Black Journal: 18; Malcolm X Liberation University: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A film clip with the title “Malcolm X Liberation University.” The clip is a short documentary made for National Educational Television's Black Journal television program. In it, producer St. Clair Bourne chronicles the opening of Malcolm X Liberation University in North Carolina. The film consists of a single reel of 16mm color acetate film with optical sound (2012.79.1.68.1a), an original 400-foot film reel (2012.79.1.68.1b), and an original 400-foot film canister (2012.79.1.68.1c).

The film opens with a student meeting/rally at Duke University, in which one unidentified student speaker (male) states why they no longer wish to participate in a system they don't believe speaks to the needs of African American college students. A male narrator begins to speak, explaining what the Black Student Movement at Duke University was and how it originated and morphed into a separate institution. An interview with Howard Fuller begins to play, and he expresses why he doesn't believe in institutionalized black studies programs. Footage of him announcing the opening of Malcolm X Liberation University begins to play and is followed by clips of the opening celebratory parade and rally. The narrator describes the new university's proposed curriculum and study abroad program in Africa.

Howard Fuller addressed the crowd by reading a statement from Stokely Carmichael and introduced guest speaker Betty Shabazz. During her speech, white train workers in a nearby train yard rang a train car bell to interrupt her speech. A visiting professor who was in attendance climbed on top of the train car and silenced the bell so Betty Shabazz could finish her speech. A small group of women sing "The Black Magician" onstage. Courtland Cox, a representative from Malcolm X Liberation University's sister school in Washington, DC, closed the ceremony. The film ends with an interview with Howard Fuller speaking on the role of Malcolm X Liberation University and hopes to play in the black liberation struggle.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1969
• Produced by: St. Clair Bourne, American, 1943 - 2007
• Produced by: National Educational Television, American, 1954 - 1970
• Produced by: William Greaves, American, 1926 - 2014
• Interview of: Howard Fuller, American, born 1941
• Subject of: Malcolm X Liberation University, 1969 - 1973
• Subject of: Betty Shabazz, American, 1934 - 1997
• Subject of: Malcolm X, American, 1925 - 1965
• Subject of: Harambee Singers, American, founded 1966
• Type: sound films
• Type: color films (visual works)
• Type: short subjects
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: acetate film and metal
• Dimensions: Physical extent (film): 320 ft
• Dimensions: Duration: 10 min.
• Place filmed: Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America
• Place filmed: Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Civil Rights
• Topic: Education
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Islam
• Topic: Public television
• Topic: Race discrimination
• Topic: Race relations
• Object number: 2012.79.1.68.1abc
• 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: © National Educational Television Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.