16mm b-roll of “Karate Meets Jazz” segment aired on Black Journal: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

B-roll film of a segment of "Episode 4" of Black Journal, the National Education Television (NET) television program.

It consists of a 16mm acetate film strip (2012.79.1.87.1a) with perforations running along one edge, frames in the middle and a bi-lateral optical sound track running along the right edge. The film opens with Karate Master John Blair leading a class. Blair himself is dressed in black karate gi, while the students are dressed in casual wear. At one point, Blair closes his eyes and recites, “I will know who I am. I will keep my mouth shut. I will practice every day. I will respect myself. I will respect other men.” The students repeat each sentence.

In another scene, which takes place in a blue room, Blair plays a guitar alongside a jazz band. Karate master Ronald Taganashi warms up by doing a kata choreography while the band plays in the background; the band improvises to Taganashi’s moves. Moments later, Blair joins Taganashi and both engage in kumite as the band improvises to their moves.

An original metal film canister (2012.79.1.87.1c) also accompanies the film strip. One side of the canister has two labels: the first has [NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION] printed on the top, and the second has [CHAMBA EDUCATIONAL FILMS] printed on it. The other side of the canister features a blue, beige, and white label, [CHAMBA EDUCATIONAL / FILM SERVICES] is printed on the top and below [“KARATE” / B. Roll / ControL] is handwritten in ink.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: September 11, 1968
• Produced by: William Greaves, American, 1926 - 2014
• Produced by: National Educational Television, American, 1954 - 1970
• Subject of: John Blair, American, 1943 - 2006
• Subject of: Ronald Taganashi, American, died 1992
• Type: sound films
• Type: color films (visual works)
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: acetate film and metal
• Dimensions: Physical extent (film): 190 ft
• Dimensions: Duration: 4 min., 42 sec.
• Place filmed: Harlem, New York, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Journalism
• Topic: Public television
• Topic: Sports
• Topic: Variety shows (Television)
• Object number: 2012.79.1.87.1ac
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.