"Soldiers Without Swords" retrieves an important missing page
from American
history and brings it virtually to life. Its beautifully produced
and
directed and tells a story as only a powerful film can do."
- Bill Moyers
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-
Playboy Foundation "Freedom of Expression" Award,
Sundance Film Festival 1999
- In the 1999 Golden Gate Awards, the film was named a Golden Spire winner
(its top honor) in the best historical documentary section,
awarded by San Francisco International Film Festival
- Best historical documentary, Black Hollywood Film Festival
THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS is an engaging historical account
that tells the story of the pioneering men and women of the Black press
who
gave voice to Black America. The film will have its television broadcast
premiere on February 8, l999, (check local listings) on PBS as part of its
celebration of Black history month. In addition to the television
broadcast,
SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS has been accepted into the prestigious 1999
Sundance Film Festival in the documentary category.
SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS is the first documentary to provide an in-depth
examination of the history and contributions of African American
newspapers.
Since the early 1800s Black newspapers have existed in almost every
major
city in the U.S.
Collectively, these papers contain the most detailed record of African
American life in existence.
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"I was looking through black newspapers while researching two other
historical
documentaries," says multi-award winning filmmaker, Stanley Nelson.
"I was
both excited and overwhelmed by the volume of research materials that laid
before me. I realized then that Black newspapers were fascinating in
themselves and told their own story."
Collectively, these papers contain the most detailed record of African
American life in existence.
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Nelson, who also produced two other award-winning films, "Two Dollars
and a
Dream: The Story of Madame C. J. Walker," about the first self-made
African
American businesswoman to become a millionaire, and "Freedom
Bags," about the
northern migration by African American domestic workers.
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Charlotta Bass
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Several of the key reporters, publishers and photo journalists are
interviewed
in the film, shortly before their deaths. Nelson conducted one of the
last on
camera interviews with John Sengstacke, publisher of the only daily Black
newspaper still in production, the Chicago Defender; and with the late
Charles
"Teenie" Harris, retired staff photographer with the Pittsburgh
Courier.
Other prominent Black journalists interviewed are Vernon Jarrett, former
reporter with Chicago Defender, Chicago Tribune, and the Chicago Sun Times
and
Edward "Abie" Robinson, former reporter with the California
Eagle.
From facilitating the migration of Southern Blacks to northern cities; to
recording the social and political events affecting the lives of African
Americans; to providing a showcase honoring Black soldiers in World War
II,
the Black press documented life for millions of people that were otherwise
ignored.
SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS gives life to this fascinating, little known
history
by weaving music by Grammy award-winning jazz artist Ron Carter with
archival
footage, photographs and interviews with editors, photographers and
journalists of the Black press. The film is narrated by stage, screen and
television actor Joe Morton.
THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS chronicles the growth,
accomplishments and illustrious history of what once was this
nations
strongest voice for the African American community. The 90-minute film is
divided into five parts:
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Newsboys for the
Pittsburgh Courier
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No Longer Shall Others Speak For Us provides an overview of the
growth and
influence of the Black press, from the founding of Freedoms Journal
in 1827
to the turn of the century.
Standing Up for the Race examines the role of Black journalists
like
Chicago
Defender publisher Robert Abbott in advancing the "Great
Migration" of blacks
from the South. The film shows how attempts to ban the sale of the
Defender
from many southern cities were thwarted by a network of Pullman porters
who
managed to distribute the paper clandestinely.
A Separate World focuses on the years between 1920 and 1930.
According to
journalist Abie Robinson, editors, writers, cartoonists and photographers
were
heroes of the Black community, ". . . because we were the only ones
able to
write and crusade for the things that were in the hearts of Black
people."
Treason? compares the disparate coverage of the mainstream press
and the
Black
press concerning the contributions of African Americans during WWII. This
section revisits the nearly forgotten "Double V" campaign
spearheaded by the
Pittsburgh Courier that linked the struggle against fascism abroad to
segregation at home, and nearly resulted in Black publishers being
indicted
for sedition. The "Double V" campaign help to lay the ground
work for the
Civil Rights Movement to come.
Putting Itself Out of Business discusses the reasons for the
decline
of the Black press in the last 30 years, and the residual effect on
African American communities.
A comprehensive national outreach and promotion campaign was launched in
the
Fall of 1998 targeting nine major citiesAtlanta, Boston, Chicago,
Los
Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and
Washington,
D.C.
The outreach plan consists of partnerships in each target city with local
chapters of the National Association of Black Journalists, journalism and
communications departments at colleges and universities, public television
stations, local newspapers and public library systems. The campaign is
supported by a viewers guide, a CD-ROM, a website, a four-color poster,
post
cards, and national print and radio advertising.
THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS is produced and directed by
Stanley
Nelson. The narrator is Joe Morton; Edited by Lewis Erskine.
Writers, Lou Potter, Jill Nelson, Stanley Nelson,
Marcia
Smith; Associate Producer/Director of Research, Valerie Linson; Original
Music Performed and Conducted by Ron Carter.
THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS is A Half Nelson Production, and
is
presented by The Chicago Production Center at WTTW.
Press Contact
Marcy De Veaux, The De Veaux Group, 310/342-5130
e-mail: madeveaux@aol.com
Sharon Liggins, The De Veaux Group, 310/342-5130
e-mail: sliggins@aol.com
Outreach Contact
Kay Shaw, Amber Images, 212/714-7745
e-mail, amberimage@aol.com
Web Site
www.pbs.org
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