U-Matic

African American World Festival 1989
Tape 2, Synopism #2, Fri/Sat, Fashion Show[sic]

U-Matic tape number two from a series of seven shot at the 1989 African World Festival in Hart Plaza. This tape features the second portion of a panel discussion about apartheid in South African and the civil rights movement in the United States, as well as followed by the first portion of the festival's opening ceremony.

The beginning of the recording of the panel overlaps slightly with the ending of tape 2015.008.180. Here Prexy Nesbitt talks about the regional scope of the apartheid issue, connects it to labor issues, mentions the role of the church in the movement, and then suggests actions for listeners. Next, Lisa Crumes discusses the role of women in the movement. The recording stops during part of her speech, then resumes at a later point. Finally Marth Norman gives her presentation. She begins by singing "Freedom Is a Constant Struggle," and then she explains the importance of students and young people in the United States' Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and '60s. She notes the importance of youthful traits to the movement such as openness and an acute sense of fairness.

After a gap of approximately thirty seconds, containing part of a television broadcast and a test pattern, the African World Festival footage resumes with brief shots of the Dodge Fountain set to music.

The remainder of the tape contains the first portion of the festival's opening ceremony. First, a woman introduces the master of ceremonies Ali Abdullah, a Detroit-based African dancer and educator. Abdullah then takes the microphone and begins with a prayer. Neighborhood City Hall director Willie Fowler appears next with an official proclamation from Mayor Coleman A. Young honoring the festival. Museum of African American History director Dr. Juanita Moore accepts the proclamation. Then Michigan state Representative and honorary festival chairperson Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick addresses the crowd. In her speech, she mentions both the recently departed Texas Congressman Mickey Leland, and Nelson Mandela. Afterward Representative John Conyers speaks. He explains that he is headed to Mickey Leland's funeral in Texas after the ceremony, and he talks about Leland's work for Ethiopia. He also recognizes Eugene Gillmer, the director the Museum of African American History, and drummer Sundiata Keita. The tape cuts shortly after City Council member Maryann Mahaffey takes the stage next. The ceremony is continued on tape 2015.008.182.

The video is on a 3M UCA-60 U-Matic tape with a handwritten 3M label on its top. The tape is housed within a black plastic latching case with a matching label on its cover.