Description: Commissioner Robert DiGrazia, Boston police and US marshals stationed outside South Boston High. Black students exit school, get on bus. Buses slowly come and go. Many officials mill about on sidewalk. Headmaster Jerome Wynegar talks to Joseph Jordan. Later, white students flow out of school en masse. Comments, some racist, from the crowd waiting outside the school can be overheard.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/14/1976
Description: Marcus Jones reports on city-wide preparations for Nelson Mandela's visit. Jones report includes footage of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) and a group of city officials raising the flag of the African National Congress (ANC) on City Hall Plaza and footage of preparations for a rally on the Esplanade. Jones interviews Maurice Lewis (Public Affairs Director, WBCN radio) and a senior from the Jeremiah Burke High School about Mandela's visit. Jones reports that more than 4,000 people are expected to take part in a Walk For Freedom from Roxbury to the Esplanade. Jones notes that students from the Trotter Elementary School will perform for Mandela at a reception. Jones interviews Trotter Elementary School students about Mandela. Jones' report includes footage of Trotter school students rehearsing a musical piece. Students make posters in preparation for Mandela's visit. Jones notes that vendors are selling souvenir merchandise with images of Mandela. Jones interviews Jacob Abdul Khllaq (General Manager, A Nubian Notion) about the books, T-shirts and posters sold at his store. Jones interviews Lisa Grant (resident) about Mandela. Jones' report includes footage of an African American man and boy talking about Mandela and footage from Mandela's visit to New York City.
1:00:07: Visual: Footage of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) and a group of city officials unfurling a flag of the African National Congress (ANC). The group of city officials with Flynn include Boston City Councillors Charles Yancey, Bruce Bolling, and David Scondras. Shots of the media assembled on City Hall Plaza; of the ANC flag being raised on a flag pole. Marcus Jones reports that there is much excitement surrounding the preparations for the arrival of Nelson Mandela (ANC leader) in Boston. V: Footage of Flynn addressing a gathered crowd. Flynn says that the people of Boston and the United Way will give Mandela a big welcome tomorrow. Shot of preparations being made on the Esplanade for Mandela's visit; of preparations at the Hatch Shell. Jones reports that Mandela's visit is as important as the visit by Pope John Paul II in the 1980s. V: Footage of Maurice Lewis (Public Affairs Director, WBCN radio) being interviewed. Lewis says that the whole city is pulling together to prepare for Mandela's visit; that the city of Boston is rising to the occasion. Shots of a group of people of diverse races walking along a street. Jones reports that more than 4,000 people are expected to take part in a Walk for Freedom tomorrow morning; that the walk will begin in Roxbury and end at the Esplanade. V: Footage of Loraine Sterling (senior, Jeremiah Burke High School) being interviewed. Sterling says that the organizers of the walk wanted to show their support for Mandela. Jones reports that students from the William Trotter Elementary School are rehearsing a prayer for Mandela; that the work was composed two years before. Jones reports that the students will perform for Mandela at a private reception tomorrow evening at the Copley Plaza Hotel. V: Shots of students rehearsing at the Trotter School. Shots of students rehearsing on stage; of a teacher watching the students; of students playing music on water glasses; of students playing percussion instruments; of students on stage. Footage of Priscilla Purvis (fifth grader, William Trotter School) being interviewed. Purvis says that Mandela helps people; that not everyone helps people. Footage of Molly Costello (fourth grader, William Trotter School) being interviewed by Jones. Costello says that Mandela fights for freedom; that he does not give up. Shots of students making posters in preparation for Mandela's visit. Shot of a sign reading, "Mandela, Roxbury loves you." Jones reports that Mandela's name and image appear on souvenir merchandise being sold across the city; that proceeds support Mandela's mission in South Africa. V: Shot of books about Mandela; of a woman putting pamphlets about Mandela on a rack; of T-shirts with Mandela's face; of buttons with Mandela's image. Shot of a worker in the store A Nubian Notion. The worker folds a Mandela T-shirt and puts it in a bag. Footage of Jacob Abdul Khllaq (General Manager, A Nubian Notion) being interviewed in the store. Khllaq says that people recognize the impact that Mandela has had on the world; that people want a piece of history. Footage of an African American man and a small boy standing in front of a poster of Mandela. The man tells the boy that Mandela is a great leader. Footage of Lisa Grant (resident) being interviewed. Grant says that Mandela has sacrificed twenty-seven years of his life. Grant says that Mandela is a hero. Shot of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela (wife of Nelson Mandela) in New York City with David Dinkins (mayor of New York City). This news story is accompanied by intermittent music.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/22/1990
Description: Air piece on replacement of nine antiquated Boston schools with new facilities by 1971. Reporter standup at the John A. Andrews School in South Boston. Interview with man from the Board of Education on the new schools that will have a greater capacity, which will be opened up to non-white students, in order to help with the racial imbalance in the Boston city schools. Exteriors of a school building. African American children get off of a bus and enter school.
Collection: WHDH
Date Created: 07/19/1969
Description: Compilation of stories and loose footage on the problem of racism in American and related issues. Bill Harrington 09/07/1967 air piece on the closing of two Roxbury schools, which resulted in the busing of students. Interviews with Massachusetts State Commissioner of Education Owen Kiernan and Boston Superintendent Ohrenberger. Cuts from unidentified panel discussion. Jim Pansullo 12/03/1967 air piece on anti-Semitism of Black Nationalists. He reports on a meeting of the American Jewish Congress, led by President Rabbi Arthur Lelyveld, who spoke on fighting poverty especially along racial lines. He also reports on Kenneth Clark's remarks on the tension. Series of interviews on 08/05/1967 with African American pedestrians on African American leaders and the Black Power movement, riots, and specifically Stokely Carmichael. More cuts from panel discussion. 12/14/1967 footage of Reverend James Groppi speaking at a church in Durham. N.H., on the current state of race relations in American. More cuts from panel discussion. Interview with a Richard Hatcher, the first African American mayor of Gary, Indiana, on metropolitan race relations.
Collection: WHDH
Date Created: 1967
Description: The film Common Ground is based on a book about the history of school desegregation in Boston. Christy George reports that a group of people who were involved in school desegregation in Boston watched the film together last night. Afterwards, they hold a discussion of the film. Former Mayor Kevin White says that the film provoked strong reactions in everyone. City Councilor James Kelly and Former School Committee Member Elvira "Pixie" Palladino speak out against busing. George Walker, a member of the Twymon family portrayed in Common Ground, speaks out against "closed communities." Jim Conway, a Charlestown resident, says that the film promotes a negative image of Charlestown. Lisa McGoff, a member of the McGoff family portrayed in Common Ground, and Cassandra Twymon, a member of the Twymon family portrayed in Common Ground, also speak at the meeting. McGoff says that the film concentrates on the negative events of the busing crisis. Twymon says that the film gives an accurate portrayal of her experiences as an African American student in a white school. George's report includes footage from the film. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: Jan von Mehren talks to students about school desegregation and race relations
1:00:03: Visual: Footage from the opening credits of the film, Common Ground from CBS/WHDH and Lorimar. Audio of Kevin White (former Mayor of Boston) saying that the film represents a piece of history; that no one should regret looking at piece of history. Christy George reports that the film, Common Ground, looks at the history of court-ordered school desegregation in Boston. George notes that a group of people who were involved in school desegregation in Boston watched the film together last night. V: Footage of White saying that everyone felt strong emotions after watching the film. V: Footage from the film, Common Ground. V: Footage of James Kelly (Boston City Council) addressing the gathering at the screening on March 19, 1990. Kelly says that there was something sacred about Boston's neighborhoods. Kelly says that busing for school desegregation "was not worth it." Footage of Cassandra Twymon (from the Twymon family portrayed in Common Ground) addressing the gathering at the screening. Twymon says that she is sorry that some people are "embarrassed" about what they did to Boston's schoolchildren. V: Footage from the film Common Ground. V: Footage of Elvira "Pixie" Palladino (former Boston School Committee member) addressing the gathering at the screening. Palladino says that forced busing always has been wrong and always will be wrong. Footage of George Walker (member of the Twymon family portrayed in Common Ground) addressing the gathering at the screening. Walker says that people need to realize that "closed communities" do not work. Walker addresses Palladino by name. V: Footage from the film Common Ground. V: Footage of Jim Conway (Charlestown resident) addressing the gathering at the screening. Conway says that men did not walk around Charlestown with open cans of beer while the mothers were demonstrating against busing. Conway says that the producers' image of Charlestown is not accurate; that the nation will see that image in the film. Footage of Lisa McGoff (member of the McGoff family portrayed in Common Ground) addressing the gathering at the screening. McGoff says that she did not attend any anti-busing meetings in barrooms; that the meetings did happen. McGoff says that bad things did go on in Charlestown. V: Footage from the film, Common Ground. George reports that Common Ground is a risky series for network television to air; that CBS is devoting four hours of prime time to the series. George reports that the movie is based on a book that tells the story of Boston's busing crisis through the experiences of three families. George reports that the book focuses on the experiences of Rachel Twymon, a widow who believed in the importance of education for her children. George reports that the book also focuses on the experiences of Alice McGoff, who believed in the importance of neighborhood communities. V: Footage from the film, Common Ground. George reports that the book also focuses on the adolescent experiences of Cassandra Twymon and Lisa McGoff. V: Footage of McGoff addressing the gathering at the screening. McGoff says that she and Twymon were kids who were trying to understand the situation as it happened. McGoff says that the film only shows the negative events during the busing crisis. McGoff says that the students were "guinea pigs"; that the success or failure of school desegregation has little to do with them. V: Footage from the film, Common Ground. V: Footage of Twymon addressing the gathering at the screening. Twymon says that people acted like the African American students were going to take over the school. Twymon says that she only wanted "to do her time" in school and return home. Twymon says that she did not want to deal with the added stress put on her by the busing crisis. Twymon says that she is glad the movie will air; that the movie gives an accurate portrayal of her experience. V: Footage from the film, Common Ground. George reports that the movie ends on a note of hope; that the argument at the screening continued after the film ended. V: Footage of Palladino addressing the gathering at the screening. Palladino says that now is not the time for this film. Footage of Walker saying that minorities are always told that the present is not the right time. Walker asks when the right time will come. Footage from the film, Common Ground.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/20/1990
Description: Marcus Jones reports on efforts to provide positive male role models for young African American boys through the Paul Robeson Institute for Positive Self-Development. Third and fourth grade boys attend the Institute every Saturday, and 25 men from diverse backgrounds assist the boys in developing their understanding of math, science and history. Interviews with Pamela Brodie and Delores Wilson, who are both teachers at the Holland Community School. Both teachers praise the program. Brodie talks about the need for positive male role models. Interview with Keith Motley, a member of the Paul Robeson Institute, about the program. Motley says that programs like this one can help to end the violence on the streets. Interviews with two African American boys who attend the Institute. Following the edited story is additional footage of Brodie and her students in class at the Holland School.
1:00:14: Visual: Footage of students in a classroom at the Holland Community School in Dorchester. Shot of students are getting out their textbooks. The students are seated at their desks. Pamela Brodie (teacher, Holland Community School) stands at the front of the room. Shot of students raising their hands to be called on. Most of the students are non-white. Marcus Jones reports that the majority of students in public elementary schools in Boston are non-white. Jones reports that most of the teachers are female. Jones notes that male authority figures are limited; that African American male authority figures are virtually absent. V: Footage of Brodie being interviewed. Brodie says that most school systems have a lot of female teachers. Brodie says that it is important to have positive male role models for students; that some students do not have a male role model at home. Brodie says that schools need more male role models. Jones reports that elementary school students are in their formative years. Jones reports that a group called Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts visit the Holland School to help students make the right choices. V: Shots of students eating lunch at their desks. Shots of an African American boys walking around the classroom. Footage of Keith Motley (Paul Robeson Institute) being interviewed. Motley says that the group wants to fight against violence; that education is necessary to end violence. Footage from the Paul Robeson Institute. An African American man addresses a group of African American boys. The man speaks from a podium, while the boys sit in seats. The man encourages the boys to be the best people they can be. The man says that the future depends on them. Jones reports that the organized effort to provide positive role models is called The Paul Robeson Institute for Positive Self-Development. Jones reports that African American boys from the third and fourth grades in the Holland and Fifield Schools are involved in the program; that the boys visit the African American Institute at Northeastern University on Saturdays. Jones reports that 25 men from diverse backgrounds assist the boys in developing their understanding of math, science, and history. Jones says that the Institute focuses on African American history. V: Shot of an African American man speaking to a group of African American boys in a classroom. The boys are seated at desks. Shot of a sign for the African American Institute on the exterior of a building. Shot of an African American man standing at the front of a classroom. African American boys are seated at desks. A second African American man leans on a chalkboard as the other man teaches. Shot of a group of African American boys in orange T-shirts standing in a circle. The boys hold hands. An African American man stands in the center of the circle. African American men stand in a circle surrounding the boys. Footage of an African American boy being interviewed by Jones. Jones asks if the teachers at the institute are teaching him to be proud of himself. The boy says yes. Footage of another African American boy being interviewed by Jones. The boy says that the program has taught him that he can do something else besides sell drugs on the street. Shots of Brodie standing in her classroom; of an African American boy flipping through a textbook. Jones reports that the Robeson Institute has been operating for a year; that the Robeson Institute has earned praise from parents and teachers. V: Footage of Delores Wilson (teacher, Holland Community School) being interviewed. Wilson talks about one of her students who has behavior problems. Wilson says that the student's behavior has improved since attending the Robeson Institute. Wilson says that the student now helps other kids. Footage of Motley being interviewed. Motley says that programs like the Robeson Institute should be promoted and encouraged; that men and women should get involved. Shot of the African American boys at the Institute standing in a circle while holding hands. African American men form a circle around the boys. An African American man stands in the center.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 12/13/1990
Description: Footage of the exterior of Roxbury High School on Greenville Street and footage of students in an English class at Roxbury High School. Pam Bullard interviews Roxbury High School students Domingo Rivera, Ramon Alicea, Crystal Roach, Mark Benjamin, and Chiman Lee about their experiences at Roxbury High School. The students talk about academic programs at the school, their college plans, the atmosphere at the school, and extracurricular activities and sports programs at the school. All of the students speak highly of Charles Ray (Headmaster, Roxbury High School). Footage of Ray greeting students in the hall as they change classes.
1:00:07: Visual: Shots of the exterior of Roxbury High School on Greenville Street. Shots of the plaster statues at the entrance of the school. One of the statues has a cigarette stuck in its mouth. A male student enters the school. Shots of the houses on Greenville Street. 1:02:24: V: African American and white students sit in a classroom at Roxbury High School. A white female teacher talks to them about a book. She asks one of the students to read a paragraph. An African American male student reads from the book. The teacher asks the students questions about the passsage from the book. Shots of the students in the classroom. The students look at their books. The teacher and the students continue to discuss the book. Shots of the students seated at their desks. 1:06:50: V: Pam Bullard interviews a group of Roxbury High School students in a classroom. The students tell Bullard their names: Domingo Rivera, Ramon Alicea, Crystal Roach and Mark Benjamin. Bullard asks the students questions about Roxbury High School. Roach says that she is an the college program and has an internship at State Street Bank. Roach talks about her internship at the bank. Roach says that she would like to go to college and hopes for a scholarship. Alicea says that he is in the college program and is involved in the Upward Bound Program. Alicea talks about the Upward Bound Program; he says that the Upward Bound Program is helping him prepare his college applications. Alicea says that he plays for the football team. Rivera says that he is also in the college program and is involved in the Upward Bound Program. Rivera says that he has taken an English class through the Upward Bound Program. Rivera says that he does not know where he wants to go to college. Benjamin says that he is also in the college program. He says that he wants to major in sciences when he goes to college. Bullard asks Benjamin if he likes the school. Benjamin says that he likes the school. He adds that the majority of the students get along well at the school. 1:11:41: V: Bullard interviews Chiman Lee (Roxbury High School student); Lee has joined the group in the classroom. Lee says that he has recently moved to Boston and has been at Roxbury High School for six months. Lee says that he likes the teachers and students at the school. Lee adds that he is enrolled in the bilingual program. Bullard asks Roach what she likes about the school. Roach says that the teachers are helpful; that everyone gets along well. Roach says that she attended Charlestown High School for one week; that she transferred to Roxbury High School because she did not like Charlestown High School. Roach says that she likes Charles Ray (Headmaster, Roxbury High School) and the teachers at Roxbury High School. Roach says that Ray is helpful and friendly. Benjamin agrees that Ray is concerned about the students at the school. Benjamin talks about how much he likes going to school at Roxbury High School. He adds that the teachers are eager to help the students with their problems. Bullard asks about extracurricular activities at the school. Roach talks about the sports program and the annual Fall Festival at the school. Benjamin says that the sports teams would be better if all of the students participated. He talks about the football and basketball teams. Benjamin says that basketball is the most popular sport. Bullard asks Rivera about the baseball team. Rivera says that the baseball field is not very close to the school. He adds that it is inconvenient for some students to get to the field after school. Alicea says that the football team will be good this year. Bullard closes the interview. 1:17:38: V: The WGBH camera crew films Charles Ray as he greets students in the hallway of Roxbury High School. Ray greets most of the students by name. Some of the students wave and strike poses for the camera. Many students pass Ray in the hallway as they change classrooms. Some students stop to retrieve books from lockers in the hallway. Ray speaks to a teacher about the bilingual program at the school. Ray jokes with the students and urges them to go to their classrooms.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/13/1978
Description: South Boston High exterior on first day of school. Press photographers stand around outside waiting for something to happen. Three upperclassmen say it is quieter inside since desegregation furor has died down, and learning can take place. They discuss news programs in the school. Several takes of reporter standup. Graffiti “stop forced busing” still visible on street. School bus arrives, lets off two black girls. Interview in front of School Committee headquarters with woman from Citywide Education Coalition who appraises current state of Boston schools: parents are involved and important to educational improvement; vocational education is woefully lacking; must upgrade reading and basic skills. “City can someday have an attractive and credible public school system.” She cautions that just because it is quiet now compared to the first years of busing, people should not assume the school system is okay; it still needs criticism and community input. Editor's note: Content given off the record was edited out of this footage.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/06/1978
Description: No audio at the beginning. The first day of school at South Boston High School during Phase II desegregation of Boston schools. Helmeted members of the Tactical Patrol Force and US Marshals are present in the school yard and on the street. Exteriors of the South Boston High School building. Headmaster William Reid (Headmaster, South Boston High School), Charles Barry (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department), Peter Meade (Mayor's Office) and others confer on the street outside of the school. White students approach on foot. Buses carrying African American students arrive with a police motorcycle escort. Two groups of press photographers are cordoned off behind ropes in front of the school. African American students exit buses. A police helicopter circles the area.
0:00:37: Visual: Two police officers stand on a street corner in South Boston. 0:01:17: V: Helmeted police officers from the Tactical Patrol Force line up in front of South Boston High School. Police radios are audible. Shots of South Boston High School. Media and onlookers are gathered on sidewalk. US Marshals and small groups of officials are in the schoolyard and on G Street in front of the high school. Police question a student as he enters schoolyard. 0:04:04: V: A group of police officers walk into the street and continue down the hill on East 6th Street. Three African American students exit a police car and walk into the schoolyard. William Reid (Headmaster, South Boston High School), Peter Meade (Mayor's Office), Charles Barry (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department), and others converse in the street in front of the school. Two white students enter the schoolyard. Police are stationed at entrance of school; students enter. 0:06:06: V: Police line the streets. A group of three white students enters the schoolyard. 0:06:46: Helicopter noise is audible. V: Schoolbuses with police motorcycle escort are visible down East 6th Street, making their way toward the school. A station wagon arrives; three women and a police officer help a student out of the wagon. Four school buses with a police escort pull up in front of the school. Shots of the news media cordoned off behind a rope on either side of the entrance to the schoolyard. Several African American students enter schoolyard. A group of students exit a bus prematurely. The students are told to get back on the bus by an official. Shots of buses lined up; of helicopters overhead. Officials converse on street. African American students exit buses and enter schoolyard. Shot through a crowd of the front entrance of the school.
Collection: Evening Compass, The
Date Created: 09/08/1975
Description: Exteriors of South Boston High School. South Boston environs. Large graffiti in crosswalk “Winegar [sic] we don't want you.” Black students stream off bus, walk toward front entrance. Jerome Wynegar stands by. Plainclothes US marshals with armbands and walkie-talkies. Police keep press photographers behind line.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/08/1976