History of the Negro People; Heritage of the Negro

National Educational Television and Radio Center · October 12, 1965

The little known heritage of the Negro is explored in this premiere program. Host Ossie Davis, Basil Davidson (British writer and historian on Africa), and John Henry Clark (American Negro writer and teacher), examine the civilization and achievements of ancient Africa and their significance to the American Negro today. Footage shot on location in Africa reveals traces of the old African cultures - Nubian, Egyptian, Ethiopian, and the West African civilizations of Mali, Songhai, Ashanti, Ife, Benin, and Timbucktoo. Mr. Davidson, author of "The African Past," "Black Mother," and other books on Africa, emphasizes that African history as recorded by white historians has traditionally ignored the old civilizations of Africa below the Sahara. Climatic conditions, peculiar to the African continent, have largely destroyed traces of what was once "the cradle of civilization." N.E.T. Cameras explore this little-known past through the art, sculpture, and present day pageantry which reflect the old cultures. In New York, writer John Henry Clark conducts a class in Negro history for a group of young Harlem residents. N.E.T. Cameras visit the classroom as students learn about their heritage for the first time. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) The little known and long ignored heritage and history of the Negro people is explored in an unprecedented television effort. To prepare this series of nine half-hour episodes, N.E.T.'s cameras traveled throughout the United States, to Africa, and to Latin America. Hosted and narrated by Broadway actor Ossie Davis, History of the Negro People also calls upon the talents of novelists John A. Williams, Cyprian Ekwensi, Jorge Amado, and Chinua Achebe; Basil Davidson, noted British writer and historian on Africa; actors Frederick O'Neal, Roscoe Lee Browne, and Hugh Hurd; John Henry Clark, writer and teacher; historian Gilberto Freyre, actress Ruby Dee; the choral group "The Voices Inc.," and a number of other personalities. The episodes vary in format, with dramatic, documentary, and discussion techniques employed according to the subject and content of each half-hour. The final episode is extended to 75 minutes. In addition to being host on the series, Mr. Davis has written the script for episode 3, Slavery, a dramatic and choral work adapted from the testimony of former slaves. He appears in the episode with his wife, actress Ruby Dee, and the choral group The Voices, Inc. History of the Negro People is a 1965 production of National Educational Television. The 9 episodes that comprise this series were originally recorded in black and white on videotape. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)