Refugees in Our Backyard: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A documentary film with the title Refugees in Our Back Yard. It consists of two (2) reels of color 16mm polyester film with optical sound.

The documentary explores the controversies surrounding mass migration of undocumented Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans into the United States in the late 20th century. It touches on issues such as the impact of civil unrest in Central America; dangers undocumented migrants face on their journey; the policies of the U.S. State Department as well as some of the challenges undocumented migrants face while living in the U.S.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1990
• Directed by: Georges Nahitchevansky
• Directed by: Helena Pollack Sultan
• Owned by: D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
• Type: sound films
• Type: color films (visual works)
• Type: feature films
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: polyester film
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 1): 26 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 950 Feet
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 2): 31 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 1100 Feet
• Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: El Salvador, Latin America, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Guatemala, Latin America, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Nicaragua, Latin America, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Documentary films
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Humanitarianism
• Topic: Immigration
• Topic: International affairs
• Topic: Politics
• Object number: 2017.55.102.1ab
• 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.