BMA: Black Media Archive

Movie: "Murder on Lenox Avenue" (1941) is a story of the dramatic events in a Harlem apartment house that center around Pa Wilkins, chosen by the Better Business League to replace their ousted, crooked leader Marshall...who wants revenge; and Pa's ward Jim Bracton, a two-timing Romeo whose affairs are coming to a crisis. And hanging around is Marshall's murderous junkie henchman, Lomax. Will it all end in someone's being killed?

Movie: "Murder on Lenox Avenue" (1941) is a story of the dramatic events in a Harlem apartment house that center around Pa Wilkins, chosen by the Better Business League to replace their ousted, crooked leader Marshall...who wants revenge; and Pa's ward Jim Bracton, a two-timing Romeo whose affairs are coming to a crisis. And hanging around is Marshall's murderous junkie henchman, Lomax. Will it all end in someone's being killed?

This Walter Lantz cartoon (1938) is a mix of live action and animation. After a midnight storm disrupts an animation studio, a tribe of singing inkblots come to life, singing and dancing to the tune, "Voodoo in Harlem".

This Walter Lantz cartoon (1938) is a mix of live action and animation. After a midnight storm disrupts an animation studio, a tribe of singing inkblots come to life, singing and dancing to the tune, "Voodoo in Harlem".

Movie: The conclusion of "Moon Over Harlem" (1939), another "race movie" example that has been fortunately preserved, largely because of the cult status of its director, Edgar G. Ulmer. Hardworking Minnie (Cora Green) marries "Dollar" Bill (Bud Harris) a shady gambler after her money and her attractive daughter, Sue (Izanetta Wilcois). Sue meanwhile, is in love with Bob (Carl Hough), a young idealist. When Bob decides to organize the community against local racketeers he little realizes would-be father-in-law Dollar Bill is one of them. Bill meanwhile has problems of his own: A vicious white mob from lower Manhattan is muscling in on his action, and bullets are about to fly.

Movie: The conclusion of "Moon Over Harlem" (1939), another "race movie" example that has been fortunately preserved, largely because of the cult status of its director, Edgar G. Ulmer. Hardworking Minnie (Cora Green) marries "Dollar" Bill (Bud Harris) a shady gambler after her money and her attractive daughter, Sue (Izanetta Wilcois). Sue meanwhile, is in love with Bob (Carl Hough), a young idealist. When Bob decides to organize the community against local racketeers he little realizes would-be father-in-law Dollar Bill is one of them. Bill meanwhile has problems of his own: A vicious white mob from lower Manhattan is muscling in on his action, and bullets are about to fly.

Movie: "Moon Over Harlem" (1939) is another "race movie" example that has been fortunately preserved, largely because of the cult status of its director, Edgar G. Ulmer. Hardworking Minnie (Cora Green) marries "Dollar" Bill (Bud Harris) a shady gambler after her money and her attractive daughter, Sue (Izanetta Wilcois). Sue meanwhile, is in love with Bob (Carl Hough), a young idealist. When Bob decides to organize the community against local racketeers he little realizes would-be father-in-law Dollar Bill is one of them. Bill meanwhile has problems of his own: A vicious white mob from lower Manhattan is muscling in on his action, and bullets are about to fly.

Movie: "Moon Over Harlem" (1939) is another "race movie" example that has been fortunately preserved, largely because of the cult status of its director, Edgar G. Ulmer. Hardworking Minnie (Cora Green) marries "Dollar" Bill (Bud Harris) a shady gambler after her money and her attractive daughter, Sue (Izanetta Wilcois). Sue meanwhile, is in love with Bob (Carl Hough), a young idealist. When Bob decides to organize the community against local racketeers he little realizes would-be father-in-law Dollar Bill is one of them. Bill meanwhile has problems of his own: A vicious white mob from lower Manhattan is muscling in on his action, and bullets are about to fly.

Created by the US War Department, "The Negro Soldier" (1943) is a WWII recruitment and propaganda film aimed at African Americans.

Created by the US War Department, "The Negro Soldier" (1943) is a WWII recruitment and propaganda film aimed at African Americans.

On May 21, 1964 upon returning from his pilgrimage to Mecca, Malcolm X held a press conference.

On May 21, 1964 upon returning from his pilgrimage to Mecca, Malcolm X held a press conference.

Here, in his own words, Langston Hughes shares his poems: "Merry-Go-Round" and "The Explanation Of Our Times".

Here, in his own words, Langston Hughes shares his poems: "Merry-Go-Round" and "The Explanation Of Our Times".

This is part of an interview with Robert F. Williams, civil rights leader, author, and the president of the Monroe, North Carolina NAACP chapter in the 1950s and early 1960s.