Descriptions:
From These Roots | A Review of the Harlem Renaissance (1974)
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.
