Films

Teaching Guides

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On Coal River

Film and Teaching Guide. Directed by Francine Cavanaugh and Adams Wood. 2010. 81 minutes.
This free film takes viewers on a gripping emotional journey into a community surrounded by a looming toxic threat. The film follows a former coal miner and his neighbors in a struggle for the future of their valley and the planet.

Democracy & Citizenship, Economics, Environment & Food, Social Class

Films

10,000BlackMen

10,000 Black Men Named George

Film. By Robert Townsend. 2002. 89 minutes.
Docudrama about A. Philip Randolph and The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first Black Union in America.

African American, Individuals in US History, Labor, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity

Act of War

Act of War: The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation

Film. By Na Maka o ka `Aina. 1993. 58 min.
A comprehensive documentary that focuses on the events surrounding the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.

Democracy & Citizenship, Pacific Islander, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

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Anne Braden: Southern Patriot (1924-2006)

Film. Produced by Anne Lewis. 2012.
Documentary about activist Anne Braden.

Civil Rights Movements, Labor

At the River I Stand

At the River I Stand

Film. Directed by David Appleby, Allison Graham and Steven Ross. 1993. 58 min.
Documentary on the African American sanitation workers’ 1968 fight for human dignity and a living wage in Memphis.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Labor, Organizing

Poster for PCUN's radio station.

¡Aumento Ya!/A Raise Now!

Film. Tom Chamberlin/PCUN. 1996. 50 minutes.
The dramatic story of the 1995 organizing campaign by an Oregon Latino farmworkers’ union, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), to win higher wages for Latino immigrant workers harvesting strawberries.

Labor, Latino, Organizing

Barefoot Gen

Barefoot Gen: The Bombing of Hiroshima As Seen Through the Eyes of a Young Boy

DVD. By Geneon; directed by Mori Masaki. 1992. 170 min.
Barefoot Gen is a story about the devastating effects of war on everyday life.

US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies

Chronicler, Bartolome de las Casas. Photo: www.voiceseducation.org

Bartolomé de las Casas: “Devastation of the Indies: A Brief Account”

Bartolome de las Casas’ “Devastation of the Indies: A Brief Account” (1542) read by John Sayles, Viggo Mortensen, and Staceyann Chin. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Democracy & Citizenship, Native American, Slavery

Bread and Roses

Bread and Roses

Film. Ken Loach. 2001. 106 min.
A compelling, fictionalized account of an actual labor campaign in Los Angeles.

Immigration, Labor, Latino, Organizing

BrotherOutsider

Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin

DVD. Produced by Nancy Kates and Bennett Singer. 2002. 83 minutes.
Documentary about the life of peace, labor, and civil rights activist Bayard Rustin.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Labor, LGBT, Organizing

bbullied

Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case That Made History

DVD. Southern Poverty Law Center. 2010. 40 minutes.
This documentary shows the devastating impact of bullying on students, in this case a gay student who works with lawyers to win a precedent setting case to create a safe place for students in school.

Laws & Citizen Rights, LGBT

Bus Riders Union

Bus Riders Union

Film. Haskell Wexler. 2000. 86 minutes.
The Los Angeles Bus Riders Union’s triumphant struggle to win better service.

Organizing

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Chávez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story

Film. By Jordan Mechner. 2004. 26 minutes.
A documentary about the politics and economics of land in the U.S., based on the story of a Mexican American village razed in the 1950s to build Dodger Stadium.

Economics, Latino, Social Class, Sports

Activist and environmentalist, Chief Joseph. Photo:

Chief Joseph: “Account of His Trip to Washington, D.C.”

Chief Joseph’s “Account of His Trip to Washington, D.C.” (1879), read by Q’Orianka Kilcher. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Democracy & Citizenship, Environment & Food, Native American

Leader of the Shawnee, Chief Tecumseh. Photo: indigenouspeople.net

Chief Tecumseh: “Speech to the Osages”

Chief Tecumseh’s “Speech to the Osages” (Winter 1811-1812) read by Deepa Fernandes. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Environment & Food, Native American

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Chisholm ’72 – Unbought and Unbossed

DVD. By Shola Lynch. 2004. 76 min.
Documentary about Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and her campaign to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in 1972.

African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Women's History

Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org

Cindy Sheehan: “It’s Time for the Antiwar Choir Started Singing”

Cindy Sheehan’s “It’s Time the Antiwar Choir Started Singing” (2005) is read by Marisa Tomei and Staceyann Chin. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Democracy & Citizenship, Imperialism, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, Women's History

candc

Conscience and the Constitution

Film. By Frank Abe. 2000. 57 minutes.
In World War II, 63 Japanese Americans refused to be drafted from an American concentration camp.

Asian American, Laws & Citizen Rights, Organizing, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

thecorp

The Corporation

Film. By Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and Joel Bakan. 2004. 145 minutes.
This 26 award-winning documentary examines the nature, evolution, impacts and future of the modern business corporation and the increasing role it plays in society and our everyday lives.

Economics

DaisyBatesLittleRockNine

Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock

Film. Directed by Sharon LaCruise. 2011.
Documentary on the life of Daisy Bates, best know for her role with the Little Rock Nine.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Education, Laws & Citizen Rights, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity, Women's History

deathona

Death on a Friendly Border

Films & Videos. By Rachel Antell. 2002.

Immigration, Latino, US Foreign Policy

dirtybusiness

Dirty Business: “Clean Coal” and the Battle for Our Energy Future

Film. Produced by Peter Bull, Justin Weinstein, Alex Gibney. 88 minutes. 2010.
A feature documentary that addresses the questions: Can coal be made clean? Can renewables and efficiency happen on a scale large enough to replace coal?

Economics, Environment & Food, Science

YO!

Disability History Week

Film. (Youtube video.) 6 minutes 20 seconds.
Youth at the 2010 Youth Organizing! Disabled and Proud Disability History Campaign Summit YO! explain why they believe disability history should be taught in schools.

Disability, Organizing

Civil rights and anti-war activist, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Beyond Vietnam”

Film clip. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Beyond Vietnam” (1967) speech is read by Michael Ealy. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Imperialism, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Lyricist and poet E.Y. "Yip" Harburg. Photo: Songwritershalloffame.org

E.Y. “Yip” Harburg: Brother Can You Spare a Dime

Film clip. E.Y. “Yip” Harburg’s “Brother Can You Spare a Dime” (1932) is performed by Allison Moorer. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Art & Music, Economics

earthdvd

Earth and the American Dream

Film. By Bill Couturie. 1993. 90 minutes.
U.S. history from the standpoint of the earth.

Environment & Food

Echando Raices

Echando Raices/Taking Root

Film. Rachael Kamel/JT Takagi. 2002. 60 min.
The struggles of immigrants through the personal stories of families in communities in California, Texas, and Iowa.

Immigration, Labor

Activist Eugene Debs. Photo: Freeinfosociety.com

Eugene Debs: “Canton, Ohio”

Film clip. Eugene Deb’s “Canton, Ohio” speech made on June 16, 1918 is read by Marc Ruffalo.
From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Labor

EvenTheRain

Even the Rain/También la lluvia

Film. Directed by Icíar Bollaín and written by Paul Laverty. 2010. 103 minutes.
As a crew shoots a film about Columbus’ genocide, local people in Cochabamba, Bolivia rise up against plans to privatize the water supply.

Economics, Imperialism, Latino, Organizing, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies

eyes

Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years, 1954-1985

Film. Produced by Henry Hampton. Blackside. 1987.
Comprehensive documentary history of the Civil Rights Movement.

Civil Rights Movements, Organizing

February One

February One

Film. Produced by Dr. Steven Channing. 2004. 61 min.
February One tells the story surrounding the 1960 Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Organizing

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The Fight in the Fields: César Chávez and the Farmworker Struggle

Film. Ray Telles and Rick Tejada-Flores. 1997. 116 min.
A documentary on the farmworker movement told by the organizers and farmworkers themselves.

Labor, Latino, Organizing

Frederick_Douglass_c1855

Frederick Douglass: “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro”

Film clip. Frederick Douglass “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” (1851) is read by Danny Glover. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Racism & Racial Identity

Freedom Riders

Freedom Riders

Film. Written, produced, and directed by Stanley Nelson. 2011. 120 minutes.
A first hand look at the 1961 rides from the Freedom Riders themselves and others who were there.

Civil Rights Movements, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity

freedomdvd

Freedom Song

Film. By Phil Alden Robinson. 2006. 117 min.
Based on the actual history of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), student activism, and voter registration in McComb, Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Organizing

banquet

The Global Banquet: The Politics of Food

Films. 2001. 56 minutes.
Politics of global food-security.

Environment & Food, World History/Global Studies

golden

Golden Lands, Working Hands

Film. By Fred Glass for the California Federation of Teachers. 170 minutes.
Ten-part film series brings the hidden history of working people in California to light, from the Gold Rush through the present.

Labor, Organizing

b0018rney8

The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade and the Spanish Civil War

DVD. By Mary Dore, Noel Buckner, Sam Sills. 1984. 98 minutes.
Documentary narrated by Studs Terkel on the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.

Organizing, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies

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The Good Soldier

DVD. Directed by Lexy Lovell and Michael Uys. 2009. Out of the Blue Productions. 79 minutes.

Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

goodwar

The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It

Film. Produced by Rick Tejada-Flores and Judith Ehrlich. 2002. 60 minutes.
Documentary film on WWII conscientious objectors and excellent online resources for the classroom.

Organizing, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

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Granito de Arena/Grain of Sand

DVD. Produced by Jill Freidberg. Corrugated Films. 2005.
Documentary about teachers, parents, and students fighting to defend Mexico’s public education system from the impacts of economic globalization

Education, Labor, Organizing, World History/Global Studies

Hearts and Minds

Hearts and Minds

Film. Directed by Peter Davis. 1974. 112 min.
Documentary about the Vietnam War.

Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

African Methodist Episcopal bishop, Henry McNeal Turner. Photo: Blackpast.org.

Henry McNeal Turner: “Eligibility of Colored Members to Seats in the Georgia Legislature.”

Film clip. Henry McNeal Turner’s “Eligibility of Colored Members to Seats in the Georgia Legislature” (1968), read by Danny Glover. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights, Slavery

plowshares1

Howard Zinn on Non-Violent Civil Disobedience

Film clip. 10 minutes. Howard Zinn. 1985.
Dr. Zinn’s testimony for the defense at the criminal trial of the AVCO Plowshares 7 where he describes the central role of civil disobedience in the history of the United States.

Laws & Citizen Rights, US Foreign Policy

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Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train – DVD

Film. By Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller. 2010. 78 minutes.
Documentary on life and work of Howard Zinn.

Individuals in US History, Labor, Organizing, Social Class, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Incident at Oglala

Incident at Oglala

Film. 1992. 90 minutes. By Michael Apted. Produced by Arthur Chobanian. Narrated by Robert Redford.
Documentary about the conviction of Native American activist Leonard Peltier.

Native American

insular empire

The Insular Empire: America in the Mariana Islands

Film. Directed by Vanessa Warheit. 2009. 60 minutes.
Documentary about U.S. colonies in the western Pacific.

Democracy & Citizenship, Imperialism, Pacific Islander, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies

Environmental activist, Ismael Guadalupe Ortiz. Photo: www.wildclearing.com

Ismael Guadalupe Ortiz: “Testimony on Vieques, Puerto Rico”

Film clip. Ismael Guadalupe Ortiz “Testimony on Vieques, Puerto Rico” (1979) read by Mario Murillo.
From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Environment & Food, Latino

Abolitionist John Brown.

John Brown’s Last Speech

Film clip. Josh Brolin reads John Brown’s Last Speech delivered on November 2, 1859. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Individuals in US History, Organizing, Slavery

SNCC Leader and Congressman John Lewis. Photo: BlackPast.org

John Lewis: “Original Text to be Delivered at the Lincoln Memorial”

John Lewis’ “Original Text of Speech to be Delivered at the Lincoln Memorial” (1963) read by Brian Jones. From Voices of People’s History of the United States.

African American, Civil Rights Movements

Writer and feminist, June Jordan. Photo:  http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com

June Jordan: “Speech Against the Gulf War”

June Jordan’s “Speech Against the Gulf War” (1991) read by Kathleen Chalfant. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

African American, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, Women's History

Killing floor

The Killing Floor

Film. Directed by Bill Duke. 1985. 118 minutes.
Set during World War I, two African-American men deal with racism in the workplace and the labor union.

African American, Labor, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity

Writer, poet, activist Langston Hughes. Photo: Blackpast.org

Langston Hughes: “Ballad of Roosevelt.”

Film clip. Langston Hughes’ “Ballad of Roosevelt” (1934), read by Danny Glover. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

African American, Democracy & Citizenship

Activist and poet, Langston Hughes. Photo: aalbc.com

Langston Hughes: “Montage of a Dream Deferred”

Langston Hughes, “Montage of a Dream Deferred” (1951) is read by Danny Glover. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

African American

lemon

The Lemon Grove Incident

Film. By Paul Espinosa. 1986.
An early story of desegregation in a 1931 school that barred Mexican-Americans.

Civil Rights Movements, Education, Latino, Organizing

MADEinLA-DVD-cover

Made in L.A.

Film. By Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar. 2007. 70 minutes.
Emmy award-winning feature documentary follows the story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles sweatshops on an odyssey to win basic labor protections from a clothing retailer.

Economics, Immigration, Labor, Latino, Organizing

Activist Malcolm X. Photo: www.emersonkent.com/speeches/message_to_the_grass_roots.htm

Malcolm X: “Message to the Grass Roots”

Film clip.
Malcolm X, “Message to the Grass Roots” (1963), read by Mos Def. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship

MAQUILAPOLIS

Maquilapolis (City of Factories)

Film. Directed and produced by Vicky Funari and Sergio De La Torre. 2006. 68 minutes.
The impact of globalization as told through the lives of the women who experience it in Tijuana, Mexico.

Labor, Organizing, Women's History, World History/Global Studies

Abolitionist and feminist Maria Stewart. Photo: Eng153.wiki-site.com

Maria Stewart: Address Delivered at the African Masonic Hall

Film clip. From Voice of a People’s History of the United States. 3:41 minutes.
Maria Stewart’s “Address Delivered at the African Masonic Hall” (1833) is read by Alfre Woodard.

African American, Women's History

matewandvd

Matewan

Film. Written and directed by John Sayles. 1987. 132 minutes.
A feature film depicting a strike in a mining town in Appalachia and the struggle for solidarity across racial lines.

Democracy & Citizenship, Labor, Organizing, Social Class

zinn_sandv

The Meaning of Sacco and Vanzetti

Online film. By Howard Zinn.
On November 7, 2008, Howard Zinn offered a lecture on “The Meaning of Sacco and Vanzetti” at the Dante Alighieri Society Italian Cultural Center, in Cambridge, MA.

Individuals in US History

Photo credit: Bob Adelman/Magnum

Mighty Times: The Children’s March

Film. By Hudson and Houston. 2005. 40 minutes.
This Academy Award-winning documentary film tells the heroic story of the young people in Birmingham, Alabama, who brought segregation to its knees.

Civil Rights Movements, Organizing

HM-award-button

The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers

Film. By Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith. 2009. 94 minutes.
The riveting story of how a Pentagon official risks life in prison by leaking 7,000 pages of a top secret report to the New York Times to help stop the Vietnam War.

Media, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

muderofemmetttill

The Murder of Emmett Till

Film. 60 minutes. Produced and directed by Stanley Nelson. 2003.
Documentary on the murder of teenager Emmett Till and the actions of Mamie Till Bradley which helped launch the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Civil Rights Movements

Inside the North Star at Frederick Douglass' old post office. Photo: libraryweb.org

The North Star: “The War with Mexico”

Benjamin Bratt reads from The North Star, “The War with Mexico” (1848). From Voices of a People’s History in the United States.

African American, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

game

Not Just a Game: Power, Politics & American Sports

Film. By Dave Zirin and Jeremy Earp. 2010. 62 minutes.
Film documentary for 6th grade to adult based on the bestselling book “A People’s History of Sports in the United States.”

African American, Media, Racism & Racial Identity, Sports, Women's History

ocrgraphicbigtitle

On Coal River

Film and Teaching Guide. Directed by Francine Cavanaugh and Adams Wood. 2010. 81 minutes.
This free film takes viewers on a gripping emotional journey into a community surrounded by a looming toxic threat. The film follows a former coal miner and his neighbors in a struggle for the future of their valley and the planet.

Democracy & Citizenship, Economics, Environment & Food, Social Class

Orlando and Phyllis Rodriguez (center and right) with Aicha El-Wafi, mother of Zacarias Moussaoui from Lightfootfilms.org

Orlando and Phyllis Rodriguez: “Not In Our Son’s Name”

Film clip. Orlando and Phyllis Rodriguez’s “Not In Our Son’s Name” (2001) is read by Benjamin Bratt.
From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Democracy & Citizenship, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

outpastvhs

Out of the Past

Films & Videos. By Jeff Dupre. 2005.

Civil Rights Movements, LGBT

ParentPowerFilm

Parent Power

Film. Produced by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown Univ. 2011. 35 minutes.
A documentary about parents in the Bronx who organized to bring high-quality education to their neighborhood.

African American, Education, Latino, Organizing, Social Class

peoplespeak

The People Speak – Extended Edition – DVD

Film. 2009. Directed by Howard Zinn, Chris Moore and Anthony Arnove. 110 minutes.
Dramatic readings and performances based on Voices of a People’s History and A People’s History of the United States.

Labor, Organizing, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, Women's History

People Speak Extended Edition Contents

DVD. Directed by Howard Zinn, Chris Moore, and Anthony Arnove. 2009.

potomitan

Poto Mitan: Haitian Women, Pillars of the Global Economy

Film and website. Produced by Mary Becker and Renée Bergan. Writer/Narrator: Edwidge Danticat. 2009. 50 minutes.
Documentary about Haiti and global economics told through the lives of five women.

Economics, Women's History, World History/Global Studies

ThePowerofDocumentaryDVD-thumb

The Power of 504

Film. (Youtube video.) 18 minutes.
Documentary on the historic civil rights demonstration of people with disabilities in 1977.

Disability

PreciousKnowledge

Precious Knowledge

Film. Directed by Ari Luis Palos and produced by Eren Isabel McGinnis. 2011. 70 minutes.
High school seniors become community leaders in Tucson’s embattled Ethnic Studies classes while state lawmakers attempt to eliminate the program.

Education, Latino, Laws & Citizen Rights, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity

Race - The Power of an Illusion

Race – The Power of an Illusion

DVD. By California Newsreel. 2003. Three episodes – 56 minutes each.
Race – The Power of an Illusion is a three-part documentary series that questions the very idea of race as biology, suggesting that a belief in race is no more sound than believing that the sun revolves around the earth.

Racism & Racial Identity

Rachel Corrie

Rachel Corrie: “Letter from Palestine”

Film clip. Rachel Corrie’s “Letter from Palestine” (2003) is read by her mom, Cindy Corrie and Alice Walker. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies

resistvhs

Regret to Inform

Film. By Barbara Sonneborn. 1998. 72 minutes. Teaching guide by Bill Bigelow. Chapter of A People’s History by Howard Zinn.
A profound documentary on the impact of war, with a teaching guide and the chapter of A People’s History of the United States on the Vietnam War, “Impossible Victory.”

Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, Women's History

Max_Neef

Rethinking the Economy: Ideas from Chilean Economist Manfred Max-Neef

Film clip. September 22, 2010. Democracy Now!
Interview with people’s economist Manfred Max-Neef.

Economics

chh

The Road to Brown

Film. Producer/Director/Writer: William Elwood. 56 min. 1990.
The little known story of Charles Hamilton Houston who paved the road to Brown v. Board.

African American, Education, Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity

Roger and Me

Roger and Me

Film. Directed by Michael Moore.1989. 91 minutes.
Documentary chronicling the efforts of the world’s largest corporation, General Motors, as it turns its hometown of Flint, Michigan, into a ghost town.

Economics, Labor, Social Class

RubyBridges

Ruby Bridges

Film. Directed by Euzhan Palcy. 1998. 96 minutes.
The true story of Ruby Bridges, the six year old girl who helped to integrate the all-white schools in New Orleans.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Education, Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity

Salt

Salt of the Earth

Film. By Herbert Biberman. 1954. 94 minutes.
This classic, powerful film about a miners strike in New Mexico can be used to teach about the intersection of class, race, national origin, and gender.

Labor, Latino, Organizing, Women's History

Lyricist, singer, and entrepreneur Sam Cooke. Photo: Songsofsamcooke.com

Sam Cooke: A Change is Gonna Come

Film clip. Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” (1964), is performed by Allison Moorer. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

African American, Art & Music, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights

Scandalize

Scandalize My Name

Film. 2000. 60 minutes.
Documentary about the impact of the McCarthy era on African Americans in the film industry.

African American, Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity

Scarred Justice

Scarred Justice: The Orangeburg Massacre 1968

DVD. Produced by Judy Richardson and Bestor Cram. 2009. 57 minutes.
A documentary film that brings to light the story of the attack by state police on a demonstration in Orangeburg, South Carolina — leaving three students killed and 28 injured.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Organizing

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Sing Your Song: What good is a conscience if it is not awakened

Film. Directed by Susanne Rostock. 2011.104 minutes.
A biographical documentary that surveys the life and times of performer/activist Harry Belafonte.

African American, Art & Music, Civil Rights Movements, Racism & Racial Identity

Sir! No Sir!

Sir! No Sir!

Film. By David Zeiger. 2005. 84 min.
This award-winning film demonstrates the role soldiers and veterans played in the anti-Vietnam War movement.

Organizing, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

SlaveCatchers

Slave Catchers, Slave Resisters

Film. Produced by Judy Richardson, Northern Light Productions for History Channel. 2005. 100 min.
Documentary on the many rebellions by enslaved people and other forms of resistance.

Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery

Abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth. Photo: AP Images/Library of Congress.

Sojourner Truth: “Ain’t I a Woman?”

Film clip. Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” (1851) is read by Alfre Woodard. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Racism & Racial Identity, Women's History

soldiers-of-conscience

Soldiers of Conscience

Film. By Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg. 2007. 86 min.
Documentary about war, peace, and US soldiers in Iraq, from active military to conscientious objectors, wrestling with conscience over killing in war.

Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Standing on My Sisters' Shoulders

Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders

Film. By Joan Sadoff, Robert Sadoff, and Laura Lipson. 2002. 60 minutes.
Documentary film on women in the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.

Civil Rights Movements, Individuals in US History, Organizing, Women's History

bottledwater_border

The Story of Bottled Water

Film. By Annie Leonard. 2010. 7 minutes.
A viewer-friendly, informative, animated critique of the bottled water industry.

Environment & Food

Teaching About the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Teaching About the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Film. By Teaching for Change. 2006. 15 min.
First grade teacher Maggie Donovan (SNCC veteran) introduces her students to the fight to desegregate the buses, placing Rosa Parks in the context of the larger community efforts.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Organizing

Thunderheart

Thunderheart

Film. 1992. 118 minutes. By Michael Apted.
Captures some of the conflicts on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the 1970s relating to corporate/government collusion to exploit Native lands for profit.

Native American

The Times of Harvey Milk

The Times of Harvey Milk

Film. Directed by Rob Epstein. 1984. 90 minutes.
Documentary on the political career and assassination of Harvey Milk, San Francisco’s first openly gay supervisor.

Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, LGBT

Unconstitutional

Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties

DVD. Nonny de la Peña. 2004.
A documentary that investigates the ways in which the civil liberties of U.S. citizens and immigrants have been rolled back since 9/11/2001 and the passage of the Patriot Act.

Laws & Citizen Rights

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Unlearning “Indian” Sterotypes

Film. 1977 (Updated in 2008). Rethinking Schools and the Council on Interracial Books for Children.
Native American history through the eyes of Native American children.

Native American

uprooted

Uprooted: Refugees of the Global Economy

Film. Produced by National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. 2001. 28 minutes.
Stories of three immigrants (from Bolivia, Haiti and the Philippines) to the U.S. and how global institutions and multi-national corporations erode people’s capacity to survive in their home countries.

Economics, Immigration, Labor

Union organizer,  Vicki Starr. Photo: talkingunion.wordpress.com

Vicky Starr: “Back of the Yards”

Film clip. Vicky Starr’s “Back of the Yards” about organizing in the 1930s, read by Christina Kirk.
From Voices of the People’s History of the United States.

Labor, Organizing, Women's History

liuzzo2

Viola Liuzzo

Profile.
Civil Rights Activist. Murdered in 1965 by the KKK after the Selma to Montgomery march.

Civil Rights Movements, Women's History

Viva La Causa

Viva La Causa

Film. Bill Brummel Productions. 2008. 39 minutes.
A documentary film and teaching guide on the grape strike and boycott led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in the 1960s.

Civil Rights Movements, Labor, Latino

Walkout

Walkout

Film. Produced by Moctesuma Esparza. 2006. 111 minutes.
Walkout tells the true story of the Chicano students of East L.A., who in 1968 staged several dramatic walkouts in their high schools to protest academic prejudice and dire school conditions.

Civil Rights Movements, Education, Latino, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity

The War You Don't See

The War You Don’t See

Film. By John Pilger. 2010.
Documentary on how the media has reported war, from the WWI to the present day.

Media, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

wsr-site

We Shall Remain

Film and website. 2009. 450 minutes.
Three hundred years of Native American history.

Civil Rights Movements, Laws & Citizen Rights, Native American, Racism & Racial Identity

broke

When the Levees Broke – A Requiem in Four Acts

Film. By Spike Lee. 2006. 256 minutes.
Spike Lee’s masterful 4-part, 4-hour documentary on Hurricane Katrina.

Environment & Food, Racism & Racial Identity, Social Class

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When We Were Kings

Film. Directed by Leon Gast. 1996. 89 minutes.
Documentary about the famous heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.

Sports, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Human Rights Activisst,  Yuri Kochiyama. Photo: http://word.world-citizenship.org

Yuri Kochiyama: “Then Came the War”

Yuri Kochiyama, “Then Came the War” (1991) is read by Deepa Fernandes and Sandra Oh. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Asian American, Democracy & Citizenship

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Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun

Film. Producer/Writer: Kristy Andersen. 2008. 84 minutes.
Documentary about the life, literature, and research of Zora Neale Hurston.

Women's History

Songs and Poems

Lyricist and poet E.Y. "Yip" Harburg. Photo: Songwritershalloffame.org

E.Y. “Yip” Harburg: Brother Can You Spare a Dime

Film clip. E.Y. “Yip” Harburg’s “Brother Can You Spare a Dime” (1932) is performed by Allison Moorer. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Art & Music, Economics

Activist and poet, Langston Hughes. Photo: aalbc.com

Langston Hughes: “Montage of a Dream Deferred”

Langston Hughes, “Montage of a Dream Deferred” (1951) is read by Danny Glover. From Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

African American

Spanish/Bilingual

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Granito de Arena/Grain of Sand

DVD. Produced by Jill Freidberg. Corrugated Films. 2005.
Documentary about teachers, parents, and students fighting to defend Mexico’s public education system from the impacts of economic globalization

Education, Labor, Organizing, World History/Global Studies