CinemaOSMovie · 1978 · 0h 11m

The Black Contribution: Literature and Theatre

DocumentaryHistory

The Black Contribution – Literature and Theater 1978 is a rare documentary highlighting the voices and cultural impact of African American writers and performers during the civil rights era. Introduced by NAACP leader Benjamin Hooks and narrated by Roscoe Lee Brown, the film weaves together dramatic readings, theatrical excerpts, and candid urban street footage. Margaret Walker’s poem For My People is performed alongside scenes of daily Black life in New York City — children playing, families on stoops, open fire hydrants, and the realities of poverty in 1970s neighborhoods. James Baldwin appears in interview footage, while signs for his play The Amen Corner and stage excerpts from Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun underscore the powerful presence of Black voices in American theater. With rare shots of Harlem life, literature, and performance, this film documents the enduring contributions of African American artists to U.S. culture and history.

Play
Status
Released
Runtime
0h 11m
Language
EN
Released
November 15, 1978
Studios
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)The Petersen Company

Featuring

Cast & crew

2 credited
Starring
Roscoe Lee Browne

Roscoe Lee Browne

Narrator

James Baldwin

James Baldwin

Himself

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