Soul!; 91; Black Woman

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This record is featured in “Televising Black Politics in the Black Power Era: Black Journal and Soul!.”
Series
Soul!
Episode Number
91
Episode
Black Woman
Producing Organization
WNET (Television station : New York, N.Y.)
Contributing Organization
Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip/512-p55db7wt4h
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Description
Episode Description
No men were allowed in the studio. The women wanted the program to be theirs, filmed by them to honor the accomplishments of America's black women. Salute to Black Women : A tribute to black womanhood in general, and to the talents of some very special black women in particular. Some of the group includes: singer Carolyn Franklin, poetess Nikki Giovanni, dancer-choreographer Carmen De Lavallade, composer-pianist Margaret Harris, actress Novella Nelson and many others. (Source: New York Times, Television, January 7, 1971) Miss Franklin follows in her sister Aretha's footsteps, but by no means remains in her shadow. On Soul! she sings, "Chain Reaction" and "Going in Circles." Her vocals are followed by Margaret Harris' powerful, original piano composition. And she is followed by lovely Carmen De Lavallade, whose dancer's grace is even evident in the movement of her fingers. She performs an original modern dance, interpreting a medley of Negro spirituals. The program attests to the fact that there are numerous talented black poetesses in this country. Seven women - some poetesses, some actresses, some both - read their own works or the works of others. Much of the poetry deals with the trials of "blackness," black power, love, and the treatment of black women by their men. Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Sandra Sharp and Jackie Early all read their own poetry. The poems of Marie Evans, Barabara Mahone, Jill Witherspoon, Lucille Clifton, Kay Lindsey and Paula Giddings are read by others. Nikki Giovanni, who is probably the best known black poetess in the country, reads "For Flora," "Household Cleaning," and "Revolutionary Dreams." Soul! closes with the reading of "Black Gold," a beautiful poem on black identity written by an anonymous poet and read by actress Novella Nelson and Anna Horsford. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Episode Description
Performers: Appearing tonight are: Actress Marilyn Berry, last seen on Public Television in Alice Childress' "Wine in the Wilderness. She has appeared in films and on Broadway. Poet Jackie Earley, who says that her general involvement is survival and her specific involvement, is revolution through change. Carolyn Franklin, the dynamic young singer-composer and writer of such hits as "Baby, Baby, Baby" and "Ain't No Way" and sister of singing star Aretha Franklin. Nikki Giovanni, author of "Black Feeling - Black Talk," "Black Judgment," "Re: Creation," and editor of "Night Comes Softly." She has appeared on SOUL! many times in the past. Anna Horsford, an actress who has worked in films and on the stage. Anna appeared in "Black Quartet" and is presently a member of the SOUL! staff. Pianist-composer Margaret Harris, currently the youngest music director and conductor on Broadway. She will perform her original composition. Carmen de Lavallade, who has been called "The beauteous symbol of today's total dancer." Wife of famous dancer/choreographer Geoffrey Holder. Novella Nelson, actress-singer who has appeared on SOUL! as a singer many times. Tonight Novella is performing as an actress. Poet Sonia Sanchez, author of two books of poetry "Homecoming" and "We a Badddddd People." She is paying a return visit to SOUL! Saundra Sharp, actress-singer-poet. Her credits include "Hello, Dolly!" and "To Be Young, Gifted and Black." "From the Windows of My Mind" is a collection of Saundra's poems. Program: Singer Carolyn Franklin sings "Chain Reaction," followed by pianist Margaret Harris performing her own composition "Collage One." Then dancer Carmen de Lavallade performs the choreography of Geoffrey Holder entitled "Come Sunday," followed by singer Carolyn Franklin again with two selections, "Goin' in Circles" and "I Ain't Got to Love Nobody." The poetry section begins with: 1. Poetess Jackie Earley reciting her composition entitled, "To Be a Woman," then 2. Actress Marilyn Berry recites "Childhood in the Grass" by Barbara Mahone 3. Poetess Nikki Giovanni recites her own "For Flora" 4. Actress Novella Nelson recites "For James" by Jill Witherspoon and 5. "For De Lawd" by Lucille Clifton 6. Poetess Jackie Earley recites her own "One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty Eight Winners" 7. Poetess Sonia Sanchez recites her own "For Alice" 8. Poetess Saundra Sharp recites her own "Black Persuasion" 9. Actress Novella Nelson recites "Now That I Am Forever With Child" by Audre Lorde 10. Poetess Saundra Sharp recites her own " Losing Me" 11. Poetess Nikki Giovanni recites her own "Household Cleaning" 12. Poetess Sonia Sanchez recites her own "Summer Words for a Sistuh Addict" and 13. "Answer to yo' Question" 14. Actress Marilyn Berry recites "Where Have You Gone?" by Mari Evens 15. Actress Novella Nelson recites "Sentimental Woman" by Barbara Mahone 16. Actress Marilyn Berry recites "Poem" by Kay Lindsey 17. Poetess Nikki Giovanni recites her own "Revolutionary Dreams" 18. Actress Anna Horsford recites "Rebirth" by Paula Giddings and 19. "High on the Hog" by Julia Fields 20. Actress Novella Nelson and Anna Horsford jointly recite "Black Gold" by unknown author.
Broadcast Date
1971-01-07
Broadcast Date
1971-03-18
Broadcast Date
1972-08-30
Created Date
1970-11-05
Asset type
Episode
Media type
Moving Image
Duration
01:01:29
Credits
Producing Organization: WNET (Television station : New York, N.Y.)
AAPB Contributor Holdings
Library of Congress
Identifier: 152889-1 (MAVIS Component Number)
Format: Betacam
Color: Color
Duration: 00:58:35
Library of Congress
Identifier: 152889-2 (MAVIS Component Number)
Format: 2 inch videotape
Color: Color
Duration: 00:58:35
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Citations
Chicago: “Soul!; 91; Black Woman,” 1971-01-07, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed April 27, 2024, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-p55db7wt4h.
MLA: “Soul!; 91; Black Woman.” 1971-01-07. Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. April 27, 2024. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-p55db7wt4h>.
APA: Soul!; 91; Black Woman. Boston, MA: Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-p55db7wt4h