NT-5010

Reel opens to Film Leader Countdown.

B&W footage - Actor/Activist Ossie Davis speaking into camera about having to look at what happened in Birmingham and about how the protest (not buying Christmas gifts) over this event is a moral call to arms, not an economic boycott. He emphatically states: "...we must look fully at what happened Birmingham on that Sunday and redirect the hand writing on the wall or maybe there won't be a Christmas next year or the year after for anybody, White, Black children or anybody else"

Slate: At Issue: (narration: a weekly commentary on events and people in the news)

Exterior B&W shot, and pan down on the First Federal Savings Bank with Christmas lights in the shape of Christmas trees.

Exterior window of a toy store, large signs in windows: "Toys" and many toys are seen in the windows, peds walking by.

Roy Wilkins, Executive Secretary for the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), talking with unseen unknown interviewer does not support the Christmas Boycott. He states "I do not see how I can visit upon a merchant who may be a supporter of the Civil Rights cause, an employer of negros a humanitarian"

Back with Wilkins responding to Davis. He states, "I am to say to a merchant in (var cities) - I hold you responsible for what happened in Birmingham?. Personally, I am unable to come to that point of view". He states he's tried and can't do it honestly, intellectually and emotionally.

Narration introduction of next commentator, the Editor of the Wall Street Journal, Vermont Royster. Royster speaking into camera to unseen interviewer talks about the implications of the boycott. He states that "economic power has been used for many years including our own Revolution (referring to the Boston Tea Party where British tea was dumped into the Harbor). He states he is not surprised about the Christmas Boycott - it's not unprecedented and the Negro people of the US do have economic power."

Cutaway to Woolworth's vertical building sign. Pan down on store front, protesters carrying signs walking by the building (grainy footage)

Long line of boycott marchers in front of Woolworth's store (most likely in Boston), carrying handmade signs - signs are illegible. grainy footage.

Zoom over to a snowy corner in Boston MA, Woolworth's retail store, cars parked, peds walking by.

Man wearing suit jacket standing in front of retail store, reading book

Closer up on boycotters, mostly white males, holding signs "End Lunch Counter Discrimination", "Support Carolina Students". policeman is seen amidst them.

Grainy footage, group of Black women standing waiting on sidewalk in front of "Elsey Parking Lot"

City bus, in Montgomery, Alabama driving by (circa late 1950's) - narrator discusses the Civil Rights first impact in securing a simple equal right, securing the right to sit on a bus wherever there's a seat.

Wide shot of bus driving by (late 1950's )

Shots of parked vintage station wagon (circa early '60's) and a group of Black people getting in - as narrator states that until Blacks got the rights to ride on a bus (thanks to Martin Luther King) and sit anywhere they wanted to , they carpooled.

Martin Luther King, Jr. at podium in Montgomery giving speech about the struggle for equal rights (as it pertains to riding on a bus).

Wide shot of seated African American audience singing. Group of white men standing over them looking on, some taking notes (could be press).

Pan down on same building - the monthly magazine Ebony headquarters.

Interview (interviewer is unseen) with Publisher and Editor of Ebony Magazine, John H. Johnson. John Johnson speaks about "the importance of the Negroes spending power."

Johnson responds to criticism about using African American models in ads as being condescending. Johnson defends this and states that Ebony's circulation has doubled which is testimonial to any disapproval by readers.

Johnson holding an ad from the pages of a national magazine of a beautiful girl and responds to it. He states he has a good reaction to it, the girl exhibits good feeling, life and youth, although she's dark in skin tone he states he doesn't feel it has a negative impact on the ad.

Frank Seymour, station manager of Detroit's African American interest radio station, WCHB talks with unseen, unknown interviewer about the station and its listeners. He talks about "the founding of the station and it being an effective means of reaching its vast Negro audience."

African American deejay at radio station in deejay booth with headsets on talking to listeners, doing his show. Narration

Exterior vertical signage on building: Listed under the word "Clinic" are the names of Doctors: S.B.Milton, M.D. Physician & Surgeon; R.H. Porter, M.D. Physician and Surgeon; F. W. Johnson, D.D.S. Dentist.

Dr. Milton at glass door leaving the Clinic.

Blurry shot of woman watering the plants inside home.

Interior shot of beautiful dining room in home (blurry)

Woman housekeeper watering plants interior room of home with a giant watering can.

Blurry shot, house plants on a small side table - narrator introduces Daisy Lucas a housekeeper from Harlem.

Older African American woman sitting at table with coffee cup, vintage white stove (burners covered with white lid) in bkgd.

Blurry close up shot of newspaper article.

Close up shot African American older woman, housekeeper Mrs. Daisy Lucas.

Cutaway to building in Chicago with "Supreme Life" signage across front.

A white man and woman standing inside a safe (a bank safe). The man walking out toward the camera followed by the woman.

African American man at large desk with papers strewn all over it.

Pan up on book shelves with white document binders neatly lined up.

African American women workers clocking out on time clock.

Earl Dickerson, President of Supreme Life Insurance Company.

Blurry night time wide shot, a huge neon building stands out all lit up

Mr. Dickerson seated at his desk, with narration.

Narrator is heard introduces African American, Herman McRae, Vice President of a NY ad agency, working at his desk with colleagues. McRae narrates about his satisfying 13 year career without ever feeling any discrimination, All the people that working under him are white and they respect him not as a boss but a friend.

B&W poster of a little black boy's face pinned to a wall

Man (Herman McRae)holding newspaper and dressed professionally in overcoat, suit, white shirt, tie and hat crossing street in New York City.

Roy Wilkins, Executive Secretary of NAACP, sitting in big chair at his desk, desk covered in papers. He talks with unseen interviewer about the discrimination against African Americans in the workplace . He states that ideally we shouldn't have Boycotts and ideally all people of all races should be treated fairly.

Show ends. Slate: The Christmas Boycott

End Reel.