National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Not part of a collection.
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.
Roscoe Lee Browne
Narrator
James Baldwin
Himself
No crew information available.
Nov 15, 1978
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Versus
Sign in to play →
After Antarctica
2021
Guitar Drag
2000
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
The Dark Knight
2008 · 12 wins
Demolition Man
1993 · 10 wins
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1982 · 9 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 8 wins
Jurassic Park
1993 · 8 wins
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