Browse Titles - 4 results
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Chinatown Files
directed by Amy Chen, 1957-; produced by Amy Chen, 1957- and Ying Chan (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 2001), 58 mins
Amy Chen’s acclaimed new documentary The Chinatown Files reveals the hidden story of Chinese-American men and women who were hunted down, jailed, and targeted for deportation during the Cold War hysteria of the 1950’s and l960’s. Their interviews are interwoven with rare home movies, photographs and archival...
Sample
directed by Amy Chen, 1957-; produced by Amy Chen, 1957- and Ying Chan (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 2001), 58 mins
Description
Amy Chen’s acclaimed new documentary The Chinatown Files reveals the hidden story of Chinese-American men and women who were hunted down, jailed, and targeted for deportation during the Cold War hysteria of the 1950’s and l960’s. Their interviews are interwoven with rare home movies, photographs and archival films exploring the prejudice and xenophobia surrounding U.S.-China relations. During the McCarthy era witchhunts, the loyalties of ov...
Amy Chen’s acclaimed new documentary The Chinatown Files reveals the hidden story of Chinese-American men and women who were hunted down, jailed, and targeted for deportation during the Cold War hysteria of the 1950’s and l960’s. Their interviews are interwoven with rare home movies, photographs and archival films exploring the prejudice and xenophobia surrounding U.S.-China relations. During the McCarthy era witchhunts, the loyalties of over ten thousand American citizens of Chinese descent were questioned based on their ethnicity and alleged risk to national security. Henry Chin, a laundry worker and president of the Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance and the China Daily News, describes how "Chinese immigrants came to America for a better life for themselves and the loved ones they left behind in their impoverished villages." Yet for sending money home, his friends were charged by the U.S. government for trading with the enemy and his life was shattered by constant FBI surveillance and harassment. Other people featured in the film include several members of Mun Ching, the Chinese American Democratic Youth League in San Francisco who were harassed by the FBI. Several agents speak candidly of the FBI objectives in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and New York. The Chinatown Files is a cautionary tale of how nationalist paranoia can quickly lead to racially-motivated violations of civil rights and liberties. It serves as a dramatic and enduring reminder of the fragility of constitutional protections, encouraging viewers to reexamine the democratic promises of the American government and to hold all of society responsible when rights are infringed. College Adult
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Field of Study
American History
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Amy Chen, 1957-, Ying Chan
Author / Creator
Amy Chen, 1957-
Date Published / Released
2001
Publisher
Filmakers Library
Topic / Theme
Chinese people, Citizenship, Communism, Immigrant populations, McCarthy Era, U.S., 1949-1954, American History, Post-war Era (1945–1960), Chinese, 20th Century in World History (1914--2000)
Copyright Message
Copyright © 2001. Used by permission of Filmakers Library. All rights reserved.
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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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A Deterrent Weapon
directed by Jakob Gottschau, fl. 2002; produced by Jakob Gottschau, fl. 2002 (Copenhagen, Capital Region (Denmark): DR Sales, 2008), 39 mins
When the USA exploded two nuclear bombs over Japan in 1945, it was perhaps the largest demonstration of power in the history of civilization. But there was more to follow, for the devastating explosions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were just the starting point of a desperate arms race between the USA and the Soviet...
Sample
directed by Jakob Gottschau, fl. 2002; produced by Jakob Gottschau, fl. 2002 (Copenhagen, Capital Region (Denmark): DR Sales, 2008), 39 mins
Description
When the USA exploded two nuclear bombs over Japan in 1945, it was perhaps the largest demonstration of power in the history of civilization. But there was more to follow, for the devastating explosions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were just the starting point of a desperate arms race between the USA and the Soviet Union - and during the next 40 years, the nuclear stockpiles of the super powers would grow at an alarming rate, leading, on several o...
When the USA exploded two nuclear bombs over Japan in 1945, it was perhaps the largest demonstration of power in the history of civilization. But there was more to follow, for the devastating explosions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were just the starting point of a desperate arms race between the USA and the Soviet Union - and during the next 40 years, the nuclear stockpiles of the super powers would grow at an alarming rate, leading, on several occasions, to the world being close to a nuclear war. It wasn’t until the end of the cold war that thousands of nuclear bombs were disarmed - and the world could once more breathe easy - at least for a while. Today, the number of countries with atomic weapon arsenals is on the increase ?and alongside the likelihood that terrorist groups could, any day, get their hands on this deadly technology, is greater than ever. The film makes use of significant archival footage to tell the story. Einstein, Oppenheimer, Truman, Stalin, Reagan, and many others are depicted as they grapple with the dilemma posed by nuclear weapons. Commentary by historians such as Prof. Lawrence S. Wittner, University of Wisconsin, and Scotland’s Prof. Gerard De Groot gives the viewer a perspective on past events. Roland Timerbaev, former UN ambassador from Russia, gives an insider’s view of the Soviet Union’s policy during the Cuban missile crisis, as well as Gorbachev’s efforts towards disarmament. College Adult
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Field of Study
American History
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Jakob Gottschau, fl. 2002, Brian Patterson
Author / Creator
Jakob Gottschau, fl. 2002
Date Published / Released
2008
Publisher
DR Sales
Speaker / Narrator
Brian Patterson
Topic / Theme
International relations, Nuclear warfare, Weapons testing, Cold War, 1945-1989, American History, Late 20th Century (1975–2000), Depression & World War II (1929–1945), Post-war Era (1945–1960), 20th Century in World History (1914--2000)
Copyright Message
Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of DR Sales. All rights reserved.
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The Powers of Congress
in Prelinger Collection, of United States. Library of Congress. Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Collection; produced by Coronet Instructional Films (Glenview, IL: Coronet Instructional Films, 1947, originally published 1947), 11 mins
This documentary features the powers of the United States Congress.
Sample
in Prelinger Collection, of United States. Library of Congress. Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Collection; produced by Coronet Instructional Films (Glenview, IL: Coronet Instructional Films, 1947, originally published 1947), 11 mins
Description
This documentary features the powers of the United States Congress.
Field of Study
Politics & Current Affairs
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Coronet Instructional Films
Date Published / Released
1947
Publisher
Coronet Instructional Films
Topic / Theme
Government functions, Laws and legislation, National government, Taxation, American History, Post-war Era (1945–1960), 20th Century in World History (1914--2000)
Copyright Message
Copyright owner is unknown. Alexander Street Press is eager to hear from any rights owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future. Any information concerning rights to this work can be sent to the editor at the address below.
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