Black Theater: The Making of a Movement
114 minutes, 1978 , United States
Producer/Director: Woodie King, Jr.
Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement documents the birth of a new theatre out of the Civil Rights activism of the 1950s, '60s and '70s. It is a veritable video encyclopedia of the leading figures, institutions and events of a movement that transformed the American stage.
Amiri Baraka, Ossie Davis, James Earl Jones and Ntozake Shange describe their aspirations for a theatre serving the Black community. Excerpts of A Raisin in the Sun, Black Girl, Dutchman and For Colored Girls... reveal how these actors and playwrights laid the basis for the Black theater of the present.
About Woodie King, Jr. Founder and Director, New Federal Theatre
The Impact of Race -Book by Woodie King, Jr.
Black Theatre Association, Association for Theatre in Higher Education
Black Theatre Network and Conference
"The Black Arts Movement," article by Kalamu ya Salaam
Amiri Baraka, Ossie Davis, James Earl Jones and Ntozake Shange describe their aspirations for a theatre serving the Black community. Excerpts of A Raisin in the Sun, Black Girl, Dutchman and For Colored Girls... reveal how these actors and playwrights laid the basis for the Black theater of the present.
About Woodie King, Jr. Founder and Director, New Federal Theatre
The Impact of Race -Book by Woodie King, Jr.
Black Theatre Association, Association for Theatre in Higher Education
Black Theatre Network and Conference
"The Black Arts Movement," article by Kalamu ya Salaam
An extraordinary documentary...A must for every contemporary theatre course.
-- Margaret Wilkerson, University of California, Berkeley
-- Margaret Wilkerson, University of California, Berkeley
"Brilliantly captures the essence, soul and spirit of the Movement...Required viewing."
-- Larry Hamlin, National Black Theatre Festival
Ways to Watch
Educational Streaming
Colleges, Universities, Government Agencies, Hospitals and Corporations.
Community Screening
Short-term use for small groups, organizations, or high school classes (under 100 participants, where no admission is charged).
Home Viewing
48-hour, personal rental for in-home use only, restrictions apply