Description: Marcus Jones reports that a shrinking school budget may force teacher layoffs in the Boston Public School System, and a final federal court order may require layoffs to be based on affirmative action quotas instead of union seniority. White teachers with seniority are at odds with newer minority teachers. Members of the Boston Teachers Union picketing outside of the Boston School Department. The president of Concerned Black Teachers of Boston, Robert Marshall, speaks at a press conference. Marshall says that seniority is a biased and discriminatory criterion for determining layoffs. Interview with Boston Teachers Union President Edward Doherty, who says that more minority teachers must be hired. He adds that affirmative action quotas should not force white teachers out of their jobs. At a Boston School Committee meeting Antonieta Gimeno, a parent, tells the School Committee that Haitian, Asian, Cape Verdean, and African students find no reflection of their heritages in the school curriculum or in the school faculty. The federal court withdrew from supervision over the Boston Public schools last month, but deep-seated racial problems still plague the system.
1:00:10: Visual: Footage of teachers picketing in front of the headquarters of the Boston School Department at 26 Court Street. Teachers hold signs reading, "No layoffs." Shots of individual teachers in the picket lines. Marcus Jones reports that the federal court no longer oversees the operation of the Boston Public School System; that the teachers have a new contract which includes a salary increase and more input into decisions affecting the schools. Jones notes that Dr. Laval Wilson (former Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) has left the school system. Jones reports that the Boston Public School System is still underfunded and racially divided. V: Shot of Joseph McDonough (Interim Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) walking to his seat at the front of the Boston School Committee chambers. Footage of Edward Doherty (President, Boston Teachers Union) standing in front of the School Department headquarters. Doherty says that next year will be difficult unless teacher lay-offs can be avoided. Shots of teachers picketing the School Department headquarters. Jones reports that more than 150 teachers may be laid off this summer; that the city of Boston has refused to grant McDonough's $409 million budget request. Jones notes that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) has said that the schools must make do with a budget request of $400 million. Jones reports that the final federal court orders require lay-offs to be based on affirmative action quotas instead of union seniority. Jones notes that white teachers with seniority are at odds with newer minority teachers. V: Shot of Robert Marshall (President, Concerned Black Teachers of Boston) holding a press conference. Supporters stand behind him. Shot of teachers unfurling a union banner in front of the School Department headquarters. Footage of Marshall speaking at the press conference. Marshall says that minority teachers and progressive white teachers have urged the Boston Teachers Union not to appeal the federal court orders. Marshall accuses the Boston Teachers Union of racism. Marshall says that the Boston Teachers Union continues to defend seniority; that seniority has been ruled to be a biased and discriminatory criterion. Footage of Doherty being interviewed by Jones outside of the School Department headquarters. Doherty says that more minority teachers must be hired; that white teachers should not be forced out of their jobs by affirmative action quotas. Doherty says that minority teachers should look at the unfairness of the situation. Footage of Antonieta Gimeno (parent) standing with other parents at the front of the Boston School Committee chambers. Members of the Boston School Committee are seated in their seats at the front of the chambers. Gimeno says that the parents have come to protest the School Committee meeting. Gimeno holds up a sign reading, "We demand excellence for all children." The audience applauds Gimeno. Gimeno says that School Committee meetings are a "mockery" and an "insult" to the intelligence of community members. Shots of one of the parents at the front of the chambers with Gimeno. Jones reports that disgruntled parents aired their grievances before today's School Committee meeting. V: Footage of Gimeno saying that Haitian, Asian, Cape Verdean, and African students find no reflection of their heritages in the school curriculum or in the school faculty. Jones stands outside the chambers of the Boston School Committee. Jones reports that the federal court closed the books on school desegregation in Boston last month; that there remain deep-seated racial problems in the system. Jones reports that there may be a court battle concerning faculty desegregation in Boston Public Schools.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/19/1990
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
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
Description: Meg Vaillancourt reports that Jesse Jackson visited Harvard Law School to join student protests over the school's minority hiring practices. Vaillancourt notes that Jackson supports Derrick Bell (Professor, Harvard Law School), who has announced that he will leave his post to protest the school's poor affirmative action record. Derrick Bell is Harvard's first African-American tenured professor. Vaillancourt reports that there are only five tenured female professors and three tenured African American male professors out of sixty-one tenured professors at the school. Vaillancourt's report includes footage of Jackson addressing students at the school. Barack Obama is seen among students in the background. Jackson shakes hands with Bell and condemns the school's affirmative action record. Vaillancourt notes that the school administration has refused Jackson's offer to act as a mediator on the issue. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson accused Harvard Law School of institutional racism and sexism. She adds that Robert Clark (Dean, Harvard Law School) issued a statement defending the school's hiring practices. Vaillancourt's report features footage of Bell at a student demonstration at Harvard Law School in April 1990 and footage of Jackson at a student demonstration. This tape includes additional footage of Jackson addressing demonstrators at Harvard Law School.
1:00:05: Visual: Footage of Jesse Jackson (African American political leader) speaking at Harvard Law School. Jackson says that affirmative action is a response to years of denial by law. Shots of the audience listening to Jackson in a lecture hall at the school. Meg Vaillancourt reports that Jackson's visit to Harvard Law School attracted national attention to the controversy over the school's minority hiring practices. V: Footage of Jackson addressing the audience. Jackson says that it is an error and an insult to say that there is no African American woman qualified to be a tenured professor at Harvard Law School. Shots of the audience. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson visited the school to support Derrick Bell (Professor, Harvard Law School). Vaillancourt notes that Bell was the first African American to be granted tenure at Harvard Law School. Vaillancourt reports that Bell has announced that he will leave his post to protest the school's poor affirmative action record. V: Shot of Jackson and Bell shaking hands in the conference hall. Footage from April 24, 1990 of Bell at a demonstration on the campus of Harvard Law School. Bell addresses student demonstrators. Bell says that he he has urged students to take risks to further their beliefs; that he must now do the same. Shot of demonstrators holding a sign reading, "Where are our tenured black women professors?" Vaillancourt reports that Bell will take a leave of absence until the school adds a woman of color to the faculty. Vaillancourt notes that there are 61 tenured professors at the school; that three of those professors are African American; that the African American professors are all male. Vaillancourt reports that half of the students at Harvard Law School are women; that there are only five tenured female professors; that there are no Latino or Asian law professors at the school. V: Shots of Bell and Jackson entering the lecture hall; of students standing and applauding for Bell and Jackson. Shots of white and African American female students in the audience. Shot of Jackson, Bell and a white woman raising linked arms at the front of the lecture hall. The students applaud. Vaillancourt reports that the school seems ready to accept Bell's departure; that Robert Clark (Dean of Harvard Law School) declined to speak on camera about the school's hiring practices. Vaillancourt reports that Clark issued a statement in which he defended the slow pace of change at Harvard Law School. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson has accused Harvard of institutional racism and sexism. V: Shot of students demonstrators on the Harvard Law School campus on April 24, 1990. Footage of Jackson addressing student demonstrators outside on the campus of Harvard Law School. Student supporters stand behind him. Jackson says that Harvard should negotiate with Bell and the student demonstrators. The demonstrators applaud Jackson. Vaillancourt stands outside of a building on the Harvard Law School campus. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson met briefly with Clark today; that the school has refused Jackson's offer to act as a mediator on the issue of faculty diversity. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson called for a reexamination of race relations in the US during his speech at Harvard Law School. V: Footage of Jackson addressing an audience in a lecture hall at Harvard Law School. Jackson says that most people in the world are not white nor are they males. Jackson says that these people cannot wait for some archaic standard to allow them to be appraised as worthy by white males. Shots of students in the audience. Shot of Jackson entering a room. Jackson shakes hands and embraces Bell. Jackson shakes hands with other Harvard Law School professors and officials. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson has called for a new Kerner Commission; that the Kerner Commission issued a study twenty years ago which concluded that white America and black America were separate and unequal. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson praised Bell for his courage; that Jackson called on Harvard Law School faculty to support Bell. V: Footage of Jackson addressing an audience in the lecture hall. Jackson talks about the sacrifices made by Rosa Parks (civil rights activist) and Martin Luther King (civil rights leader). Jackson says that Bell is taking a principled stand; that Bell is drawing attention to the problem of racism and sexism at Harvard. Shots of Bell at a demonstration on the Harvard Law School campus on April 24, 1990. Shots of Bell addressing a demonstration outside of a building on the Harvard Law School campus today. Jackson stands beside Bell. Student demonstrators stand behind them. The demonstrators raise their linked arms. A demonstrator holds a sign reading, "diversity now." Vaillancourt reports that faculty were scheduled to vote today on a resolution encouraging diversity. Vaillancourt notes that Harvard officials say that a personal matter forced the dean to end the meeting before the resolution came to a vote. Vaillancourt notes that the vote was not rescheduled.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/09/1990
Description: Carolyn Sawyer reports that a group of unemployed laborers are picketing the construction site of the new Post Office in Dudley Square in Roxbury. The picketers are demanding that fifty percent of the laborers on the site be residents of the Roxbury community. Press conference held by the picketers at the site. Rev. Graylan Hagler from the Church of the United Community says that the men will not go away with "crumbs." Picketers Ivan Singleton, James Gun, and Ron Nelson also speak out at the press conference. Interview with Stephen Coyle of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, who is trying to mediate the dispute. Coyle says that the community is legitimately concerned about the high rate of unemployment among residents. He adds that he expects similar protests during upcoming construction projects. Sawyer reviews the agreement concerning minority participation in the construction project.
1:00:37: Visual: Footage of Graylan Ellis-Hagler (Church of the United Community) speaking at a press conference held at the construction site of the new Post Office in Dudley Square. A group of African American men stand behind Ellis-Hagler. Ellis-Hagler says that he and the men will not go away with "crumbs." Ellis-Hagler says that if his men do not work, then nobody works. Shots of the Post Office construction site in Dudley Square. Carolyn Sawyer reports that no one has worked at the Post Office construction site since last Friday. Sawyer reports that picketers have refused to be moved. V: Footage of Ivan Singleton (unemployed laborer) speaking at the press conference. Singleton says that he lives in the community; that laborers on the construction site are coming in from outside of the community. Singleton says that he wants to work on the site. Footage of James Gun (unemployed laborer) speaking at the press conference. Gun says that unemployed laborers in the community are not working on any of the construction jobs in the community. Shot of the Post Office construction site. Sawyer reports that the workers want the fifty percent of the laborers on the site to be residents of the Roxbury community. Sawyer notes that federal law requires minority participation to be ten percent. Sawyer reports that the Post Office has agreed to hire 30% of the work force from the community. V: Shot of a Post Office building in the city. Footage of Stephen Coyle (Boston Redevelopment Authority) being interviewed in his office. Coyle says that the Post Office has satisfied the law and made an agreement with the community. Coyle says that the community is not satisfied. Coyle says that the Post Office and the community appear to be on a collision course. Sawyer reports that Coyle is charged with keeping the project on schedule; that the project is due to be completed next August. Sawyer notes that Coyle met separately today with Suffolk Construction (general contractor of the construction site), with Post Office officials and with Roxbury residents. V: Footage of Coyle being interviewed by Sawyer. Coyle says that the community has legitimate concerns; that unemployment rates are high. Sawyer reports that he expects more of these kinds of disputes in the future. V: Footage of Coyle being interviewed by Sawyer. Coyle says that there will be more tension surrounding upcoming construction projects; that there are not enough jobs and contracts for everyone. Coyle says that he hopes the public sector will engage in more capital projects in the future; that an increase in capital projects would ease the tension. Sawyer reports that government budgets are tight; that more capital projects appear unlikely. V: Shots of the Post Office construction site; of an African American man at the press conference. Footage of Ron Nelson (unemployed carpenter) at the press conference. Nelson says that laborers are coming in from outside to take food from the mouths of community residents. Nelson says that money from the construction is not circulating in the community. Nelson says that the unemployed laborers will continue to picket until they are allowed to work.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 12/21/1990