develops into the 21st century.

1 videocassette (27 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 1638 2-3767

Furious flower : conversations with African American poets 1998

A four part video anthology of African American poetry from the 1940s to 1995 offering intimate portraits of leading poets reading and discussing their own works. Part 3 looks at the poetry that followed the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, which was marked with a broadened scope. While retaining the same political commitment, the poets extended their vision into new regions, exploring personal, sometimes taboo subjects and imbuing traditional forms with a contemporary intensity.

1 videocassette (114 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 1637 2-3766

Furious flower : conversations with African American poets 1998

A four part video anthology of African American poetry from the 1940s to 1995 offering intimate portraits of leading poets reading and discussing their own works. Part 2 examines the poets of the Black liberation movements of the 1960s. Their works defined a strong Black cultural identity and waged a war for literary self-determination. Here these veterans read from works which stirred a generation and discuss the achievements and unfulfilled hopes of their movement.

1 videocassette (114 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 1636 2-3765

Furious flower : conversations with African American poets 1998

A four part video anthology of African American poetry from the 1940s to 1995 offering intimate portraits of leading poets reading and discussing their own works. Part 1 introduces poets who laid the groundwork for today's Black poetry renaissance and mentored many of the younger voices represented in this series. These writers, many of whom began writing during the 1940s provided the wisdom and strong literary voice which brought Black verse to competence and maturity.

1 videocassette (114 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 1635 2-3764

Furious flower II regenerating the black poetic tradition 2005

A three part video anthology of African American poetry offering intimate portraits of leading poets reading and discussing their own works.

3 videocassettes ( 214 min)

MEDIA 2-7350 - 2-7352

Garth Fagan's Griot New York 1995

Following brief interviews with Garth Fagan and Wynton Marsalis, the program includes a complete performance of Griot New York. The concept of a griot, a West African storyteller who keeps the cultural heritage of a people alive, is used to depict the non-European culture of New York City, and particularly the African and Caribbean backgrounds of some of its residents.

1 videocassette (85 min.) :

DOUGLASS 181

Gloria Naylor a conversation with Gloria Naylor 1992

Writer Gloria Naylor speaks on the influence of other black women writers, the influence of a southern background, early involvement with religion, learning to articulate one's experience, writing in different voices, and writing to explore one's beliefs.

1 videocassette (21 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 390 2-1971

Go down, death! 1994

"A morality melodrama which puts a minister's reputation in question, bringing him to the brink of Heaven and Hell."--Facets video catalog # 12.

1 videocassette (54 min.) :

DANA 594

Go tell it on the mountain 1985

"To be Black in America. To seek both salvation and understanding in the journey of a family from the rural South to 'big city' Harlem. To be a young boy struggling to earn the approval of a self-righteous and often unloving stepfather."--Container.

1 videocassette (97 min.) :

DANA MEDIA 1420 2-2176

God's trombones a trilogy of African-American poems 1994

Features three inspirational sermons of the old-time black preachers taken from James Weldon Johnson's book of poetry titled: God's trombones.

1 videocassette (25 min., 45 sec.) :

DANA 1843

Gordon Parks visions : the images, words and music of Gordon Parks 1996

He's been a waiter, a train porter, and a piano player in a brothel. He gained world-wide recognition as an award-winning photographer for Life Magazine, the first Afro-American to hold such a staff position. He wrote the acclaimed best selling novel, "The Learning Tree," and became the first Afro-American to direct a major Hollywood motion picture with this much praised film adaptation.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

DANA. DANA 1154 1154

The green pastures 1993

An all-Black cast presents Marc Connelly's religious allegory, based on the premise of a Southern Black preacher telling Bible stories to his Sunday school class in terms of the world they are familiar with.

1 videocassette (90 min.) :

MEDIA 2-6201

The green pastures a fable 2006

A series of biblical stories are told from a black perspective. Unlike many Hollywood biblical epics, this sensitive, thoughtful film brings to the scriptures a profound level of understanding. Featuring the joyful gospel sounds of the Hall Johnson Choir.

1 videodisc (ca. 93 min.)

DANA 266

Hair piece a film for nappy-headed people 1985

An animated satire on Black consciousness from the perspective of hair styling.

1 videocassette (10 min.) :

MEDIA 2-7811

Harlem a self portrait 2002

This 1959 CBS News special offers a unique look at a city within a city, capturing the mood and teror of a community where police, not politicians, were the power and six out of seven officers were white.

1 videocassette (58 min.) :

DANA MEDIA 1866 10-1452

Harlem rides the range 1994

A sagebrush singer's two-gun law is all that stands between the claim-jumpimg villains and the heroine and her father's uranium mine.

1 videocassette (58 min.) :

DANA 593

Hidden heritage the roots of Black American painting 1990?

Traces the work of Black American artists from the American Revolution to World War II. Places the artists' individual achievements in the context of social change, abolition of slavery, Jim Crow laws, racial violence and segregation.

1 videocassette (52 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2231

Home of the brave 1989

A black soldier is sent on a top secret mission in the South Pacific, but finds that he must battle with his white comrades as he is subjected to subordinate treatment and constant racial slurs. Hollywood's first outstanding statement against racial prejudice.

1 videocassette (86 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3468

Horace Pippin there will be peace 1998

This video profiles the artist Horace Pippin. A self-taught artist, Horace Pippin's paintings reflect his own life and concerns. Film clips, still photographs and Pippin's paintings illustrate the film.

1 videocassette (ca. 28 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 899 2-3176

Hughes' dream Harlem 2002

Langston Hughes was one of the most prominent figures of the Harlem Renaissance and is often referred to as Harlem's poet laureate. This film shows how Hughes successfelly fused jazz, blues and common speech to celebrate the beauty of Black life.

1 videocassette (61 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5999

Identifiable qualities a film on Toni Morrison 1990

Interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning black novelist Toni Morrison. She addresses the events of the Sixties which led her to write her first novel The Bluest Eye; the use of personal experiences as sources for her strong, black female characters; and the advantage to publishers of placing black writers in the mainstream.

1 videocassette (26 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1270

Illusions 1983

Story takes place in 1942 and is about Mignon Dupree, a black woman studio executive who appears to be white, and Ester Jeeter, a black woman who is the singing voice for a white Hollywood star. The film follows the struggles of the women as well as the use of film in wartime Hollywood.

1 videocassette (34 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3490

In motion Amiri Baraka 1989?

Documentary covering Baraka from his early days in Greenwich Village to his present (1982) literary and political activities. Focuses on the final 2 weeks before his sentencing at federal court on the charges of resisting arrest.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2243

Jacob Lawrence the glory of expression 1993

"A documentary about the life and work of one of America's great living painters, the first African-American to be represented by a New York gallery. Emphasis is placed on the epic narratives he painted about the struggles of the African-American people."--Container.

1 videocassette (28 min.) :

ART. DANA. MEDIA 2 761 2-3180

Jamaica Kincaid 1993

Jamaica Kindcaid was born and educated in St. John's, Antigua, in the West Indies. Her stories have appeared in the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and the Paris Review. She is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Lucy.

1 videocassette (30 min.) :

DANA 788

James Baldwin the price of the ticket 1989

Opening with the funeral of James Baldwin, this film traces the life history and accomplishments of this great black writer. Includes interviews with friends and colleagues, including Maya Angelou, Amin Baraka, his brother David, and his mother Berdis.

1 videocassette (ca. 87 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 363 2-997

Jean-Michel Basquiat an interview 1989

A rare interview with the 21 year old Basquiat in his studio on Crosby Street in 1981 by art historian-curator, Marc H. Miller. Basquiat describes his working process and comments on his art world persona.

1 videocassette (34 min.) :

DANA 1611

Jericho 1997

A soldier flees from an unjust criminal conviction and is chased across Africa.

1 videocassette (75 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3445

Jericho (Dark sands) 1996

A soldier flees from an unjust criminal conviction.

1 videocassette (77 min.) :

DANA 851

John Wideman a conversation with John Wideman 1992

Wideman candidly discusses the dilemma of the committed African American intellectual torn between the urban underclass and a predominantly white, middle class literary audience. He writes because "African Americans have to carry alternative versions of reality in our heads and the model for doing that exists in art.".

1 videocassette (26 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 366 2-1975

Just another girl on the I.R.T 1993

Drama about a teenager coping with life in the projects and sustained by her fierce desire to go to college to become a doctor.

1 videocassette (96 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2644

Keep the faith, baby 2003

Based on the true story of Adam Clayton Powell, a larger-than-life wartime congressman with an unconventional style. He started out as a preacher, but with his passion for justice, he led an impressive two-decade career - shaking up Congress with his gutsy determination to spearhead a movement that aimed to make life better for African Americans everywhere. He was eventually thrown out of Congress on charges of misconduct.

1 videodisc (ca. 106 min.)

DANA 86

Killer of sheep 1978

The film is a moving portrait of Stan, a young black man employed in a Los Angeles slaughterhouse. His grueling work, gutting and cleaning the carcasses of dead sheep, infects his whole life, including his relationships with his wife, children and friends. Charles Burnett's compassionate and honest depiction of Stan's story suggests a vast social and historical experience beyond the individual hardship and tragedy of one person.

1 videocassette (79 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 854 2-1852

Lady sings the blues 2005

Diana Ross stars in this musical drama charting the life of Billie Holiday, a life tormented by racism and drug abuse.

1 videodisc (143 min.)

DANA MEDIA 264 2-1903

Langston Hughes his life and times 2003

Thought-provoking interviews with Alice Walker and Hughes biographer Arnold Rampersad.

1 videodisc (31 min.) :

DANA 27

The Learning tree 1987

A poignant story of a young black man's coming-of-age in Kansas during the 1920's.

1 videocassette (107 min.) :

DANA. DANA 588 588

A litany for survival the life and work of Audre Lorde 2006?

Audre Lorde, poet and lesbian-feminist talks about being lesbian and black in New York in the 1950s and her social/political activity. Includes conversations and readings by Lorde and comments by other writers and family members.

1 videodisc (52 min.)

MEDIA 10-787

Lorna Simpson 1996

Lorna Simpson explores the ambiguous ways words and images function together to create meaning.

1 videocassette (25 min.) :

MEDIA 2-6044

Lorraine Hansberry the Black experience in the creation of drama 1992

Traces the artistic growth and vision of the black playwright Lorraine Hansberry, largely in her own words and in her own voice. Describes the author's childhood in Chicago, student days at the University of Wisconsin, work as a journalist in Harlem, life as a housewife in Greenwich Village, and success on Broadway.

1 videocassette (35 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2612

Lost boundaries 1996

Based on the true story of a light-skinned black family who pass for white in a New Hampshire town.

1 videocassette (99 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1807

Love & basketball 2004

"From the playground to the pro leagues, Monica and Quijncy taught each other how to play the game. Now, their commitment to the sport will force them to make a choice between each other and the game ... between family and team ... between Love and Basketball"--Container.

1 videodisc (ca. 127 min.) :

DANA 444

Lying lips 1993

The story of a night club singer who is unjustly convicted and sent to prison for the murder of her aunt and the two men who set out to prove her innocence.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2742

Mahalia Jackson the power and the glory 1997

Biographical video of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, featuring the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Brother John Sellers and historian Studs Terkel.

1 videocassette (89 min.) :

DANA 1050

Mahogany 1991

"Ambitious young secretary becomes a high fashion model and world famous designer."--Container.

1 videocassette (109 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3933

Mama Flora's family 1998

Based on the epic story by 'Roots' author Alex Haley, this star powered miniseries is the sweeping chronicle of one family's unforgettable journey through the tragedies and triumphs of the 20th century.

1 videocassette (140 min.) :

DANA 1840

Marian Anderson 1991

A biography of Marian Anderson, a black classical singer.

1 videocassette (58 min.) :

DANA 499

Marian Anderson 1998

A biography of virtuosa Marian Anderson from the time she sang spirituals as a child at the Union Baptist Church in Philadelphia to the beginning of her classical career in Europe in the 1930's, her return to the United States, her eventual appearance at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1955 (the first black person to perform there), to her retirement in 1965, "a national treasure".

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

DANA 1655

Marian Anderson the story of the voice that broke barriers 1998

A biography of virtuosa Marian Anderson from the time she sang spirituals as a child at the Union Baptist Church in Philadelphia to the beginning of her classical career in Europe in the 1930's, her return to the United States, her eventual appearance at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1955 (the first black person to perform there), to her retirement in 1965, "a national treasure".

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

DANA 1055

Maya Angelou 1989

Angelou recites poetry, talks about the ability of the human spirit to rise up in the face of adversity, and reads an extract from "Singin' and swingin' and Gettin' merry like Christmas.".

1 videocassette (31 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2094

A meditation on Langston Hughes (1902-1907) and the Harlem Renaissance with the poetry of Essex Hemphill and Bruce Nugent (1906-1987) 1992

A surreal dramatization, including documentary film clips, of Langston Hughes' milieu in the Harlem of the 1930's. The voice-over narration is from the poetry and prose of James Baldwin, Essex Hamphill, Bruce Nugent, and Hilton Als.

1 videocassette (45 min.) :

DANA 865

Menace II society 1993

Directed by twin brothers this critically acclaimed cinematic masterpiece brilliantly details real life in today's tough inner city.

1 videocassette (104 min.) :

DANA 944

Midnight ramble Oscar Micheaux and the story of race movies 1994

A documentary recounting the history of the independent film industry that produced close to 500 "race movies" for African-American audiences between 1910 and 1940. Focuses especially on the work of Oscar Micheaux, a controversial filmmaker who wrote, produced, and directed over 40 features.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-4052

Midnight ramble Oscar Micheaux and the story of race movies 1994

Recounts the story of race movies produced for Afro-Americans from the 1920s through 1950 and the role played by Oscar Micheaux, the leading Afro-American producer and director. These movies were designed for Afro-Americans, were frequently shown at midnight, and presented Afro-Americans in a positive light. Features interviews with Afro-American actors, actresses, and historians.

1 videocassette (58 min.) :

DANA 1062

Mo' better blues 2000

Talented trumpeter Bleek Gilliam is obsessed by his music and indecisive about his girlfriends Indigo and Clarke. But when he is forced to come to the aid of his manager and childhood friend, Bleek finds his world more fragile than he ever imagined.

1 videodisc (140 min.)

DANA 313 v.3

Music and comedy masters 1996

A collection of comedy, jazz and musical shorts featuring the greatest names in Afro-American entertainment in some of their earliest filmed performances. Includes Cab Calloway, Bessie Smith, Lionel Hampton and other performers.

1 videocassette (75 min.) :

MEDIA 2-6193

Native son 1988

Richard Wright, Jean Wallace, Gloria Madison, Nicholas Joy, Willa Pearl Curtiss, Charles Cane. Richard Wright's novel stars the author as Bigger Thomas, a young black man who finds himself hopelessly caught in a web of political and economic oppression which lead him to commit acts of violence and passion.

1 videocassette (90 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1962

Native son 1994

Set in Chicago, Native son tells the story of Bigger Thomas, a young black man who accidentally murders his employer's daughter while performing his duties as chauffeur. The combined forces of institutional racism and condescending white liberalism pursue Thomas to an unhappy end. The author plays the leading role in this film version.

1 videocassette (91 min.) :

DANA 596

Native son 1996

Set in 1940 Chicago, "Native Son" tells the explosive story of a young poverty-stricken black man who obtains a job as a chauffeur to a wealthy white family. However, tragedy ensues when he accidentally kills his employer's daughter. Vainly trying to cover his act, the eventual discovery of his crime unleashes a savage manhunt fueled by racial hatred and the fury of a white society.

1 videocassette (ca. 111 min.) :

DANA 1041

Negroes with guns Rob Williams and Black Power 2005

Documentary "of Robert F. Williams, a Civil Rights fighter who dared to advocate armed self-defense against the racist terrorism of the Jim Crow South."--container.

1 videocassette (53 min.)

MEDIA 2-7259

New Jack City 1991

Gangster film about a young, rich, smart drug baron who thinks he's untouchable, and the tough, street-smart cops determined to bring him down.

1 videocassette (101 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2761

The "New Negro" arts movement 1998

Between WWI and WWII nearly 2 million blacks migrated to Harlem making it an exciting and culturally rich neighborhood. Although there was still much bigotry directed towards blacks it was the first time that America saw the potential for major art to come out of a great black community.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5111

No way out 1997

When a young African-American doctor operates on two white brothers brought in for gunshot wounds, it sets off a chain of violent confrontations between a vicious psychopath, his gang and the black community.

1 videocassette (106 min.) :

DANA MEDIA 1356 2-6200

Nothing but a man 198

Duff, a railroad section hand is forced to confront prejudice and self-denial when he falls in love with Josie, an educated preacher's daughter. Story centers around the young black couple as they struggle to live with dignity in a Southern community. The husband is unable to play the subservient role expected of him by both whites and blacks, and is branded as a troublemaker when he tries to maintain his self-respect.

1 videocassette (92 min.) :

MEDIA DANA 2-6426 445

Paul Robeson 1988

A videotaped play portraying the actor/singer Paul Robeson, whose political beliefs led to his passport being revoked by the U.S. government and his concerts being cancelled, virtually ending his career.

1 videocassette (118 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1248

Paul Robeson here I stand 1999

Presents the life and achievements of Paul Robeson, an athlete, singer, scholar and champion of the rights of the poor, disenfranchised and people of color.

1 videodisc (117 min.)

MEDIA 10-229

Paule Marshall 1994

"Paule Marshall, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, has said that the source of her art is the expressive talk she heard as a girl among the West Indian women in her mother's kitchen. Ms. Marshall...has written four novels and two collections of stories. On April 12, 1994, she read from Daughters and talked with Michael Silverblatt in Los Angeles."--Container.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

DANA 726

The Piano lesson 1998

In this story of an Afro-American family caught between their heritage and a dream for the future, the Charles family clashes over the fate of a magnificent, carved piano that carries their family's story from their days as slaves. Boy Willie wants to sell the piano to buy a farm--the same fields their family worked as slaves. But his sister, Berniece, refuses to part with it. For her, the piano is their very soul, a legacy of pride and struggle that symbolizes their survival as a family.

1 videocassette (104 min.) :

DANA. DANA 975 975

Pinky 1994

Pinky, a black woman who works as a nurse in Boston, finds that she is able to pass for white. Afraid her true heritage will be discovered, she leaves her white fiance and returns home to Mississippi where she helps her grandmother care for her employer, an imperious plantation owner. When she names Pinky heiress to her estate, the community rises in resentment triggering a sensational court trial. Subject of a landmark Supreme Court case in film censorship, this moving story became itself a battle for human rights.

1 videocassette (102 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3733

Porgy and Bess an American voice 1999

"A center of controversy over its portrayal of African-Americans since its debut, Porgy and Bess has thrived amidst a changing social climate for more than 60 years. This extraordinary program, narrated by Ruby Dee, chronicles the history of George and Ira Gershwin's uniquely American folk opera, set against the backdrop of America's turbulent struggle to resolve its racial inequities. Academic experts address the still-volatile racial aspects of the work, while octogenarian Anne Brown, the original Bess, and other illustrious alumni and noted literary figures including Leontyne Price, William Warfield, Diahann Carroll, and Maya Angelou are featured in interviews and eloquent performance clips."--Container.

1 videocassette (84 min.) :

DANA. DANA. MUSIC 1405 1405 441

Posse 1993

Western about a mostly black posse who do battle with a pompous, racist colonel, and a vicious white sheriff who wants to take over a peaceful black frontier settlement.

1 videocassette (113 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2760

Power of the African-American playwright 1991

Includes excerpts from Raisin in the sun, Purlie Victorious, and The colored museum.

1 videocassette (15 min.) :

DANA 1371

Praise house 1991

The visual images presented in this film illustrate "spirituality and the gift of artistry in three generations of African-American women"--Prologue.

1 videocassette (28 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5068

Present and future direction of African-American theatre 1991

Includes excerpts from the plays Fences and The colored museum.

1 videocassette (ca. 15 min.) :

DANA 1372

Putney Swope 1995

A comical satire which charts the rise and fall of a Madison Avenue advertising agency previously controlled by Whites which is taken over by Blacks who are dedicated to the downfall of the White Establishment. The picture is mostly a parade of vignettes, dealing with people and campaigns of the advertising world.

1 videocassette (85 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3589

A Raisin in the sun 1987

Film of the award-winning play about a struggling black family living on Chicago's South Side and the impact of an unexpected insurance bequest. Each family member sees the bequest as the means of realizing dreams and of escape from grinding frustrations.

1 videocassette (128 min.) :

MEDIA DANA MEDIA 10-90 1040 2-1415

Richard Wright, black boy 1994

The life and influence of writer Richard Wright are shown through interviews with his biographers and critics interspersed with dramatic scenes from his life and writings.

1 videocassette (86 min. 40 sec.) :

DANA. MEDIA 447 2-2620

Richard Wright writing is his weapon 1995

Discusses the life, work, and ideas of the black American novelist Richard Wright.

1 videocassette (25 min.) :

DANA. DANA 557 557

Robert Colescott the one-two punch 1992

Robert Colescott's artwork is viewed and discussed. Robert Colescott discusses aspects of his life as well as his artwork. Gallery owner Phyllis Kind, two art historians and an editor of ARTS Magazine discuss Colescott's artwork also.

1 videocassette (ca. 28 min.) :

ART 1

Sankofa 1993

"Sankofa, an Akan word meaning 'one must return to the past in order to move forward,' is the story about the transformation of Mona, a self-possessed African-American woman sent on a spiritual journey in time to experience the pain of slavery and the discovery of her African identity"--Container.

1 videocassette (125 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 586 2-2598

Scar of shame 1993

In no film was the racial theme more apparent than in this story about an ill-matched marriage between a black concert pianist and a poor, lower class young black woman. Secretly ashamed of her, the young man keeps his wife hidden from his socially-prominent middle-class mother. Despite the melodrama, it is a strong statement on the issues of class and the color caste system which existed within the African-American community, as well as probing questions of ambition and authority.

1 videocassette (90 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2348

School daze 1988

A music-filled, off-beat contemporary comedy that takes an unforgettable look at black college life.

1 videocassette (114 min) :

DANA, MEDIA 590, 2-664

Sharing the dream Brian Lanker photographs Black women who changed America 1992

Pulitzer prize-winning photographer Brian Lanker shares the elements of his two-year project photographing 75 great Black women. The program details how he obtained grant funding, gained access to his subjects and guided the work into both a book (I dream a world) and a show at the Corcoran Gallery.

1 videocassette (45 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2297

Sizwe Bansi is dead 1978

Discusses stylization, avant-gardism, black theatre, and realism using Athol Fugard's play Sizwe Bansi is dead.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 558 2-1762

Song of freedom 1994

Robeson portrays a successful concert singer in England who discovers he is the descendant of a West African queen whose tribe is now in need of a leader. He returns to the home of his ancestors; the island of Casanga off the coast of Africa. However, following his arrival conflict erupts over his claim to royalty.

1 videocassette (80 min.) :

DANA 595

Sonia Sanchez 1991

Sonia Sanchez, poet, teacher, and activist, reads from her books Homegirls and Handgrenades and Under a Soprano Sky, talks to students at Georgetown University, and is interviewed by poet Lewis Mac Adams.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

DANA 727

Sonia Sanchez wear the new day well! 1991

Sonia Sanchez, poet, teacher, and activist, reads from her books and tells about her life. The impact on her of the civil rights movement in the 1960s and the MOVE incident in Philadelphia is discussed.

1 videocassette (ca. 30 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3046

Sounder 1988

The story of a black sharecropper family's struggle in Louisiana during the depession. Paun Winfield in desperation steals food for his family and goes to prison. Cecily Tyson keeps the family together with love, security and strength while he is in prison.

1 videocassette (105 min.) :

MEDIA DANA 2-692 1010

St. Louis blues 198

A gambling, philandering husband cheats on his long-suffering, loving wife, and takes her money.

1 videocassette (15 min.) :

MEDIA D-252

Super fly 1992

Tale of a Harlem drug dealer, Priest, who wants out of cocaine-dealing but a drug kingpin does not want Priest to stop. He sets up one last big drug deal before he retires, but is thwarted by double-crossers, murder and revenge.

1 videocassette (93 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3185

Sweet Sweetback's baadasssss song 1989

A reverse racist blaxploitation film that has Van Peebles on the run from the police after he kills two cops who were beating up on a black man.

1 videocassette (97 min.) :

MEDIA DANA 2-1344 654

Swing 199

A musical with plot built around the music which is performed from Alabama to New York (Harlem).

1 videocassette (ca. 70 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2738

Ten nights in a bar-room 1996

Story of a well-respected man who avoids the local saloon until by chance he succumbs to drink and his life falls apart.

1 videocassette (72 min.) :

MEDIA 2-6199

That's Black entertainment 1996

2 videocassettes (ca. 106 min.) :

DANA. DANA 1190 cassette 2 1190 cassette1

That's black entertainment 2006

"That's Black Entertainment" is a fascinating three-part series that showcases the groundbreaking work of African American talent during the early years of Black cinema.

3 videodiscs (ca. 420 min.)

MEDIA 10-865

Toni Morrison a conversation with Toni Morrison 1992

This video introduces one of the most widely acclaimed contemporary American writers--Toni Morrison. A leading figure in the in the movement for a new multicultural American literary canon, she explains that "American literature is incoherent without the contributions of African Americans.".

1 videocassette (25 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 388 2-1972

Toni Morrison a writer's work 1994

In this interview with Bill Moyers from the New York Public Library, Morrison discusses the characters in her work, the people in her life, the power of love, and how the invented world of fiction connects to life.

1 videocassette (52 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2965

Two gun man from Harlem 1938

A singing cowboy wrongfully framed for murder ends up in Harlem. He assumes the identity of a look-alike murdered gangster and joins a gang to catch the men who framed him.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-6198

Uncle Tom's cabin 1987

Film adaptation of Stowe's novel about slavery in the antebellum South that fueled much of the abolitionist debate.

1 videocassette (108 min.) :

MEDIA DANA 2-3833 1030

Uncle Tom's cabin (2 versions, 1903 & 1914) the earliest verions of H.B. Stowe's classic 1996

The earliest film versions of Harriet Beecher Stowe's classic novel. Both films explore the story of Tom, Simon Legree, oppressed slaves, and life in the antebellum South. Music added.

1 videocassette (ca. 61 min.) :

MEDIA 2-6191

Underworld 199

A young Black man who recently graduated from a Southern college is presuaded to come to Chicago with a gambler. He travels in Black underworld circles, falls for a vamp and is framed for murder before finding a better life.

1 videocassette (83 min.) :

MEDIA 2-6195

Visions of the spirit a portrait of Alice Walker 1988

Explores the roots of Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker's Southern Black feminist consciousness through in-depth conversations with the writer and members of her family .

1 videocassette (58 min.) :

MEDIA 2-712

Voices of power 2000

This program examines the emergence of African-American women as popular and powerful voices of social conscience.

1 videocassette (29 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5308

Waiting to exhale 1996

The story of four African-American women who journey through a modern labyrinth of husbands and lovers, jobs and makeovers.

1 videocassette (129 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3084

Wattstax 2004

On Aug. 20, 1972, more than 100,000 people attended a concert that came to be known as 'the Black Woodstock.' Wattstax documents this historic event and includes the once-lost original ending.

1 videodisc (103 min.)

MEDIA 10-579

What's love got to do with it 1994

The turbulent relationship of Ike and Tina Turner eventually forces Tina to leave and find the courage to believe in herself.

1 videocassette (118 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3929

Zora is my name! 2003

Dramatiization of the life of Zora Neale Hurston, who wrote of the folklore of the rural south.

1 videocassette (88 min.) :

DANA 1813

Zora Neale Hurston jump at the sun 2008

A biography of African American author and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, the first black woman to enter the American literary canon.

1 videodisc (83 min.) :

MEDIA 10-1408

Bachelorette, 34 2009

Kara Herold, Monica Nolan, Alice Herold, and New Day Films

"Kara's mother is obsessed with getting her daughter married. But Kara, a single artist and filmmaker in San Francisco, has her doubts. Through the microcosm of her often hilarious interactions with her mom, Kara Herold's Bachelorette, 34 examines the pressure society puts on women to find 'Mr. Right.'" -- Container. 1 videodisc (33 min.)

MEDIA 10-1988

 

A changing heart 2002 and 2004

Leigh M Devine, Devinepix (Firm), and Filmakers Library, inc

"A Changing Heart (52 min.) takes an intimate look at how the Japanese, in a mere century, have come to adopt love as a rationale for marriage. By examining the changing roles of women, the shape of families, the impact of World War II, as well as industrialization and the decline of tradition, we can understand how the Japanese, and perhaps even other cultures, could accept new attitudes toward love and marriage. The film looks chronologically at how arranged marriage evolved and then reveals how this change has left people in Japan today, as they face the quest of looking for a partner. The consequences of this evolution turn out to unleash unexpected quandaries to both individuals and society as a whole"--Http://www.globalfilmnetwork.net. 1 videodisc (52 min.)

MEDIA 10-1882

 

City walls my own private Tehran 2008?

Afsar Sonia Shafie, Martin Frei, Hugofilm (Firm), Schweizer Fernsehen DRS, Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgesellschaft, and Filmakers Library, inc

This film looks at three generations of women in an Iranian family and their struggles for survival within marriages founded on Iranian traditions. 1 videodisc (52 min.)

MEDIA 10-1948

 

Closer to home c2004

Joseph Nobile, Ruben Arthur Nicdao, John Michael Bolger, Madeline Ortaliz, Elibon Film Productions, and Metropolis DVD (Firm)

"Joseph Nobile's Closer to Home weaves a universal, haunting tale of two people inexorably drawn together for vastly different reasons. Dalisay struggles to journey from the Philippine countryside to New York City to marry Dean, a disillusioned ex-merchant marine. She's hoping to buy a cure for her dying sister and, ultimately, a future for her debt-ridden family, while he hopes to escape his disintegrating American family through love and a family of his own. A powerful, controversial film that quietly builds to a shattering collision of aspirations and cultures"--Container. 1 videodisc (125 min.)

MEDIA 10-1640

 

The fall of womenland c2009

Xiaodan He, Martin Doepner, Nathalie Baroud, Ciné-Frontičre (Firm), and Cinema Guild

A documentary on the unique sexual culture of the Mosuo people, a small minority situated in the southwest of China, and one of the last remaining matriarchal societies in the world. Without a formal marriage contract, the Mosuo traditionally build relationships based on free love and sexual satisfaction ("walking marriages"). But can the sexual liberty and power of the Mosuo women survive as modern Chinese society slowly encroaches their ancestral land? The film explores the present reality for the Mosuo people as well as the dangers that threaten their inherited way of life--Container. 1 videodisc (46 min.) :

MEDIA 10-2413

 

For the best and for the onion! 2010

Elhadj Magori Sani, Sylviane Chirouze, Adalios (Firm), Dangarama (Firm), and Icarus Films

"Agriculture is key to the local economy in Niger, with Galmi onions prized throughout West Africa. ... Farmer Yaro's daughter Salamatou is betrothed to Adamou.  The couple hope to marry soon, but after each harvest - much to his future son-in-law's frustration - Yaro postpones the wedding yet again.  He says he wants his daughter to be married with dignity, and that means having enough money to pay for all the expenses tradition demands.  As the growing season progresses, Yaro is under increasing pressure to finally set a date for the wedding.  Meanwhile, the market price of onions begins a rapid downward slide and the engaged couple come up with a solution to speed their marriage."--Container. 1 videodisc (52 min.) :

MEDIA 10-2430

 

Freedom to marry c2005

This upbeat, humorous and moving documentary highlights the turn of events on February 12, 2004, when Mayor Gavin Newsom began allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry at San Francisco City Hall.  Interviews with seven long-term same-sex couples recount the joy of their relationship and/or marriage and the pain of living in a society that has failed to recognize them as devoted, loving human beings. Contains March 2005 update. 1 videodisc (56 min.)

MEDIA 10-3926

 

Gay rights, marriage, and the Supreme Court c2003

Ted Koppel and ABC News

"This ABC News program uses the landmark Lawrence v. Texas case and the legalization of gay marriage in Canada to shed light on the future of gay marriage in the U.S. Changing attitudes toward homosexuality in general are addressed as well"--Container. 1 videodisc (21 min.)

MEDIA 10-309

 

Kira's reason a love story 2003?

Bo Ehrhardt, Ole Christian Madsen, Brigitte Hald, Morten Kaufman, Stine Stengade, Lars Mikkelsen, Nimbus Films, Zentropa Productions (Firm), DRTV Drama, Dogme 95 (Group), and First-Run Features (Firm)

Kira and her husband and two children have a secure and comfortable life until Kira inexplicably develops a psychiatric disorder that eventually commits her to a hospital. On being discharged, Kira tries to return to the normality of her previous life but discovers that Mads has had an affair during her hospitalization. 1 videodisc (94 min.)

MEDIA 10-928

 

Lesbian grandmothers from Mars c2005

Keith Wilson and Walleye Productions

Story of life partners and grandmothers Carrie & Elisia Ross-Stone and their three-month bicycle trek across the United States. The purpose of the trek was to raise support for gay marriage, and this documentary details the highs and lows they experienced along the way. 1 videodisc (72 min.)

MEDIA 10-1584

 

Lines of tribe interracial relationships in the 21st century 2011

"Lines of Tribe will look through both ends of the telescope, at once taking a broad view of human history and a narrow view of the experiences of people living today, in the first decade of the 21st century. Through additional insight from people involved in mixed race relationships, as well as children of mixed race parents, the ground breaking film will reveal the human story of people who are undergoing what is perhaps the most significant change in the evolution of the human race "--Container. 1 videodisc (94 min.)

MEDIA 10-3930

 

Love stories women, men & romance 2011

Richard Broadman, Janice Gray, Cine Research Associates, and Documentary Educational Resources (Firm)

A history of the relationship between men and women beginning in Victorian times and ending with a portrait of today's conflicting society in which old and new values clash, fueling debates over lifestyle and sex roles. 1 videodisc (87 min.):

MEDIA 10-3501

 

Mariage tardif Late marriage 2002

Dover Kosashvili, Edgard Tenembaum, Marek Rozenbaum, Lior Ashkenazi, and Ronit Elkabetz

"Zaza is a 31-year old Israeli bachelor, handsome and intelligent, and his family wants to see him married. But tradition dictates that Zaza has to choose a young virgin, preferably rich. Zaza's parents, Yasha and Lily drag Zaza to meet potential brides and their families. He plays along with his family, advocates of the suffocating traditions of their Georgian Jewish heritage. . . . What his parents don't know is that Zaza is already in love."  IMDB. 1 videodisc  (100 min.)

MEDIA 10-168

 

Marriage equality Byron Rushing and the fight for fairness 2011

"Archival footage and photos are interwoven with contemporary interviews to illuminate the pivotal Massachusetts state constitutional convention on same sex marriage and connecting the lesbian and gay marriage equality movement with the black civil rights movement. At the center of the story is ... Byron Rushing, a man of strong faith and a veteran of the civil rights movement who took the campaign for same sex marriage into African American communities."--Container. 1 videodisc (17 min.)

MEDIA 10-4273

 

A married couple 2010

A documentary focusing on the relationship between Billy and Antoinette Edwards, an eccentric married couple, also capturing a time in which long-existing gender roles were beginning to dissolve. 1 videodisc (96 min.)

MEDIA 10-5573

 

The Politics of love in black and white 1993

In this documentary college students talk about interracial relationships, about the racial legacy they have inherited from the fears of past generations and their current experiences and attitudes both pro and con concerning interracial dating and marriage.  1 videocassette (32 min.)

MEDIA 10-3547

 

Seńora de Nadia Nobody's wife c2003

Lita Stantic, Maria Luisa Bemberg, Luisina Brando, Rodolfo Ranni, Julio Chávez, Gabriela Acher, Susú Pecoraro, China Zorrilla, GEA Cinematografica S.A, Cinemateca (Firm), Condor Media (Firm), and Facets Video (Firm)

Leonor is living the good life: a husband, two kids, a comfortable home. But when she discovers her husband is cheating on her, that life collapses. Leonor flees the world she knows, finds a new job and begins to meet new men. From a distance, she cautiously observes her children. 1 videodisc (98 min.)

MEDIA 10-937

 

Vendredi soir Friday night c2003

Bruno Pesery, Claire Denis, Valaerie Lemercier, Vincent Lindon, Graegoire Colin, Haelaene Filliaeres, Arena Films (Firm) , France 2 cinaema (Firm), France taelaevision, Studio Canal+, Centre national de la cinaematographie (France), and Wellspring Media

It's Friday night in Paris. Laure has just finished packing her apartment, she is moving in tomorrow with her boyfriend. She leaves to go to dinner with friends and gets stuck in the middle of a mass transit strike which has thrown the city into chaos. As Laure takes in the sights and sounds of the city, a stranger approaches the car. She opens the door to the man, who in a single night, will change her life forever. 1 videodisc (ca. 90 min.)

MEDIA 10-1446

 

Who gives kisses freely from her lips 2009

Simin Farkhondeh, Shahrazad Productions (Firm), and Newsreel (Firm)

A film using mixing documentary with fiction to tell the story of Salomé, a filmmaker who travels to Iran, determined to make a film on the practice of temporary marriage, known as "sigheh". A taboo subject in Iranian culture, the filmmaker records insightful interviews with couples who are or have been involved in temporary marriage arrangements. The film looks at the complexity of the Shia Islamic institution, specifically the cultural beliefs and contradictions it presents. 1 videodisc (41 min.) :

MEDIA 10-2539

 

And thereafter c2003

Hosup Lee, Hyun-Ock Im, Filmakers Library, inc, and Docu-Eye Production

Seventy-six year-old Young-Ja Wike is one of 10,000 Korean women who married American G.I.'s after the Korean War. For these women marriage was the only escape from the crushing poverty of post-war Korea. Now "Grandma" lives in south New Jersey with her husband. Never having learned to speak English fluently, she is isolated from the community and her family as well. 1 videocassette (56 min.)

MEDIA 2-6963

 

Arab diaries: Episode 3: Love & marriage c2000

Deborah Davies, Daoud Kuttab, Ilan Ziv, Tamouz Media, and First Run/Icarus Films

Tells the stories of people confronting obstacles to their personal relationships and happiness in Algeria and Lebanon. 1 videocassette (ca. 26 min.)

MEDIA 2-6728

 

Baby, it's you 1997

Anne Makepeace

Documents the experiences of the filmmaker and her husband as they attempt to concieve a child through intensive fertility procedures. Explores the reasons why the filmmaker and her siblings chose not to have children until middle age. 1 videocassette (56 min.)

MEDIA 2-5736

 

A changing heart 2002 and 2004

Leigh M Devine, Devinepix (Firm), and Filmakers Library, inc

"A Changing Heart (52 min.) takes an intimate look at how the Japanese, in a mere century, have come to adopt love as a rationale for marriage. By examining the changing roles of women, the shape of families, the impact of World War II, as well as industrialization and the decline of tradition, we can understand how the Japanese, and perhaps even other cultures, could accept new attitudes toward love and marriage. The film looks chronologically at how arranged marriage evolved and then reveals how this change has left people in Japan today, as they face the quest of looking for a partner. The consequences of this evolution turn out to unleash unexpected quandaries to both individuals and society as a whole"--Http://www.globalfilmnetwork.net. 1 videodisc (52 min.)

MEDIA 10-1882

 

Child brides 1998

Gill Barnes and Toyin Fani-Koyode

This program travels to the most rural and poverty-stricken regions of Ethiopia to expose the common practice of child brides and the consequences for the young girls who often give birth before they are out of childhood. 1 videocassette (51 min.)

MEDIA 2-5099

 

Chore wars the battle over who cleans the toilet 1995

Kathy Garneau and Lauren Davis

A discussion on who does the housework in Canadian families and the determination of sex roles and responsibilities. 1 videocassette (48 min.)

MEDIA 2-2896

 

City walls my own private Tehran 2008?

Afsar Sonia Shafie, Martin Frei, Hugofilm (Firm), Schweizer Fernsehen DRS, Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgesellschaft, and Filmakers Library, inc

This film looks at three generations of women in an Iranian family and their struggles for survival within marriages founded on Iranian traditions. 1 videodisc (52 min.) :

MEDIA 10-1948

 

Clinical dilemmas in marriage the search for equal partnership 1993

Gerry Cullen, Betty Carter, and Stephen Lerner

Examines the institution of marriage, instead of focusing primarily on problems of particular spouses. Excerpts from two marital cases clearly illustrate questions and interventions in the sensitive areas of gender,money and power. 1 videocassette (45 min.)

MEDIA 2-3367

 

Closer to home c2004

Joseph Nobile, Ruben Arthur Nicdao, John Michael Bolger, Madeline Ortaliz, Elibon Film Productions, and Metropolis DVD (Firm)

"Joseph Nobile's Closer to Home weaves a universal, haunting tale of two people inexorably drawn together for vastly different reasons. Dalisay struggles to journey from the Philippine countryside to New York City to marry Dean, a disillusioned ex-merchant marine. She's hoping to buy a cure for her dying sister and, ultimately, a future for her debt-ridden family, while he hopes to escape his disintegrating American family through love and a family of his own. A powerful, controversial film that quietly builds to a shattering collision of aspirations and cultures"--Container. 1 videodisc (125 min.)

MEDIA 10-1640

 

Divorce Iranian style 1998

Kim Longinotto, Ziba Mir-Hosseini, and Joanna Rosenthall

Look inside an Iranian divorce court shows how women are treated under Islamic law. 1 videocassette (80 min.)

MEDIA 2-3800

 

Dreaming rivers 1988

Martina Attille, Corinne Skinner Carter, Stefan Kalipha, Angela Wynter, Sankofa Film & Video, and Women Make Movies (Firm)

After the death of their mother, who emigrated to England from St. Lucia to be with their father, two sisters and a brother of white English and Black Caribbean parentage attempt to fathom her psyche, her homesickness and depression after their father left the family, and their own ambiguous sense of identity and belonging. 1 videocassette (30 min.)

MEDIA 2-7332

 

Duka's dilemma a visit to Hamar, Southern Ethiopia c2001

Jean Lydall, Kaira Strecker, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, and Documentary Educational Resources (Firm)

Duka is married, the mother of five young children and living in Hamar, Southern Ethiopia. Since her husband married a beautiful, young, second wife, Duka has been in a state of emotional turmoil. Personal and intimate, the film follows this family in crisis. 1 videocassette (87 min.)

MEDIA 2-6429

 

Gay rights, marriage, and the Supreme Court c2003

Ted Koppel and ABC News

"This ABC News program uses the landmark Lawrence v. Texas case and the legalization of gay marriage in Canada to shed light on the future of gay marriage in the U.S. Changing attitudes toward homosexuality in general are addressed as well"--Container. 1 videodisc (21 min.)

MEDIA 10-309

 

Gender and relationships male-female differences in love and marriage c2002

Dane Archer, Nonverbal Workshop, University of California (System), and Extension Center for Media and Independent Learning

Explores the differences in the ways that men and women experience the love relationship. Examines ways to make a relationship work better for both men and women. 1 videocassette (44 min.)

MEDIA 2-6496

 

Hedersmord Honourable murder 1999

Mats Billberg Johansson, Lena Pettersson, Peter Löfgren, and Emil Larsson

Examines the cultural tradition that makes women the talisman of family honor and the practice of atoning for "dishonor" with their blood.  Provides an in-depth analysis of Middle East culture that is slowly changing as it overcomes centuries of tradition. 1 videocassette (57 min.)

MEDIA 2-5098

 

Hmong, one wife is not enough 2002

Noel Lee

Film explores the issue of Hmong polygamy, its origin, why it was practiced and why some still practice it. 1 videocassette (29 min.)

MEDIA 2-2368

 

Ikwe 1986

Norma Bailey, Geraint Wyn-Daview, Hazel King, Gladys Yang, and Patrick Bruyere

Ikwe, a Canadian Ojibwa woman is given by her tribe in marriage to an ambitious Scots fur trader who does not respect her cultural values. 1 videocassette (57 min.)

MEDIA 2-5823

 

In het huis van mijn vader In my father's house 1997

Fatima Jebli Ouazzani, Marty De Jong, and Naima Tawila Hamza Savalooni Helia Seddiki

Moroccan filmmaker Fatima Jebli Ouazzani investigates the status accorded women in Islamic marriage customs and the continuing importance of virginity. 1 videocassette (67 min.)

MEDIA 2-5677

 

The Joy that kills 1988

Tina Rathborne, Sue Jett, Tony Mark, Frances Conroy, Elizabeth Franz, Jeffrey De Munn, Lee Richardson, Rosalind Cash, and Kate Chopin

The story of a woman in the upper class Creole society which dominated New Orleans in the 1870s, a world with a strict code of behavior one of whose strongest tenets required a wife to subordinate her will and her very being to her husband. 1 videocassette (56 min.)

MEDIA 2-476

 

Kira's reason a love story 2003?

Bo Ehrhardt, Ole Christian Madsen, Brigitte Hald, Morten Kaufman, Stine Stengade, Lars Mikkelsen, Nimbus Films, Zentropa Productions (Firm), DRTV Drama, Dogme 95 (Group), and First-Run Features (Firm)

Kira and her husband and two children have a secure and comfortable life until Kira inexplicably develops a psychiatric disorder that eventually commits her to a hospital. On being discharged, Kira tries to return to the normality of her previous life but discovers that Mads has had an affair during her hospitalization. 1 videodisc (94 min.)

MEDIA 10-928

 

Lesbian grandmothers from Mars c2005

Keith Wilson and Walleye Productions

Story of life partners and grandmothers Carrie & Elisia Ross-Stone and their three-month bicycle trek across the United States. The purpose of the trek was to raise support for gay marriage, and this documentary details the highs and lows they experienced along the way. 1 videodisc (72 min.)

MEDIA 10-1584

 

Let's get married 2002

Ben Loeterman, Alex Kotlowitz, WGBH Educational Foundation, and WGBH (Television station : Boston, Mass.)

In this video, correspondent Alex Kotlowitz takes a look at the modern marriage movement. 1 videocassette (60 min.)

MEDIA 2-6803

 

The lost warriors a bride's story 2001

Ben Ulum

This segment provides an introduction to the Afar by recording two major life events: the arranged marriage of a most reluctant bride and the initiation of a nervous would-be warrior. 1 videocassette (54 min.)

MEDIA 2-1814

 

Mamadrama the Jewish mother in cinema 2001

Monique Schwarz

"A unique exploration of the maligned mother figure in Jewish twentieth century culture"--Container. 1 videocassette (52 min.)

MEDIA 2-5615

 

Mariage tardif Late marriage 2002

Dover Kosashvili, Edgard Tenembaum, Marek Rozenbaum, Lior Ashkenazi, and Ronit Elkabetz

"Zaza is a 31-year old Israeli bachelor, handsome and intelligent, and his family wants to see him married. But tradition dictates that Zaza has to choose a young virgin, preferably rich. Zaza's parents, Yasha and Lily drag Zaza to meet potential brides and their families. He plays along with his family, advocates of the suffocating traditions of their Georgian Jewish heritage. . . . What his parents don't know is that Zaza is already in love."  IMDB. 1 videodisc  (100 min.)

MEDIA 10-168

 

Marrying 1991

Mischa Scorer, Patrick Lui, and Anthony Quayle

In the small villages of China, tradition dies hard when it comes to marriage. Family plays a critical role in the long-established rituals associated with the ceremony. 1 videocassette (29 min.)

MEDIA 2-2320

 

Mediating 1991

Peter Montagnon, Patrick Lui, Anthony Quayle, and Mike Chinoy

In this program, a neighborhood mediating committee (there are 800,000 in China) tries to get an estranged husband and wife to stop divorce proceedings--apparently caused by the birth of a female child. 1 videocassette (29 min.)

MEDIA 2-2323

 

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus advanced relationship skills 1994

John Gray and Houston Winn

John Gray shares his entertaining and valuable insights on the differences between men and women, and how to improve communication and build fulfilling relationships. 1 videocassette  (ca. 90 min.)

DANA 1087

 

Miami Havana 1992

Estela Bravo, Sandy Balfour, Julio Alom, and Corinna Chute

This video discusses how the relationship between the United States and Cuba has affected Cuban families separated by the political conflict. It includes interviews of children from Cuban families and senior citizens in both the United States and Cuba. 1 videocassette (52 min.)

MEDIA 2-3274

 

Not together now end of a marriage 1974

Alvin Fiering and Miriam Weinstein

Sheldon and Barbara Renan in separate, informal interviews talk about the breakup of their marriage, why they had married, their perceptions of each other, their feelings of separateness and being alone, and their considerations for their three children. Emphasizes one woman's experience of marriage and divorce. 1 videocassette (25 min.)

MEDIA D-78

 

One wedding and a. . .revolution 2004

Debra Chasnoff, National Center for Lesbian Rights (U.S.), Women's Educational Media, Inc, and New Day Films

February 12, 2004, the mayor of San Francisco instructed city and county officials to allow lesbian and gay couples to marry. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, founders of the first lesbian-rights organization and celebrating their 51st anniversary, were invited to be the first couple married. 1 videocassette (19 min.)

MEDIA 2-6886

 

Pahli & Bee marriage of abuse 2002

Va-Megn Thoj, Sonja Mee Lor, Teng Xiong, and Zong Kang Yang

A dramatization to illustrate an abusive marriage within the Hmong American community which was based on true events. 1 videocassette (29 min.)

MEDIA 2-2362

 

Sex and marriage 1994, 1983

Kate Porter Lewis

Examines the unique marital customs of different societies around the world. 1 videocassette (VHS) (28 min.)

MEDIA 2-3806

 

Seńora de Nadia Nobody's wife c2003

Lita Stantic, Maria Luisa Bemberg, Luisina Brando, Rodolfo Ranni, Julio Chávez, Gabriela Acher, Susú Pecoraro, China Zorrilla, GEA Cinematografica S.A, Cinemateca (Firm), Condor Media (Firm), and Facets Video (Firm)

Leonor is living the good life: a husband, two kids, a comfortable home. But when she discovers her husband is cheating on her, that life collapses. Leonor flees the world she knows, finds a new job and begins to meet new men. From a distance, she cautiously observes her children. 1 videodisc (98 min.)

MEDIA 10-937

 

Vendredi soir Friday night c2003

Bruno Pesery, Claire Denis, Valaerie Lemercier, Vincent Lindon, Graegoire Colin, Haelaene Filliaeres, Arena Films (Firm) , France 2 cinaema (Firm), France taelaevision, Studio Canal+, Centre national de la cinaematographie (France), and Wellspring Media

It's Friday night in Paris. Laure has just finished packing her apartment, she is moving in tomorrow with her boyfriend. She leaves to go to dinner with friends and gets stuck in the middle of a mass transit strike which has thrown the city into chaos. As Laure takes in the sights and sounds of the city, a stranger approaches the car. She opens the door to the man, who in a single night, will change her life forever. 1 videodisc (ca. 90 min.)

MEDIA 10-1446

 

Women and men unglued marriage and relationaships in the 21st century 2004

Katherine Gilday, National Film Board of Canada, TVOntario, and Films for the Humanities & Sciences (Firm)

This program looks at changing contemporary gender relations and expectation. Focuses on issues such as dating, marriage, money, parenting, romantic love, feminism, and committment. 1 videocassette (87 min.)

MEDIA 2-7018