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African American Studies in college

Description: Carmen Fields reports on differing opinions of the African American studies program at Harvard University. Interviews with Harvard professors Harvey Mansfield and Orlando Patterson. Mansfield says that conservative scholars are excluded from the African American studies program at Harvard. He adds that the program is too political and not concerned enough with the study of the African American experience. Mansfield calls African American studies an "advocacy major" which promotes a certain point of view. Patterson notes that many academic departments are too political. He adds that history and English departments also often teach history from only one perspective. Patterson says that African American studies offers an inter-disciplinary approach to the study of one area of life. Patterson discusses his concerns over the lack of African American scholars entering academia. Fields's report is accompanied by footage of the Harvard campus and footage of students in a class taught by Derrick Bell at the Harvard Law School.
1:00:05: Carmen Fields reports that Harvey Mansfield (professor, Harvard University) has been a professor of government at Harvard University since 1965; that Orlando Patterson (professor, Harvard University) has been a professor of sociology at Harvard since 1970. Fields says that both men believe that students should learn about the African American experience; that Mansfield is critical of how it has been taught. V: Shots of Mansfield; of Patterson; of Harvard students in a lecture hall. Footage of Mansfield being interviewed by Fields. Mansfield says that teaching on the African American experience has been politicized; that teaching on the African American experience has been forced to be "politically correct." Mansfield says that the Afro-American Department at Harvard is too concerned with questions of power and the status of African Americans at Harvard; that the Afro-American Department is not concerned enough with the black experience in America. Shots of Harvard students in a lecture hall. Fields reports that Mansfield believes that African American Studies departments have lost sight of the richness and diversity of the African American experience. Fields reports that Mansfield believes that "leftists" and "liberals" are encouraged in the departments; that Mansfield believes that African American conservatives are ignored. V: Footage of Mansfield being interviewed by Jones. Mansfield says that African American conservatives are not welcomed by the Afro-American Department at Harvard. Mansfield says that the limited scope of the department has a bad effect on the university. Shot of Harvard Yard through one of the gates. Fields reports that Mansfield believes that African American studies departments turn academics into activism. Fields reports that Mansfield says that African American Studies departments and Women's Studies departments design their majors to promote particular points of view. V: Shot through an iron gate of the window to a classroom. Footage of Mansfield being interviewed. Mansfield says that "advocacy majors" promote certain points of view. Mansfield says that the classes for these majors presuppose a certain viewpoint; that questions are not raised; that professors address a "rally" of like-minded people. Footage of Patterson being interviewed. Patterson says that many history and English departments contain like-minded professors and like-minded students; that many of these departments take a narrow view of their subject. Patterson says that American history was taught in a narrow way until the 1960s and 1970s; that history and English are still taught in a narrow way in some places. Fields reports that Patterson agrees that overly politicized departments are a problem; that Patterson is more worried about a lack of African American scholars. Fields reports that there has been a decline in African American scholars since the late 1960s. V: Shot of Derrick Bell (Professor, Harvard Law School) teaching a class at Harvard Law School in December of 1990. Shots of the students in Bell's class. Footage of Patterson being interviewed. Patterson says that he is concerned about the low numbers of African American students entering graduate schools in all areas. Patterson says that the African American culture does not have an "intellectual tradition." Patterson says that African American culture has made major contributions to American life. Fields reports that African American Studies departments may encourage more African American students to pursue higher education in a variety of fields. V: Shots of students on the Harvard campus; of Bell teaching a class; of an African American female student in Bell's class. Footage of Patterson saying that African American Studies offers an inter-disciplinary approach to the study of a particular area of life.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 02/27/1991

Al Capp interview

Description: Interview with Li'l Abner cartoonist and political satirist Al Capp in his Cambridge home. He talks about evading his father's creditors, and scheming to take semesters at various arts schools around the city. He says he likes the Boston view of the world, and talks about the influence Boston has had on his work. He talks about turning conservative. He criticizes American presidents, calling Gerald Ford ‘clumsy’ and Jimmy Carter ‘weak.’ He talks about working on Li'l Abner with a team of men.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/04/1977

Alex Haley

Description: Marcus Jones reports that Alex Haley discussed African American history and his work at a Black History Month event at Harvard University. Haley is in great demand as a speaker during Black History Month. Haley speaks to students and faculty. Interview with Haley, who 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; 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.
1:00:10: Visual: Footage of Alex Haley (author) walking into a building with two other men. Marcus Jones reports that February is the busiest month of the year for Haley; that February is known as Black History Month. V: Shot of Haley standing up as an a small audience applauds for him. Footage of Haley being interviewed by Jones. Haley says that he will speak at thirty-two different venues during the month of February, 1991. Jones reports that Haley discussed history and his work with students and faculty at Harvard University today; that Haley will speak at Salem State College this evening. V: Shots of Haley speaking to students in a room at Harvard University. Shots of the students. Shot of the cover of Haley's novel, Roots. Jones reports that Haley told the story of his own family in Roots; that Haley is in great demand as a speaker during Black History Month. V: Footage Haley being interviewed by Jones. Haley says that people tend to talk about black history as if it is separate from American history. Haley says that black history is a part of American history; that people who claim to know American history must be familiar with black history. Haley says that American history has many components; that historians of American history must also know Native American history. Jones reports that Haley says that he does not court controversy. Jones reports that Haley is known for documenting the life of Malcolm X (African-American leader); that Malcolm X is a controversial figure. V: Shot of the cover of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Footage from the TV series, Roots. Jones reports that history is always controversial; that Haley learned the power of history when he traced his family tree back to Africa. Footage of Haley being interviewed by Jones. Jones asks Haley about his motivation for writing Roots. Haley says that he had heard family stories from his grandmother and her sisters; that his initial motivation was curiousity. Haley says that the civil rights movement made him begin to think about Africa and his roots there; that his grandmother had told him stories handed down about Africa. Footage from Roots. Jones reports that all newcomers to the US are aware of their roots; that Haley is concerned about the lack of historical awareness among African Americans. V: Footage of Haley being interviewed by Jones. Haley says that most images of cowboys in the old west are of white cowboys; that more than half of the cowboys in the old west were African American. Haley says that it is important for young African Americans to know that African Americans were also cowboys. Haley says that young African Americans need to know the part played by their people in American history. Haley says that young African Americans cannot grow up thinking that they are the same as white people. Haley says that young African Americans need to be able to identify with other African Americans. Shots of Haley speaking to students at Harvard; of the students. Jones reports that Haley is not a critic of the limited attention given to black history during one month per year. Jones reports that Haley does not see Black History Month as "tokenism." Jones says that Haley sees Black History Month as an opportunity to encourage people to explore their roots. V: Footage of Haley being interviewed by Jones. Haley says that Black History Month is necessary because it sets aside a block of time to concentrate of black history. Haley says that he hopes that successive Black History Months in the coming years will leave a strong imprint on the popular perception of black history. Footage from Roots.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 02/25/1991

Andrew Young at Harvard

Description: Andrew Young, Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He takes questions about the UN, divestment from South Africa, the Middle East peace process and the Carter Administration. He also discusses his transition from the civil rights movement to politics. Young has a good rapport with the students in the audience.
0:00:44: Visual: Andrew Young (Ambassador to the United Nations) speaks at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. A representative from the school sits on stage while Young speaks. Young talks about the Trilateral Commission. He says that the Trilateral Commission "is the rich people of the world getting together to talk." Young says that UN has been criticized for being a part of the "Western Bloc"; that five members of the UN Security Council are western nations; that the UN must make policy with all nations in mind. Young describes UN efforts to initiate an arms embargo against South Africa; that the UN resolution on South Africa was not as strong as many would have liked; that the resolution is effective because all of South Africa's trading partners have agreed on it. Young mentions the "North-South dialogue." He says that it is important for nations to deal with issues like trade, debt relief and foreign aid as a group; that the Trilateral Commission is a negotiating group. Young says that there are competition and adversarial relationships among members of the Trilateral Commission; that the members of the Trilateral Commission are competing with each other, not with the Third World. 0:04:12: V: Young responds to an audience member's question about the UN Security Council. Young says that the US, France and England are permanent members of the Security Council; that France and Canada hold two of the rotating seats. Young has a good rapport with the crowd. The crowd laughs at his jokes. An audience member asks about UN policy in Africa. Young says that he does not think pressure should be put on US corporations to divest from South Africa. Young adds that companies would continue to invest in South Africa through complicated transactions using foreign subsidiaries. Young notes that the students at Harvard should be learning all about the complicated finances of multi-national corporations. Young says that nothing would change through divestment; that US corporations are complicit with the government of South Africa; that change can be wrought through the guilt felt by these corporations. He notes that the students should continue to put pressure on Harvard's Board of Directors to divest from South Africa. He says that students should be idealistic, while administrators like him must be realistic. An audience member asks about the Carter Administration's policy in the Middle East. Young says that Jimmy Carter (US President) has been willing to expend political capital pushing for a peace settlement in the Middle East. Young says that Carter has never tried to impose peace on the parties involved in the conflict. Young says that Anwar Sadat (President of Egypt) has moved boldly to move the peace process forward; that the Carter Administration must work with Sadat; that the USSR must be forced to participate in the peace process; that the USSR will undermine the peace process if they are not involved. Young notes that Sadat and the Soviets have had a difficult relationship. 0:12:55: V: An audience member asks how he can remain morally conscious when the policy he conducts for the US is not always morally conscious. Young says that protest movements in the 1960s have led to a reawakening of the nation's moral conscience; that the Carter Administration was voted into office by morally conscious voters. Young notes that it is easier to protest than it is to govern; that the Carter Administration is staffed with idealistic, moral people of all races and ethnicities. Young notes that he chose to enter politics to put his ideals into action; that effective change can be made through politics as well as protest. Young talks about his experiences in the civil rights movement and the movement against the Vietnam War. Young says that there was a logical progression from the protest movements of the 1960s to the politics of change in the 1970s. Young says that he took his post in order to effect change in foreign policy; that foreign policy issues and domestic policy are closely related; that he has not compromised his ideals in performing his job. Young jokes that he tries to stand up for what is right while doing his job; that he might be looking for a new job someday because of that; that perhaps Harvard will hire him if he ever needs a job. The audience laughs at the joke. 0:18:30: V: An audience member asks Young if he has seen an increase in "television diplomacy." Young says that he has seen an increase in "television diplomacy." Young responds to another audience question. Young says that the Carter Administration is staffed with people who are advocating change; that these people were outside of politics before. Young notes that Ernie Green (Assistant Secretary for Manpower) was one of the students who integrated Little Rock High School in 1958; that Green is working hard to create jobs within the African American communities; that he has been working on the problem for only six months. Young notes that an African American lawyer from Harvard helped prepare the brief for the Bakke court case. Young notes that Patricia Harris is Carter's Secretary for Housing and Urban Development. Young says that African American organizations needs to work within the structure of the government; that the activists in the civil rights movement were working with the Kennedy Administration in the early 1960s.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 12/06/1977

Blizzard second day

Description: Blizzard of '78. Snow falling and blowing. People digging out on Western Avenue. Plow on Storrow Drive. Chains on truck tires. Students and dogs on Harvard Square streets blanketed with snow. Cross-country skiers and people on snowshoes. Shots inside the news van, with radio reports on blizzard in the background. People trudge along Mt. Auburn St. and Mass. Avenue in Cambridge; some carry provisions on sleds. Massachusetts Avenue street sign. Man shovels out storefront. Deep snow banks. Tractor trailer jackknifed on Mass Ave. bridge over Charles River. People wait in line in front of White Hen Pantry.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 02/07/1978

Boston sights compilation

Description: Boston landmarks: swan boats at Public Garden, Bunker Hill Monument, Old Ironsides, State House, Paul Revere statue, Hancock tower, Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market, Gardner Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, rowers on Charles River, two views of skyline, City Hall plaza, Harvard Yard and Widener Library, Hatch Shell on Esplanade, New England Aquarium.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News

Celebrity poetry reading

Description: Bill Murray, Christopher Reeve, Stockard Channing and other celebrities assemble at Sanders Theater for a poetry reading. Interview with Reeve on performing in Boston. William Alfred (Harvard professor) on Anglo-Saxon poetry.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/17/1989

Compilation tape

Description: Regina Maris ship. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg unveils JFK sculpture model. Michael Dukakis and William Bulger pose for picture with the statue. Soviet ambassador Yuri Dubynin give speech at Kennedy Library on nuclear weapons control; Jerome Wiesner, McGeorge Bundy, Ted Sorenson, Edward Kennedy. Christian Science Twitchells story. Steven Pierce on revenue in the State House chambers. Massachusetts National Guard building. Illegal immigrant raid at Suffolk Downs. Justice Department seal. Excerpts from Charles Stark Draper films, including lecture, "Theory of Inertial Guidance" from 1961, "The Airplane at Play" from 1931, with audio from a 1976 lecture, and 1976 dedication ceremony in Technology Square.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/01/1988

Derrick Bell

Description: Hope Kelly reports that more than a dozen students at Harvard Law School have filed a lawsuit which charges the school with discriminatory hiring practices. Kelly notes that Derrick Bell (Professor, Harvard Law School) supports the lawsuit, but thinks it will be difficult to win. Kelly reports that Bell has taken an unpaid leave of absence from the school to protest the lack of diversity among the faculty. Kelly interviews Bell. Bell talks about the culture at Harvard Law School and about the need for a diverse faculty. Bell says that he has taken a leave of absence because it is important to make sacrifices in order to advance one's beliefs. Kelly reports that Bell is teaching a seminar called "Civil Rights at the Crossroads." She notes that Bell is not paid for the course and that the students receive no credit. Kelly's report includes footage of Bell and his students in class. The students discuss the importance of diversity at the school. Kelly notes that there are three African Americans and five females among the sixty-six tenured professors at Harvard Law School. Kelly reports that the school has failed to provide a set of role models reflecting the diversity of the student body.
1:00:10: Visual: Footage of Derrick Bell (Professor, Harvard Law School) teaching a class. Hope Kelly reports that Derrick Bell is one of sixty-six tenured professors at Harvard Law School; that only two of Bell's colleagues are also African American. Kelly notes that there are no Asian, Latino or Native American professors at the school; that there are no African American female professors at the school. V: Footage of Bell's class. A white female student says that the school needs a woman of color on the faculty in order to provide a wider perspective on issues of women in international development and on issues of human rights. Shots of students in the class. Kelly reports that more than a dozen Harvard Law School students have signed on to a lawsuit which charges the school with discriminatory hiring practices. Kelly reports that many experts think the lawsuit will be difficult to win. V: Footage of Bell being interviewed by Kelly. Bell says that US courts only understand race discrimination if it is obvious. Bell says that Harvard Law School has not prohibited African American women and other minorities from being hired onto the faculty. Bell says that Harvard Law School will not hire a professor who does not share the Harvard culture. Kelly reports that the culture at Harvard Law School is overwhelmingly white and male.. Kelly notes that only five of the sixty-six tenured professors are women. V: Shots of students in Bell's class; of Bell's hands as he makes gestures while speaking. Footage of Bell being interviewed by Kelly. Bell says that all professors teach a perspective; that all professors have a worldview. Kelly reports that students in Bell's class think that their perspectives are being "whitewashed." V: Shots of students in the class. Footage of an African American male student saying that diversity and quality do not have to be mutually exclusive. Shots of Bell at the front of the class. Kelly reports that Bell's seminar is called "Civil Rights at the Crossroads." Kelly reports that students have flocked to the class. Kelly notes that the students receive no credit for the course; that Bell receives no salary for teaching the course. Kelly reports that Bell is on unpaid leave. Kelly reports that Bell says that he will stay on leave until a woman of color is hired onto the faculty. V: Shots of Bell and the students in class. Footage of Bell being interviewed by Kelly. Bell says that he is a teacher; that teachers teach best by example. Bell says that he has always tried to teach law students about the importance of taking risks and making sacrifices. Bell says that real success stems from standing up for one's beliefs. Bell says that he must practice what he teaches. Kelly reports that Bell is passing up a salary of more than $100,000 per year. Kelly notes that Harvard Law School has continued to provide him with his office, a secretary and a classroom in which to teach. Kelly reports that Harvard Law School has failed to provide a set of role models which reflect the diversity of the student body. V: Shots of students walking on the campus of Harvard Law School. Shots of Bell in the classroom; of an African American female student in Bell's class.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 12/03/1990

Derrick Bell threatens to leave Harvard

Description: Meg Vaillancourt reports that Derrick Bell (Professor, Harvard Law School) has announced that he will take a voluntary leave of absence from Harvard Law School until an African American female is granted tenure. Vaillancourt notes that Harvard Law School has only five tenured female professors and three tenured African American male professors on staff. She adds that the student body is 25% minority and 40% female. Vaillancourt's report includes footage of Bell speaking at a student demonstration. Bell makes his announcement. Bell adds that it is necessary to make sacrifices to advance one's beliefs. Students applaud Bell. Many students hold protest signs. Three students address the demonstrators. They talk about the lack of minority faculty. Vaillancourt's report also includes footage of Louis Kaplow (Associate Dean, Harvard Law School) speaking at a press conference. Kaplow defends the school's record of minority hiring. Vaillancourt notes that Bell does not know if his act of conscience will have any effect on the school administration. Vaillancourt's report includes footage from May 1988, of Harvard Law School students occupying the dean's office to protest the lack of minority faculty. Following the edited story is additional footage of the demonstration, including law student Barack Obama introducing Derrick Bell.
1:00:09: Visual: Footage of Harvard Law School students at a demonstration outside of Harvard Law School. Meg Vaillancourt reports that Harvard Law School counts fifteen Supreme Court Justices among its alumni; that tenure is granted only to the academic elite. Vaillancourt reports that Derrick Bell (Professor, Harvard Law School) is a tenured professor who has announced his departure. V: Shot of a student at the demonstration. Footage of Bell at the demonstration. Bell says that he will remove himself from the Harvard payroll as a "sacrificial financial fast." Bell says that he is not trying to coerce his colleagues; that he is trying to honor a commitment to those responsible for his presence at Harvard. The students applaud. Shots of the media and students at the demonstration. Vaillancourt reports that Bell was the first African American to be granted tenure at Harvard; that he was granted tenure in 1969. Vaillancourt reports that Bell has decided to take a leave of absence until an African American female is granted tenure. V: Footage of Bell saying that students have already enrolled in his classes; that he can ill afford to live for a year without his salary. Bell says that he he has urged students to take risks to further their beliefs; that he must do the same. Shots of students holding a sign reading, "Where are our tenured black women professors?" Shots of students applauding for Bell; of female students holding signs reading, "Come out of the ivory tower" and "No education without representation." Vaillancourt reports that approximately 500 students are supporting Bell's decision; that student are urging alumni to boycott Harvard's current fundraising drive. V: Footage of an African American female student addressing the crowd of demonstrators. She says that Robert Clark (Dean of Harvard Law School) has plans to improve the school by building a new library; that he should instead improve the school by making the faculty more diverse. The students applaud. A white male student holds a sign reading, "reflect reality." Footage of a Latina female student saying that Bell has set an example for all of the students. The student says that she has not role model at the school; that there are no Latino or Latina professors on the faculty. Footage of an African American female student addressing the demonstrators. The student says that people must make sacrifices to advance their cause. Shot of Bell outside of a Harvard Law School building, with chanting demonstrators. Vaillancourt reports that Bell is giving up a salary of more than $100,000 per year. Vaillancourt notes that students have staged sit-ins to protest the lack of minority faculty; that the issue has been contested for nearly twenty years. V: Footage from May, 1988 of a student sit-in at the dean's office in the administration building of Harvard Law School. Students study textbooks as they occupy the office. Vaillancourt stands on the campus of Harvard Law School. Vaillancourt reports that there are 1600 students at Harvard Law School; that nearly 25% are minority students; that nearly 40% are women. Vaillancourt notes that the Harvard Law School faculty has 5 tenured female professors and three tenured African American male professors. V: Footage of Louis Kaplow (Associate Dean, Harvard Law School) speaking at a press conference. Kaplow says that Harvard Law School only hires a few people each year; that some years they do not hire anyone. Kaplow says that positions at Harvard Law School are often permanent; that hiring decisions are made carefully and cautiously. Vaillancourt reports that Kaplow spoke at a press conference after Bell's announcement. Vaillancourt notes that Kaplow does not believe that Harvard Law School will make any significant changes to its hiring practices. V: Shots of student demonstrators in the audience of the press conference. The demonstrators stand together, raising linked arms. Some demonstrators hold protest signs. Footage of Kaplow saying that Harvard's hiring has been fully 50% minority and women over the past eight to ten years; that Harvard's job offers have been fully 50% minority and women over the past eight to ten years. Kaplow says that Harvard is making an effort; that Harvard has kept some positions empty in an effort to locate minority and women candidates. Shots of the students at the press conference. Shots of student demonstrators marching outside a Harvard Law School building. Vaillancourt reports that Bell does not know if his act of conscience will have any effect on the school's hiring record; that Harvard will have only two tenured African American professors if Bell leaves. V: Shots of student demonstrators with linked arms upraised. Footage of Bell addressing the demonstrators. Bell says that he hopes that student persistence will prevail for those minority candidates who deserve to be on the faculty. Bell says that hopes to be able to remain on staff if the students succeed.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/24/1990