The American Negro (unfinished, reel 4, 1962)
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Description:
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Discusses the significant progress made in education for African Americans, focusing on the events in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957 when Black students faced violence while trying to integrate an all-white school. President Eisenhower intervened by sending federal troops to protect the students' rights, highlighting the federal government's commitment to upholding civil rights. The narrative emphasizes the gradual progress of school integration, despite ongoing resistance, with a mention of James Meredith's enrollment at the University of Mississippi in 1962, which mirrored the Little Rock events.
This unfinished civil rights-era film details how segregation affects the daily lives of African Americans, and includes portions of interviews with James Farmer, Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, and Ralph Metcalfe. Farmer, Wilkins, and Young were considered to be among the “Big Four” leaders in the U.S. civil rights movement, along with Martin Luther King, Jr. The film also describes the strides and challenges faced by African Americans in the areas of voting, housing, and education. The film was written by Louis Lomax, produced by Willard Van Dyke, directed by Graeme Ferguson, and narrated by Charles Gordone.
Keywords
education, integration, civil rights, Little Rock, federal troops, violence, segregation, James Meredith, University of Mississippi, President Eisenhower
Complete Record: Email us at footage@avgeeks.com if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project. Discusses the significant progress made in education for African Americans, focusing on the events in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957 when Black students faced violence while trying to integrate an all-white school. President Eisenhower intervened by sending federal troops to protect the students' rights, highlighting the federal government's commitment to upholding civil rights. The narrative emphasizes the gradual progress of school integration, despite ongoing resistance, with a mention of James Meredith's enrollment at the University of Mississippi in 1962, which mirrored the Little Rock events. This unfinished civil rights-era film details how segregation affects the daily lives of African Americans, and includes portions of interviews with James Farmer, Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, and Ralph Metcalfe. Farmer, Wilkins, and Young were considered to be among the “Big Four” leaders in the U.S. civil rights movement, along with Martin Luther King, Jr. The film also describes the strides and challenges faced by African Americans in the areas of voting, housing, and education. The film was written by Louis Lomax, produced by Willard Van Dyke, directed by Graeme Ferguson, and narrated by Charles Gordone. Keywords education, integration, civil rights, Little Rock, federal troops, violence, segregation, James Meredith, University of Mississippi, President Eisenhower
Transcription
To most Negroes, the most important progress has been in the field of education. This is Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957, when Negro students encountered violence in their attempt to register at a previously all-white school. Traditionally in the South, schools had been segregated. So, it is not surprising that there was opposition when the Supreme Court ordered schools to integrate, but violence could not be tolerated. President Eisenhower ordered in federal troops to support the rights of the Negro students. To the eyes of the world, the fact of violence tended to obscure the true meaning of Little Rock. Its importance was that it demonstrated to those who opposed integration that they would ultimately have to give way. Negroes rights would be upheld by the federal government. Eventually, these students were admitted, educated, and graduated. Today in Little Rock, this school is peacefully integrated. Year by year, integration of schools has proceeded, but there have been some holdouts. One of these was the University of Mississippi. In 1962, the Little Rock story was repeated there when President Kennedy sent in federal troops to ensure James Meredith's right to enroll and to pursue his studies.
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Original permalink · Record added: 2026-05-22 13:25:41