The Black Woman, Pt 1

Duration: 12:00

Year Published: 1970

Complete Record: From film can: “Poetess Nikki Giovanni, singer Lena Horne, Bibi Amina Baraka, wife of poet-playwright Leroi Jones, and other Black women discuss the role of Black women in contemporary society and the problems they confront. Topics discussed include the relationship of Black women to Black men, Black women to white society, and Black women to the liberation struggle. Lena Horne condemns the arrest of Angela Davis which she fears may be ‘a calculated genocidal move...’ There is also singing by Roberta Flack and a dance by Lorretta Abbott, and poetry by Nikki Giovanni.” PART 1: Film begins with introduction by Exec Producer Tony Brown. Then to a TV studio where six women discuss what it means to be a black woman in society. The discussion is hosted by “Joan Harris, TV Hostess” and includes: “Martha Davis, Harlem Drug Fighters”; “Verta Mae Grosvenor, Author” (Vertamae Grosvenor); “Marian Watson, TV Producer”; “Amina Baraka (Mrs. LeRoi Jones), Committee for a Unified New Ark” (CFUN, co-founded by Amiri Baraka); and “Jean Fairfax, Legal Defense Fund.” Then a montage of photos of African Americans, over live performance footage of Novella Nelson singing. Then another TV studio where Nikki Giovanni reads a poem to Lena Horne. Giovanni then conducts an in-depth interview with Horne about her biography, her history as a performer and black woman. They discuss current events and race issues. Reel ends with dance performance by an uncredited dancer (likely Alvin Ailey dancer Loretta Abbott). Directed by Stan Lathan.