M&A African-American Films

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130 hours of daily newsreel from May 1956 to September 1959 touches many subjects in the civil rights struggle and other themes of the period. Included are stories featuring the following personalities and issues.

· Martin Luther King, Jr. Birmingham, near assassination

· Ghana's independence

· Althea Gibson

· Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

· Thurgood Marshall

· Little Rock school crisis of Fall 1957

· Little Rock legal battle in Fall 1958

· Ku Klux Klan rallies and other racist pronouncements

· Jackie Robinson

· school integration crises in Clinton, Tennessee in 1956-57 and in Virginia schools in 1958-9

· Fred Shuttlesworth

· Prayer Pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. in May 1957

· Congressional attempt to pass a civil rights bill in 1958

· Wilt Chamberlain

· lynching in Poplarville, Mississippi in 1959

· Roy Wilkins

· general school integration problems

· housing integration problems

· beating of black man by white racists

· Plus, many other news stories from 1956-59

Newsreels, 1956-1959

1956

23) Herman Talmadge of Georgia will run for Senate speaks re courts and desegregation—against Supreme Court directives as undermining Southern way of life anti-civil rights

17) House Committee on Un-American Activities just voted to cite Paul Robeson for contempt of Congress HUAC leader speaks blasts Robeson's attitude and testimony

4) Southern governor speaks re effect of Democratic platform and candidate in the South

28) U.S. Attorney General Herbert Brownell re educational defeat speaks re segregated schools rejects Powell amendment compelling desegregation Brownell favors deliberate speed

22) Harriman in North Carolina to sell himself as acceptable to Southerners mentions Brown vs. Board of Education as "law of the land" and explains the decision

16) Sports Athelia Gibson wins tennis championship (S)

19) Ku Klux Klan cross-burning man speaks to KKK before flaming cross

32) Southern Democratic governors unity meeting governor of Georgia says civil rights plank will destroy the Democratic party

7) Adlai Stevenson re how convention is shaping up confident but does not know on what ballot he will win nomination asked re civil rights plank of Democratic platform backs Supreme Court decision as law to be followed

14) Chicago: Hubert Humphrey arrives sign wavers Segue to HHH press conference where he is asked re relationship with Stevenson he supports Stevenson's civil rights position

15) Chicago: Kentucky governor "Happy" Chandler arrives critical of Stevenson's liberal civil rights position he does not think Adlai can win

2) Harriman re civil rights plank in Democratic platform prefers Republican position clowns in the streets of Chicago

6) Chicago picketers demand Negro rights rip Richard Daley caricaturist draws delegates pictures pretty blonde shaves old Democrat Harry Truman in audience speaks—he will support whomever convention nominates (but he favors Harriman ) HST says "Democrats will get together and kick out that gang in Washington that's robbing the country." John Kennedy at podium

9) Duke Ellington promotional film hypes Duke Time magazine cover for Duke

16) Democratic convention civil rights speech by Speaker McCormack who endorses Supreme Court ruling blasts interference in its enforcement condemns Republican Party Senator Herbert Lehmann calls it "America's problem" says "discrimination is intolerable" Truman speaks to convention from the viewing stands

14) Mr. Ritter re what will happen to Arlington, Virginia public schools if the state withholds funds because school integrates feels community would support the schools even without state aid

16) Women’s track meet woman from Penn State wins broad jump black woman shot put and discus (Willie White?)

35) Black lawyer named Reynolds unable to enroll black children in Mansfield High School today, thwarted by white crowd will try next week

36) Ku Klux Klan cross burning w hooded men (S)

37) Political News: convention of Constitutional Party in Texas Confederate flags, no U.N., no taxes

38) Virginia governor Thomas B. Stanley claims almost unanimous approval of his actions says popular feelings "do not permit the mixing of the races in our schools she is introducing bill into General Assembly banning funds to public schools that integrate

4) Ike press conference: on white mobs and school integration he says government cannot just move in unless local and state authorities cannot control situation; c) on integration, "it is difficult through law and force to change a man's heart"—still favors persuasion—we must all help defeat extremists on both sides

12) Segregationists riot John Kasper interviewed re Clinton, Tennessee will not name his supporters in Congress

15) Man from White Citizens Council in Washington D.C. makes statement from his bookstore Mr. Johnson is anti-integration

23) Mr. Britton once favored segregation in Anderson County School she is principal of Clinton [Tennessee] High School and is now neutral on integration!

26) One black child sits at rear of schoolroom as 12 white kids are up front arrest Kasper in Clinton (S)

27) National Guard patrols Clinton, Tennessee (S) 9556

32) Kasper at Hotel Andrew Johnson (S) 91156

17) Ku Klux Klan rally in Alabama women and children also in robes leader makes angry speech deploring onset of integration and mongrel race cross burns electric-light crosses on roofs of KKK autos

20) Mrs. DePatte, a white woman with her black child (Carrie mae DePatte) asked re school her daughter has had no trouble in France, Switzerland, England, Germany—now apparently having problems in USA child is articulate

27) integrated school (S)

1. Ike with mayor of Louisville permissive plan for school integration there mostly mixed schools in Louisville mayor stresses tact and care required

2. 6) Rep. Davis hearings re slippage of U.S. educational level she's white Southerner and seems intent upon blaming slippage on integration of blacks into white schools

7) Tennessee: Kasper in Clinton meets people and speaks re freedom of speech

14) Congressional Probe: Rep. Davis committee outside a black man named Jenkins explains pupil disparity blames overcrowded schools—"making the best of a bad situation" too little incentive for black kids because opportunities are so limited home and integration are helping (92556)

39) Baseball World Series as Jackie Robinson and Carl Furrillo hit home runs for Dodgers (S)

44) World series at Ebbets Field (S)

46) World Series: Yankees win (S)

4) Don Larsen and Sal Maglie after Larsen pitched perfect baseball game Casey Stengel poses with Larsen too

8) World Series as Yankees beat Dodgers

10) World Series—another game (S)

13) Yankee dressing room after baseball World Series triumph Stengel sums it up Jackie Robinson of Dodgers congratulates Yogi Berra speaks as do Yogi and other Yankees

16) Yankees take series more silent footage (S)

25) Big Springs, Texas hearing re school integration black man quizzes white school official re latter's attempts to thwart court orders

26) Report From Washington: Rep. Adam Clayton Powell says he is supporting Ike in election lauds Ike on civil rights while he is critical of Stevenson on civil rights feels he has been snubbed by Democrats (101256)

7) Tokyo: Brooklyn Dodgers visit Japan Robinson, Snider, etc. (S)

14) Centerville woman who will not let her daughter attend public school explains why she is being educated at home not worried that she has little contact with other kids little Mary says she does not want to go to school "a terrible waste of time and a bother"

13) Montgomery: Martin Luther King speaks recommending end of bus boycott—non-segregated busses crowd applauds—but in a few days

5) Montgomery: car pooling then King reacts warmly to Supreme Court decision re public transportation

22) Ku Klux Klan holds rally in Montgomery" We Believe in White Supremacy" says printed paper many Klansmen, three crosses burn leader speaks against school integration (112456)

7) Hubert Humphrey proposing Congressional rule closing open end debate and forcing a decision wants civil liberty-civil rights legislation wants a "rule of reason" in Congress

15) Clinton, Tennessee high school intimidation of blacks principal Brittan interviewed re school troubles feels U.S. government has made his job very difficult to enforce court order

17) National Headline: mayoral election in Clinton, Tennessee black students walking to school some white boys arrested interview Baptist minister beaten by racist white boys

24) Clinton, Tennessee high school to be reopened school superintendent excepts orderly reopening—says yesterday election showed people are for law and order

31) Clinton, Tennessee police department arrests white men and boys (S)

32) Clinton, Tennessee arrests made at night Board of Education spokesman says we are glad U.S. assistance is of great help school will open Monday

44) Republican senator wants rules change in the way Congress passes bills he wants civil rights legislation passed critical of filibuster advocates for obstructionism

2) black children enter Clinton, Tennessee high school principal gives lecture in auditorium (S)

19) Alabama: Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks in Montgomery church re nonviolent protest will go back to busses, "we must now move from protest to reconciliation"

43) Martin Luther King Jr. speaks to congregation about acting right on the busses—no pushing, no bragging sees Montgomery as now in a position "to map out the future of integration"

10) Alabama state secretary Sam Englehauer, also head of White Citizen Council at home with Christmas tree and kids wants white to boycott the busses feels court will open door further to racial accommodation remember hatefully Justices Reeves and Johnson laments the Montgomery decision concludes "have no fear, the right and the white will win"

21) Senator Paul Douglas: "we mean business, we're in this fight to the end" to change rules of the Senate says that unless we change rules now, we may as well kiss goodbye to civil rights changes because filibuster will stifle it Senator Irving Ives (R) of New York then adds his support for such change

23) blacks board Montgomery bus sit at front and rear King lieutenant Fred Shuttlesworth speaks to camera discusses riding strategy

24) Alabama National Citizens Council spokesman says we will no longer tolerate politicians who back peddle before federal government and the "negras" says we will draw line and fight on this line of segregated busses feels the negras are moving toward helping "the Communists and the one worlders and those who would bring about the mongrelization of the races in this nation" claims our religion dictates to us such a position to the last ounce of our blood

29) Birmingham: blacks board busses interview city official Mr. Lindbergh who will continue to support local and state laws separating the races—will arrest whites or coloreds who break the law—still no federal court ruling outlawing such state and local laws

30) Fred Shuttlesworth press statement supporting successful integrated bus riding begun yesterday says all problems can be settled in the courts

41) Herbert Brownell makes summary statement re civil rights accomplishments now that 1957 approaches—but much to be done mentions voting rights as goal for 1957

1957

4) Knights of the Ku Klux Klan rally in Bessemer, Alabama one auto has cross on its roof lighted by bulbs leader speaks of "Niggerism" and Communism blasts Ike and Nixon and Supreme Court as anti-Christian oak trees, fishes, beasts do not integrate cross burns

6) Paul Douglas convene meeting of senators wanting Senate rules change Clinton Anderson speaks re bipartisanship on proposed rules change excepts vote on Friday

18) at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, Rev. Adam Clayton Powell in passionate sermon re the finish of segregation Hubert Humphrey speaks of ending the filibuster Fred Shuttlesworth speaks angrily of action in the South and blasts Southern whites

19) Hubert Humphrey on the loss of rule change proposal—have doubled the vote since 1953we are going to proceed with civil rights legislation Senator Richard Russell defends pro-filibuster vote

27) Ike is given the George Washington Carver award for contributing to racial betterment—black man and woman stand with him Segue to Dulles at laying of cornerstone for new State Department building (S)

6) Hubert Humphrey in his office speaks re upcoming state of the union address pleased that Ike in the past has agreed with Democrats on certain measures wants Ike to push for civil rights liberal values, too—Ike will get what he wants if his requests are liberal

26) man says integration will never be a success in Georgia feels courts will not change way of thinking and feeling in Georgia" the Negro has a world of opportunity in our state" segue to black Atlanta man re integrating busses there—will take nonviolent route

27) Atlanta: blacks in church prepare for integration of busses but are arrested by police—enter Fulton County Jail even jail has segregated visiting days black leader from No. 26 above leaves after a day in jail—will stay off busses now until court decides

31) Alabama: black preacher from Nos. 26, 27 above says no liquor—this is appeal for nonviolent protest

34) Montgomery, Alabama lawmen press conference announce arrest of man who shot into an integrated bus on December 31—re bombings, there are 7 or 8 white men in prison—many have confessed to bombings

36) Martin Luther King, Jr. and other black leaders enter Montgomery Police Department police chief tells press that the arrested black men can be released if they make bond

9) Brownell discusses civil rights legislation being proposed by Ike need tools to enforce rights, especially the right to vote

6) Attorney General Brownell before Congressional committee explaining administration proposal for civil rights law—says federal government must have the power to act to make Constitution the supreme law of the land—mentions Emmet Till case, mentions Montgomery where blacks have been shot at riding busses—feels anti-lynching law now would be diverting—he wants Ike's middle of road bill

13) Brownell before Congressional committee jousts with Sam Ervin regarding U.S. judicial system—Ervin feels civil rights law would undermine states rights

26) Roy Wilkins before Congressional committee re civil rights bill says patience is running out—calls the perversion of law as applied to blacks "an obscene comedy" asks if there really is a United States of American with a Constitution

23) Africa: Nixon and party at Ghanaian independence Etta Moten Barnett is there as is Ralph Bunche (3657) S

24) Detroit: black woman had windows broken by white crowd because she moved into neighborhood police did not respond

33) Ghana independence ceremonies boat races, dancing, fireworks Segue to Harold Macmillan TV address congratulating the Ghanaians and the British for preparing them for this day (S)

37) Many black adults enter courtroom swear oath (S)

38) McClellan committee Kennedy quizzes Teamster secretary-29) Wayne Morse inspects poverty area of Washington D.C. in black homes and vacant lots says Easter and scripture make us our brothers keeper—but in Washington D.C. we are not doing a good job of it resolved as member of the District committee to get more funds to do a better job

11) Black man fired as Ike's caddy explains how he helped Ike's golf game

25) Black home owner packing up as flood water rise

2) England: Ku Klux Klan comes to Great Britain interview Mr. Brockwell who comments on KKK propaganda "Aryan Primacy" pamphlet from Horace Sherman Miller of Texas that attacks blacks, Jews, Catholics, even Dwight Eisenhower "as Christian equalizer Brockwell does not think KKK has chance in Britain—even with influx of West Indians and Africans Segue to Texas home of Horace Sherman Mille—who sits in bed typing Miller says he mails to Britain "because they're our kind of people'" says KKK is "for a better civilization, a better United States, a better Texas"

16) Texas: black student withdrawn from University of Texas opera production she is shown dejected racist state legislator then justifies her exclusion, praising Texas' black colleges for having trained her for two years, then saying that her minority at UT should not impose itself upon the white majority something that is not socially acceptable

26) Martin Luther King, Jr. arrives at Lully Baptist Church explains why he is journeying to Washington "to raise the conscience of the nation in terms of civil rights "to demonstrate black unity—civil rights is imperative right to vote

2) meeting of platform committee of Union of Electrical Radio & Machinists" Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom" speaker rebukes immoral and illegal unionists as "not a good union member Martin Luther King, Jr. then comes to rostrum King rebukes Communists who might be supporting the movement—only welcome those who believe in the Constitution of the United States

7) People In The News: blacks pour into Washington D.C. for "Prayer Pilgrimage" site is Lincoln Memorial King, Adam Clayton Powell seen (51757) S

5) Montgomery: bus boycott story county court house—white men and then Abernathy and Martin Luther King, Jr. enter (S)

27) Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abernathy pose with Nixon, labor Secretary Mitchell—good King close-ups (S)

32) Hubert Humphrey speaks re civil rights bill before Congress says a bill to protect the right to vote is "as American as the Fourth of July and the Statue of Liberty—and I can't see what the fuss is all about"

35) Senator Sam Ervin speaks of civil right debate—says it is too broad a bill, not just voting rights—will infringe on state's rights says it instills in the Attorney General the powers of a commissar in a totalitarian state

40) Knowland wants civil rights bill brought to floor of Senate because Judiciary Committee is tardy willing to extend life of Congress to do it

17) Political Spotlight: Ike speaks to noisy Republican convention chanting "We Want Ike" defines Republicanism as concern with every last American regardless of his religion or color of skin

23) Senator Richard Russell blasts civil rights bill—he has demanded it be submitted to American people in a referendum says it really gives Attorney General power to integrate at the point of a bayonet—feels "one of the most tragic conditions that this country has ever seen" would result... "there would be confusion, and chaos, and bloodshed" if Attorney General moved rapidly to enforce integration in South

29) Knowland speaks outside White House re pending civil rights bill expects filibuster and prolonged Senate session

32) Senator Stennis says "we are going to defeat this bill" filibuster against civil rights bill sees bill acceptable if harsh features are amended--especially against "the method of going at this problem" Segue to Senator Clifford Case who says the civil rights bill "is based on what is right" relates its purposes to foreign policy of USA—cannot run the show at home with regard to what people in the world think of us--it is not politics or primarily politics dreads filibuster, calls it "a barbaric kind of thing"..."utterly ridiculous and degrading"

37) Senator Richard Russell interviewed re civil rights bill—sees national referendum constitutionally possible says compromise is possible if possible to "mitigate the very vicious provisions of this cunningly contrived bill"

2) Athelia Gibson wins Wimbeldon tennis sports (has sound) 7657

8) Senator Paul Douglas says civil rights bill is only intended to assure right to vote—but Negroes mainly in the South are being denied it--feels if passes, other wrongs will adjust themselves—"we're in the trenches until that time if necessary"—until Xmas if need be Segue to Senator Richard Russell who feels bill really is meant to integrate the races in the South—in all schools and amusement centers

10) Kasper of Clinton, Tennessee and Ku Klux Klan is on trial criticizes Judge Taylor hearing his case—likens him to dictators in Communist states—defendant already cited for contempt once, and a second count is pending

11) Senator Richard Neuberger re civil rights bill—feels it will pass, but against filibuster just to delay he will stay in a tent and cot to stay at Senate if necessary he gets into cot to show it works

13) Knowland has informed Ike that civil rights fight could last from four to eight weeks says Ike understands other legislation will be delayed until this is disposed of

25) New York City: parade for Athelia Gibson down main streets (S)

27) Senator Russell outside White House after meeting with Ike says he and Ike do not agree on basic philosophy involved Russell says it must be modified to be enacted—threatens to stay here until December

31) Athelia Gibson deplanes SAS in New York to meet her parents after Wimbeldon victory interviewed about her feelings—asked if her victory might inspire other Negro boys and girls to enter tennis—she hopes so

42) Senator Sam Ervin opposed to Attorney General to becoming "the legal Czar" of the nation—cites other shortcomings second senator urges Ike to take firm position on the bill

46) Senator thinks Senate will pass good civil rights bill within a month—says all noise so far has come from opponents, now we shall be heard Senator Stennis says amendments necessary to have it passed

4) Knowland feels civil rights bill will pass in the session of Congress—Ike thought it was a moderate bill—but would understand Congress fine tuning it—Knowland hopes it can be clarified to acceptable standards of Southern states

6) Interview Lyndon Johnson re civil rights bill feels reasonable men will propose reasonable amendments so as to get reasonable results—he will support amendments

10) Roy Wilkins speaks re troops to enforce civil rights—sees no problem deleting reference to troops in civil rights bill says civil rights entails more than voting rights—cannot pick and choose which rights to guarantee

17) Attorney General Herbert Brownell is on Kenneth Keating's television show denies Senator Russell's hyperbole—only difference is that US government will use civil courts instead of criminal courts Brownell speaks of proposed compromises and why he is opposed would not force integration in Southern schools—focus is only the right to vote

19) Middle-ground senator discusses civil rights bill politicking—says neither extreme has enough votes

20) News From Washington: man outside State Department after 28) Senator Aiken says Republicans and Democrats are split on civil rights issue—says it is being affected by 1958 elections

32) Interview Kasper's lawyer who thinks there will be a fair trial

33) United Nations forces in Middle East inspect terrain (S)

34) Knowland sees several weeks yet to get substantial civil rights bill Joseph Martin doubts House will pass school construction bill—Ike is opposed at this point, he wanted it confined to needy states

44) Roy Wilkins says Negro-Americans can expect little aid from federal government as they seek to obtain their rights—says defeat of Title 3 of civil rights bill has weakened 14th amendment—and if they defeat Title 4 (re voting rights) it will weaken 15th amendment

45) Senator Aiken says defeat of Title 3 will probably result in strong bill being passed Senator Paul Douglas blasts killing of Title 3—have turned their back on the Constitution of the United States says "today will be recorded as a black day in the history of the United States Senate—the cause of civil liberties took a severe defeat today"

5) Clinton, Tennessee High School Segue to courtroom filled with white people Kasper of Ku Klux Klan is there (S)

13) Knowland re jury trial issue in civil rights bill says most Republicans oppose amendments offered says he will stay for two more months and beyond that if need be

22) Richard Russell speaks re "fight to the finish" over civil rights bill feels it unnecessary to secure voting rights for "negras" in South—claims that they already vote in Georgia tries to rally entire country against the bill

34) Wayne Morse critical of senators postponing civil rights if Southerners do not like 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to Constitution let them call a constitutional convention and repeal them he is ready to debate

40) Knowland reiterates preparation to stay until December if necessary to get civil rights bill passed has agreed to a one-day suspension of civil rights debate in order to pass needed legislation

41) McClellan committee McClellan sets course to show that

44) Ike press conference re civil rights bill says USA must make certain every citizens has right to vote—and that judges must have powers, so he's against jury trial gimmick Southerners want imposed asked re his personal millions and possible conflict of interest—Ike cracks that he would quickly sell his holdings for a million dollars (Telenews 49, No. 17)—much laughter Ike says his little money is in a blind trust—all he knows is how much taxes he owes re cigarette smoking, Ike (who was a heavy smoker in wartime, and since then has quit) says if a person turns his mind to it, and stops pitying himself, he will not find it as difficult to stop as he thinks (8157)

8) Floyd Patterson at Meadowbrook Hospital with woman he gives autograph and speaks to press (S)