Al Jarreau performs "You Don't See Me"As part of the Say Brother theater piece entitled "Theatre in Reverse", Al Jarreau performs. . . > more |  |
Interview with blues and folk singer Elizabeth CottenBlues and folk singer Elizabeth Cotten talks to Topper Carew about her early childhood. The inspiration. . . > more |  |
"Since you asked..," with Galway KinnellPulitzer prize-winning poet, Galway Kinnell, answers questions that students might typically ask a poet. . . > more |  |
Series: Say Brother
Program: Our Aboriginal Brothers
Episode: 407
Date: 1974-11-21
Duration: 00:01:00
People: Sellers, Cleve
Clip Description
"Blast From the Past" features an interview with Cleve Sellers, member of the Cornell University development staff. Sellers comments on black studies programs in white institutions and what constitutes a viable program for black students.
Program Description
Program focuses on the culture of Australian aborigines. Host/interviewer Dighton Spooner speaks with Gulpilil and other Australians about music, ceremonies, instruments, costuming, and the requirements for the survival of Australia's aboriginal culture. Interviews touch upon offers from European companies to purchase tribal lands, Australia's attempts to restore its native culture, rules governing "mixed blood" in Australian government, the impact of African American leaders on Australia, the creative force behind aboriginal cultures, and European repression of native cultural tradition. Additional program segments include two mime performances by Halim Adbur Rashid (Fred Johnson), "Blast From the Past" (with an interview with Cleve Sellers, member of the Cornell University development staff), "Information" on college preparatory services, "Access" (on the services of the Council of Elders, Inc.), the "Community Calendar," and "Commentary" by Producer Marita Rivero. Original air date estimated. Produced by Marita Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.
Series Description
Say Brother is WGBH's longest running public affairs television program by, for and about African Americans, and is now known as Basic Black. Since its inception in 1968, Say Brother has featured the voices of both locally and nationally known African American artists, athletes, performers, politicians, professionals, and writers including: Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, Thomas Atkins, Amiri Baraka, Doris Bunte, Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichael, Louis Farrakhan, Nikki Giovanni, Odetta Gordon, Henry Hampton, Benjamin Hooks, Jesse Jackson, Hubie Jones, Mel King, Eartha Kitt, Elma Lewis, Haki Madhubuti, Wallace D. Muhammad, Charles Ogletree, Byron Rushing, Owusu Sadaukai, and Sonia Sanchez.
0:03:08 Segment titled "The Aboriginal Brother" begins. Interviewer Dighton Spooner speaks with (David) Gulpilil about his life in an Australian tribal society and asks: at what times they play their instruments (ceremonies, initiations, burials); how their instruments and weapons work; the most important thing their people needs to survive (culture); their ritual costuming; and offers from European companies to purchase the tribal lands. Segment contains footage of the Australians applying body paint of clay and charcoal, interacting with Afro American children and performing tribal dances. (Segment is assumed to have been filmed when Gulpilil was visiting Boston with other members of his tribe.) Filmed in Franklin Park.
0:18:12 Spooner sits with tribal members and an Australian of mixed heritage (half aboriginal, half Anglo Saxon) and questions them about aboriginal populations, how Australian is trying to connect to its "aboriginal soul" and restore culture to the black people there, rules governing welfare and recognition of mixed "blood" in Australian government, the impact of American black leaders in Australia, how they plan to keep their culture alive, the creative force behind aboriginal cultures; and the European repression of native cultural tradition.
0:27:56 Continued tribal dancing.
0:31:36 Segment "interlude" with Elma Lewis, who says "As Jesse Jackson said, hands that picked cotton in '54 pick presidents in 1974."
0:31:45 "Blast From the Past" segment featuring an interview with Cleve Sellers, then member of the Cornell University Development staff. Sellers comments on black studies programs in white institutions and what constitutes a viable program for black students.
0:39:50 "Information" segment, in which college preparatory services are discussed, such as selecting a college, preparing for admissions and securing financial aid. The Educational Talent Search Program is cited a a resource for more information. Narrated by Tom Sanders over a performance by a member of the Dance Theatre of Boston.
0:41:02 Mime performance titled "Older People" by Halim Adbur Rashid (Fred Johnson).
0:44:00 "Access" segment, in which the services of the Council of Elders, Inc. The Council was established in 1963, and offers Meals on Wheels, legal assistance, recreation, etc. Particular emphasis is on the Homemaker Assistance program. Narrated by Rita Prendergast, Secretary for the Council of Elders, Inc., over still photography.
0:49:01 "Community Calendar" segment, in which upcoming community and cultural events are listed to the music of Bobby Hutcherson from his album "Natural Illusions" (song: Sophisticated Lady).
0:55:05 "Commentary" by Producer Marita Rivero, who reads a narrative written by an ex-slave.
0:58:31 Credits roll.
