Series: The Ten O'Clock News
Date: 1991-02-25
Duration: 00:05:36

Subject: Harvard University; African American; Authors
People: Haley, Alex; Jones, Marcus;
Geography: Cambridge (Mass.)|

Clip Description
Marcus Jones reports that Alex Haley (author) discussed African American history and his work at a Black History Month event at Harvard University. Jones notes that Haley is in great demand as a speaker during Black History Month. Jones' report includes footage of Haley speaking to students and faculty at Harvard. Jones interviews Haley. Haley talks about how he came to write the novel Roots. Haley also discusses the importance of African American history and the importance of Black History Month. Haley believes that Black History Month is important because it draws attention to African American history. Haley says that he is concerned about a lack of historical awareness among African Americans. Jones's report is accompanied by footage from the television series based on Roots.

Series Description
A local program aimed at the Boston audience, The Ten O'Clock News debuted on January 15, 1976. Its two immediate predecessors were The Reporters and Evening Compass. A news and public affairs show focusing on neighborhood, local and state issues, The Reporters was produced and broadcast on WGBH from 1970 to 1973. The Reporters was then replaced by Evening Compass, which expanded into a twice-nightly news broadcast during the tense moments of Boston's busing crisis. On the air from 1973 to 1975, Evening Compass found an audience through its in-depth coverage of school desegregation in Boston, which began in 1974. The Ten O'Clock News stood out as an in-depth news program. It strove for a balance between local and national stories, between politics and the Arts. The last The Ten O'Clock News program was broadcast on May 30, 1991.

See also: http://main.wgbh.org/ton/programs/7869_01