Film Overview

The African Burial Ground: An American discovery is a four part series designed for in-classroom use by young adults, principally US high school students. A general audience interested in the history of the African American experience in New York, urban archeology or social activism will also find these programs fascinating.

Part One, The Search, explores the search and discovery of the African Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan. It examines the archeological dig that resulted in unearthing the remains of some 400 African men, women and children.

Part Two, a History, presents the never-before-told-story of the history of Africans and African Americans in New York City from 1613 until July 4th, 1827 -- NYC's Emancipation Day.

Part Three, Politics and the People, documents the impact of local citizens upon the African Burial Ground. Witnessing the conflict between "the people" and an agency of the United States Government, this segment highlights an essential and important civics lesson: how citizens can change the course of history.

Part Four, An Open Window, presents the long-range impact of the African Burial Ground and its greater cultural effect on art, literature, history, science and education in the United States.

Narrated by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee
Music by Lonette McKee, Bryant McNeil and Jamshied Sharifi
Original Illustrations by Charles Lilly
Written by Christopher Moore
Produced & Directed by David Kutz
Total running time: approximately 2-hours
Produced by Kutz Television, Inc for the United States General Services Administration

Primary Interviewees:
Part One:
MAYA ANGELOU, AUTHOR & POET
DR. THOMAS J. DAVIS, HISTORIAN, SUNY BUFFALO
DR. NAN A. ROTHSCHILD, ARCHEOLOGIST, BARNARD COLLEGE
DR. JAMES SHENTON, HISTORIAN, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
WILLIAM DIAMOND, US GENERAL SERVICES ADMIN.
DR. MICHAEL BLAKEY, ANTHROPOLOGIST, HOWARD UNIV
Part Two:
DR. LEO HERSHKOWITZ, HISTORIAN, QUEENS COLLEGE
DR. THOMAS J. DAVIS, HISTORIAN, SUNY BUFFALO
DR. THELMA FOOTE, HISTORIAN, UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
DR. SHERRILL WILSON, URBAN ARCHEOLOGIST
Part Three:
CLAUDINE BROWN, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
MIRIAM FRANCIS, CONCERNED CITIZEN
ADAM CLAYTON POWELL IV, NYC COUNCIL
REV. HERBERT DAUGHERTY, HOUSE OF THE LORD CHURCHES
DAVID PATERSON, NYS SENATOR
REV CANNON L.S. CASSON, VICAR OF TRINITY CHURCH
RUTH MESSENGER, MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT
GUS SAVAGE, FMR. US CONGRESSMAN, CHAIR PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COM.
DR. JOHN HENRIK CLARKE, HISTORIAN
LAURIE BECKELMAN, COMMISSIONER, NYC LANDMARKS
DAVID N. DINKINS, FMR. MAYOR, NEW YORK CITY
HOWARD DODSON, CHAIR, NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Part Four:
OSSIE DAVIS, WRITER & STORYTELLER
DR. MAYA ANGELOU, AUTHOR & POET
CHESTER HIGGINS, JR, PHOTOGRAPHER, NEW YORK TIMES
CHARLES LILLY, ARTIST
DR. MARY FRANCIS BERRY, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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