Let Us Break Bread Together

Creator: Film Production Unit Bureau of AV Instruction

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description: A pictorial documentation which shows how integration and brotherhood are being promoted in a school district in New York City.; PA-4146 Let Us Break Bread Together; 00:00:24:29 - 00:26:24:00 Color Sound c. 1954; Let Us Break Bread Together: How Brotherhood Builds Democracy; Semi-documentary film explaining pioneering New York City school; district intervisitation program designed to bridge racial; cultural differences between children in predominantly White and; Black neighborhoods. Narrator (Harry I. Rothman) w/ strange; possible New England accent. 1950s NYC, United Nations building; UNICEF. School & community meetings, classrooms mixed w/ staged; talking heads of children, parents (all mothers, no fathers) active; in school life (PTA), teachers. (Christianity, religion; brotherhood, racism, education, integration, busing, ethnicity; globalism).; 00:00:24:29 - 00:03:57:02 Color Sound c. 1954; Beginning credits. Mixed ethnicity congregation sings sermon "Let; Us Break Bread Together." Talking head: NYC Superintendent of; Schools William Jansen introduces film, School district; intervisitation program designed to bridge racial, cultural; differences between White, Asian & Black students. Great PAN New; York City skyline. VO host "New York has stood for several hundred; years and still stands- as the gateway to freedom and opportunity.; (racism, ethnicity, tolerance, immigration, integration); 00:03:57:03 - 00:05:04:05 Color Sound c. 1954; Children in school classroom raise their hands. CU female teacher; (sound out-of-sync) asks class for reasons immigrants have come to; the United States. CU talking heads of 5 children. White boys-; freedom of worship, escape from "tyranny of kings." Black girl- "My; people are free now. They are proud to be Americans, but the; Negroes were brought here by wicked men who traded in slaves.; Japanese girl- overcrowding in Japan, desire to farm on land.; Puerto Rican boy- father wanted to be employed & provide good; education for children.; 00:05:04:06 - 00:07:34:27 Color Sound c. 1954; VS street scenes NYC. Pedestrians, traffic. Host describes the; varied mix of the 8 million NYC residents. Italian-owned street; corner market in Little Italy (probably)- Chinatown. Black people; leave church after sermon. Host:" It is hard to weld a city into; unity when its people come from so many different backgrounds.; Japanese women in kimonos. (National customs, manners, language; create "differences that are barriers to easy understanding.") VS; Black children holding hands, group of Hispanic women sewing; (sewing bees), new American citizens pledge allegiance to U.S.; flag, White carpenter works on house. Host "All mankind- White; Black, Yellow or Red loves, suffers, hopes, dreams, creates in the; same human way." White, Black women cradle their babies, Black; artist paints landscape. White artist paints portrait of young; Black girl; 00:07:34:28 - 00:10:38:19 Color Sound c. 1954; Talking head. Black woman on NYC School District Community; Committee-says group is guided by principle "All men are brothers.; District includes Peoples of more than 50 nationalities. Committee; meets for discussion at long table. VO: Intervisitation Program; involving children & parents proposed. VS meetings of citizens; school board members, social workers, librarians, clergy, teachers; principals to begin program in 1952. Talking heads: Black woman; states Parents' Associations' goal. "Through understanding, we; hoped to reduce prejudice & hostility." School principal notes that; program should pair schools where race or national origin has; caused separation. VO: pairs of children appear against wall to; illustrate how many schools had joined the program (14).; 00:10:38:20 - 00:13:38:27 Color Sound c. 1954; White children playing outdoors in front of George Washington; Bridge, NYC. Black children playing outside housing development; (recreation, playgrounds). VO: in every case schools in; predominantly White neighborhoods were paired with Black schools.; All was not smooth at first." Parents give their doubts at school; meetings. White mother w/ heavy NY accent - "I believe everyone is; alright, but what about the social implications of mixing everyone; together?" Black mother asks why she should let her child believe; he'll be accepted, rather than "let him live with his own" and help; him later. Young White girl, young Black boy talk over anxieties w/; parents. Children write letters to children in partner schools. WS; Black & White children shake hands outdoors & greet each other; holding their letters. Children sit in pairs & chat in classroom.; (friendship); 00:13:38:28 - 00:17:32:27 Color Sound c. 1954; VS Mothers from different nations wearing traditional native dress; in front of classroom. Austria, British West Indies, Israel; Greece. Children in classroom discuss UNICEF (United Nations; Children's Fund). Parents in district audiovisual library preparing; films for children to watch. Korean boy speaks to class. (brief; silent) EXT United Nations building, NYC. Children in program visit; for tour. Female Indian tour guide in sari leads tour in front of; light-up world wall map. VO: recites UN inscription for peace among; nations. Talking heads: Black boy & girl discuss visit's importance; and the role of UNICEF. "It's our big brother." Children have; crafts bazaar to benefit UNICEF.; 00:17:32:28 - 00:20:51:29 Color Sound c. 1954; WS citizens' group visits housing development. Community cleanup; drive, school parent forums, music recital. Children in program; learn music, arts together. Youth orchestra, classical pianist; Helen Hagan performs, children play flutes as teacher conducts.; Legs of children in ballet class, Black ballerina graduate of; Julliard performs modern dance for children. Boys & girls pose in; ballet stances. Scottish girl in traditional costume folk dances.; Black girl tap dances. The two girls dance together. Guide leads; children on tour of art museum. Hispanic boy molds turning clay on; potter's wheel as two girls watch him. VO: Children learned to; respect each other's special abilities.; 00:20:51:30 - 00:24:34:09 Color Sound c. 1954; Children present check to UNICEF representative. CU Young White; girl (Leslie) & Black boy (Raleigh) read poem side by side about; brotherhood, oneness & "fatherhood of all." VS parents in; intervisitation program. White & Black women having tea together.; VO: formation of social bonds, friendships began in program.; International meal served in school library for program; participants. Blurry CU dishes of pastries w/ international flags.; Children serve tea to adults (community residents, education; committee members, UN representatives, parents), eating at table w/; American flags on the wall. Leslie's mother (earlier doubtful mom); expresses her belief in program, gratitude to God for her; daughter's participation. CU Earlier doubtful Black mother; listening.; 00:24:34:10 - 00:26:24:00 Color Sound c. 1954; Good VS CU painted portraits of U.S. presidents Abraham Lincoln; Thomas Jefferson, George Washington. VO: famous quotes on equality; of man. CU White girl, Black boy & Japanese girl look up against; dark BG & mouth words as host recites melodramatically - "Let us; keep the faith. Let us break bread together." End credits.