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The Democratic Promise: Saul Alinsky and His Legacy
directed by Bruce Orenstein, fl. 1999 and Bob Hercules; produced by Bob Hercules and Bruce Orenstein, fl. 1999 (Berkeley, CA: Berkeley Media, 1999), 56 mins
This exceptional and compelling documentary, narrated by Alec Baldwin, examines the life and legacy of legendary community organizer Saul Alinsky. From the late 1930s until his death in 1972, Alinsky led the movement to empower disenfranchised communities through collective action. Today, hundreds of community org...
Sample
directed by Bruce Orenstein, fl. 1999 and Bob Hercules; produced by Bob Hercules and Bruce Orenstein, fl. 1999 (Berkeley, CA: Berkeley Media, 1999), 56 mins
Description
This exceptional and compelling documentary, narrated by Alec Baldwin, examines the life and legacy of legendary community organizer Saul Alinsky. From the late 1930s until his death in 1972, Alinsky led the movement to empower disenfranchised communities through collective action. Today, hundreds of community organizations nationwide have embraced Alinsky's vision and are using it to reshape America's body politic. In a larger sense, the film ex...
This exceptional and compelling documentary, narrated by Alec Baldwin, examines the life and legacy of legendary community organizer Saul Alinsky. From the late 1930s until his death in 1972, Alinsky led the movement to empower disenfranchised communities through collective action. Today, hundreds of community organizations nationwide have embraced Alinsky's vision and are using it to reshape America's body politic. In a larger sense, the film explores the restoration of American democracy through shared public participation in civic life -- a vital concern in an era of increased citizen alienation and political apathy, even among college students.The first half of the film focuses on Alinsky's organizing methods and is filled with a rich combination of archival film clips and photographs as well as eyewitness testimonials. It provides case studies of three key Alinsky organizations to show the development of his methods over time. The Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council in Chicago's stockyards neighborhood was the pioneering first organization, started by Alinsky in 1939. The Woodlawn Organization, in Chicago's predominantly African-American South Side, was founded in 1959 and won several landmark concessions in important battles with Mayor Richard Daley's powerful Democratic Party machine. In the mid-1960s, the FIGHT organization in Rochester, New York, took on the Eastman-Kodak company over racist hiring practices and won a series of impressive victories.These three organizations show how Alinsky's ideas, in turn, influenced the Civil Rights Movement, the farmworkers' struggle, and many Vietnam-era political protests.The second half of the film jumps forward to the late 1990s and examines two contemporary organizations that share Alinsky's enduring legacy. The East Brooklyn Congregations is shown struggling with various New York City administrations to fulfill its goal of building 1,200 low-income housing units in one of America's most blighted neighborhoods. In Dallas, members of Dallas Area Interfaith are shown lobbying state legislators in an effort to increase funding for an innovative public education program called the Alliance Schools Initiative."The Democratic Promise" will inspire discussion and analysis in a wide variety of courses in American history and American studies, sociology, urban studies, political science, and African American studies, among other disciplines. It was produced by Bob Hercules and Bruce Orenstein and is a presentation of the Independent Television Service.
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Field of Study
American History
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Bob Hercules, Bruce Orenstein, fl. 1999, Alec Baldwin, 1958-
Author / Creator
Bruce Orenstein, fl. 1999, Bob Hercules
Date Published / Released
1999
Publisher
Berkeley Media
Speaker / Narrator
Alec Baldwin, 1958-
Person Discussed
Saul David Alinsky, 1909-1972
Topic / Theme
Democracy, Social activism and activists, Associations and organizations
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1999 Berkeley Media
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Senator Obama Goes to Africa
directed by Bob Hercules; produced by Keith Walker and Bob Hercules (New York, NY: First Run Features, 2007), 53 mins
Part personal odyssey and part chronicle of diplomacy in action, this timely documentary follows Barack Obama as he travels to the land of his ancestry. From South Africa to Kenya to a Darfur refugee camp in Chad, Obama explores the vast continent that is gaining increasing importance in this age of globalization....
Sample
directed by Bob Hercules; produced by Keith Walker and Bob Hercules (New York, NY: First Run Features, 2007), 53 mins
Description
Part personal odyssey and part chronicle of diplomacy in action, this timely documentary follows Barack Obama as he travels to the land of his ancestry. From South Africa to Kenya to a Darfur refugee camp in Chad, Obama explores the vast continent that is gaining increasing importance in this age of globalization.
The heart of the film is Obama's emotional homecoming to Kisumu, Kenya - his father's former home - where thousands of people turn ou...
Part personal odyssey and part chronicle of diplomacy in action, this timely documentary follows Barack Obama as he travels to the land of his ancestry. From South Africa to Kenya to a Darfur refugee camp in Chad, Obama explores the vast continent that is gaining increasing importance in this age of globalization.
The heart of the film is Obama's emotional homecoming to Kisumu, Kenya - his father's former home - where thousands of people turn out to greet him. In South Africa, we follow Senator Obama on a trip to Robben Island - the infamous prison where Nelson Mandela was jailed for 21 years. At a Darfur refugee camp in Chad, we see, through Obama's eyes, the devastating effects of genocide.
Throughout it all, Senator Obama narrates the film, giving his own perspective on the journey and the significance of Africa to U.S. interests.
Additional perspective is included through interviews with experts on African affairs as well as with U.S. political commentators.
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Field of Study
Politics & Current Affairs
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Keith Walker, Bob Hercules, Barack Obama, 1961-
Author / Creator
Bob Hercules
Date Published / Released
2007
Publisher
First Run Features
Speaker / Narrator
Barack Obama, 1961-
Person Discussed
Barack Obama, 1961-
Topic / Theme
International relations, International travel, Humanities
Copyright Message
Copyright © 2007. Used by permission of First Run Features.
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