From These Roots: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A documentary film with the title From These Roots. It consists of a single reel of black-and-white acetate film with optical sound. The film describes the history of the Harlem Renaissance through the use of narration by actor Brock Peters and still images, many of which were taken by James Van Der Zee. The documentary opens with a brief discussion of the various ethnic groups that occupied Harlem prior to the Renaissance, before moving to a discussion of significant African Americans that lived in Harlem and their contributions to the community. Some of the individuals discussed include A'Lelia Walker, James Van Der Zee, Adam Clayton Powell, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Josephine Baker, Ethel Walters, Bessie Smith, Fats Waller, Florence Mills, Paul Robeson, Marcus Garvey, Aaron Douglas and several others. Additionally, the narrator recites works of poets such as Claude McKay and Langston Hughes. Scholars such as Arturo Schomburg and literary publications such as Opportunity magazine and The Messenger are also examined. There is also footage of the 1917 Silent Protest Parade along New York City’s Fifth Avenue. At the end of the documentary, the narrator explores the question of what caused the Harlem Renaissance.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1974
• Directed by: William Greaves, American, 1926 - 2014
• Produced by: William Greaves, American, 1926 - 2014
• Written by: William Greaves, American, 1926 - 2014
• Narrated by: Brock Peters, American, 1927 - 2005
• Composed by: Eubie Blake, American, 1887 - 1983
• Photograph by: James Van Der Zee, American, 1886 - 1983
• Subject of: Adam Clayton Powell Jr., American, 1908 - 1972
• Subject of: Duke Ellington, American, 1899 - 1974
• Type: sound films
• Type: black-and-white films (visual works)
• Type: short subjects
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: acetate film
• Dimensions: Duration: 30 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 1100 Feet
• Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Art
• Topic: Documentary films
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Independent films
• Topic: Literature
• Object number: 2017.55.65.1a
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
• 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: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.