GBH Openvault

Say Brother; Walpole: An Examination of Why

Part of Say Brother.

11/02/1979

In this clip Inmate Sunni Ali, A-1 Block, talks about the discriminatory application of the internal classification system whereby White prisoners serving shorter sentences than African Americans prisoners are given better cells and are more easily transferred to better facilities. Overall the program consists of interview highlights from Program 1005, "Walpole: Every Which Way But Loose." In "Walpole: Every Which Way But Loose," Say Brother production staff, under the direction of Barbara Barrow-Murray, offered an inside look at the policies, procedures, and inmates of the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Walpole, a maximum-security prison in Massachusetts. Interviews with Walpole's inmates and staff focused on the physical abuse of inmates, the discriminatory application of the internal classification system, the virtual absence of minority staff, and the punitive rather than rehabilitative position of the prison. Produced by Barbara Barrow-Murray. Directed by Brian Clarke.


License Clip
Series
Say Brother
Program
Walpole: An Examination of Why
Program Number

1006

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, Babatunde Olatunji, Byron Rushing, Owusu Sadaukai, and Sonia Sanchez. Series release date: 7/15/1968

Program Description

Half-hour program consisting of interview highlights from program 1005, "Walpole: Every Which Way But Loose." In "Walpole: Every Which Way But Loose," Say Brother production staff, under the direction of Barbara Barrow-Murray, offered an inside look at the policies, procedures, and inmates of the Walpole State Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison in Massachusetts. Interviews with Walpole's inmates and staff focused on the physical abuse of inmates, the discriminatory application of the internal classification system, the virtual absence of minority staff, and the punitive rather than rehabilitative position of the prison. Program was re-aired 2/12/1981.

Asset Type

Clip

Media Type

Video

Subjects
Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Walpole
Segregation
Prisoners--Classification
Correctional institutions--Massachusetts
Civil rights
Discrimination in criminal justice administration
Prison administration
African American prisoners
Genres
Magazine
Topics
Race and Ethnicity
Creators
Clarke, Brian (Director)
Deare, Beth (Associate Producer)
Barrow-Murray, Barbara (Producer)
Contributors
Hugentugler, Carol (Videotape Recordist)
Morton, Wil (Audio)
Smith, Lee (Camera)
Hudson, Harvey (Audio)
Johnson, Nat (Audio)
Smith, Kathy (Switcher)
Pugliesi, Joe (Videotape Recordist)
Koppel, Tilt (Switcher)
Merhar, Milan (Videotape Recordist)
Hill, Rebecca (Fashion Consultant)
Melendez, Calenia (Intern)
Lane, Frank (Camera)
Carey, Nancy (Intern)
Buccheri, Ron (Switcher)
Harriston, Renee (Intern)
Wong, Evelyn (Production Assistant)
White, Don (Video)
Holden, Dick (Camera)
Lewis, Webster (Theme Music)
Ehrman, Sally (Production Secretary)
St. Onge, David (Videotape Recordist)
Mackles, Gene (Graphic Designer)
Publication Information
WGBH Educational Foundation
Citation
Chicago: “Say Brother; Walpole: An Examination of Why,” 11/02/1979, GBH Archives, accessed December 21, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_F9A57376A00040D68818F31E579BA231.
MLA: “Say Brother; Walpole: An Examination of Why.” 11/02/1979. GBH Archives. Web. December 21, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_F9A57376A00040D68818F31E579BA231>.
APA: Say Brother; Walpole: An Examination of Why. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_F9A57376A00040D68818F31E579BA231
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