Let Us Break Bread Together
Moving Image:Let Us Break Bread Together
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Let Us Break Bread Together is a short film from ca. 1954 released on 16mm. It is held in the Prelinger Archives collection.
A pictorial documentation which shows how integration and brotherhood are being promoted in a school district in New York City.
PA-4146 Let Us Break Bread Together
00:00:24:29 - 00:26:24:00 Color Sound c. 1954
"Let Us Break Bread Together: How Brotherhood Builds Democracy"
Semi-documentary film explaining pioneering New York City school
district intervisitation program designed to bridge racial &
cultural differences between children in predominantly White and
Black neighborhoods. Narrator (Harry I. Rothman) w/ strange
possible New England accent. 1950s NYC, United Nations building,
UNICEF. School & community meetings, classrooms mixed w/ staged
talking heads of children, parents (all mothers, no fathers) active
in school life (PTA), teachers. (Christianity, religion,
brotherhood, racism, education, integration, busing, ethnicity,
globalism).
00:00:24:29 - 00:03:57:02 Color Sound c. 1954
Beginning credits. Mixed ethnicity congregation sings sermon "Let
Us Break Bread Together." Talking head: NYC Superintendent of
Schools William Jansen introduces film, School district
intervisitation program designed to bridge racial, cultural
differences between White, Asian & Black students. Great PAN New
York City skyline. VO host "New York has stood for several hundred
years and still stands- as the gateway to freedom and opportunity."
(racism, ethnicity, tolerance, immigration, integration)
00:03:57:03 - 00:05:04:05 Color Sound c. 1954
Children in school classroom raise their hands. CU female teacher
(sound out-of-sync) asks class for reasons immigrants have come to
the United States. CU talking heads of 5 children. White boys-
freedom of worship, escape from "tyranny of kings." Black girl- "My
people are free now. They are proud to be Americans, but the
Negroes were brought here by wicked men who traded in slaves."
Japanese girl- overcrowding in Japan, desire to farm on land.
Puerto Rican boy- father wanted to be employed & provide good
education for children.
00:05:04:06 - 00:07:34:27 Color Sound c. 1954
VS street scenes NYC. Pedestrians, traffic. Host describes the
varied mix of the 8 million NYC residents. Italian-owned street
corner market in Little Italy (probably)- Chinatown. Black people
leave church after sermon. Host:" It is hard to weld a city into
unity when its people come from so many different backgrounds.
Japanese women in kimonos. (National customs, manners, language
create "differences that are barriers to easy understanding.") VS
Black children holding hands, group of Hispanic women sewing
(sewing bees), new American citizens pledge allegiance to U.S.
flag, White carpenter works on house. Host "All mankind- White,
Black, Yellow or Red loves, suffers, hopes, dreams, creates in the
same human way." White, Black women cradle their babies, Black
artist paints landscape. White artist paints portrait of young
Black girl
00:07:34:28 - 00:10:38:19 Color Sound c. 1954
Talking head. Black woman on NYC School District Community
Committee-says group is guided by principle "All men are brothers."
District includes Peoples of more than 50 nationalities. Committee
meets for discussion at long table. VO: Intervisitation Program
involving children & parents proposed. VS meetings of citizens,
school board members, social workers, librarians, clergy, teachers,
principals to begin program in 1952. Talking heads: Black woman
states Parents' Associations' goal. "Through understanding, we
hoped to reduce prejudice & hostility." School principal notes that
program should pair schools where race or national origin has
caused separation. VO: pairs of children appear against wall to
illustrate how many schools had joined the program (14).
00:10:38:20 - 00:13:38:27 Color Sound c. 1954
White children playing outdoors in front of George Washington
Bridge, NYC. Black children playing outside housing development
(recreation, playgrounds). VO: in every case schools in
predominantly White neighborhoods were paired with Black schools.
"All was not smooth at first." Parents give their doubts at school
meetings. White mother w/ heavy NY accent - "I believe everyone is
alright, but what about the social implications of mixing everyone
together?" Black mother asks why she should let her child believe
he'll be accepted, rather than "let him live with his own" and help
him later. Young White girl, young Black boy talk over anxieties w/
parents. Children write letters to children in partner schools. WS
Black & White children shake hands outdoors & greet each other,
holding their letters. Children sit in pairs & chat in classroom.
(friendship)
00:13:38:28 - 00:17:32:27 Color Sound c. 1954
VS Mothers from different nations wearing traditional native dress
in front of classroom. Austria, British West Indies, Israel,
Greece. Children in classroom discuss UNICEF (United Nations
Children's Fund). Parents in district audiovisual library preparing
films for children to watch. Korean boy speaks to class. (brief &
silent) EXT United Nations building, NYC. Children in program visit
for tour. Female Indian tour guide in sari leads tour in front of
light-up world wall map. VO: recites UN inscription for peace among
nations. Talking heads: Black boy & girl discuss visit's importance
and the role of UNICEF. "It's our big brother." Children have
crafts bazaar to benefit UNICEF.
00:17:32:28 - 00:20:51:29 Color Sound c. 1954
WS citizens' group visits housing development. Community cleanup
drive, school parent forums, music recital. Children in program
learn music, arts together. Youth orchestra, classical pianist
Helen Hagan performs, children play flutes as teacher conducts.
Legs of children in ballet class, Black ballerina graduate of
Julliard performs modern dance for children. Boys & girls pose in
ballet stances. Scottish girl in traditional costume folk dances.
Black girl tap dances. The two girls dance together. Guide leads
children on tour of art museum. Hispanic boy molds turning clay on
potter's wheel as two girls watch him. VO: Children learned to
respect each other's special abilities.
00:20:51:30 - 00:24:34:09 Color Sound c. 1954
Children present check to UNICEF representative. CU Young White
girl (Leslie) & Black boy (Raleigh) read poem side by side about
brotherhood, oneness & "fatherhood of all." VS parents in
intervisitation program. White & Black women having tea together.
VO: formation of social bonds, friendships began in program.
International meal served in school library for program
participants. Blurry CU dishes of pastries w/ international flags.
Children serve tea to adults (community residents, education
committee members, UN representatives, parents), eating at table w/
American flags on the wall. Leslie's mother (earlier doubtful mom)
expresses her belief in program, gratitude to God for her
daughter's participation. CU Earlier doubtful Black mother
listening.
00:24:34:10 - 00:26:24:00 Color Sound c. 1954
Good VS CU painted portraits of U.S. presidents Abraham Lincoln,
Thomas Jefferson, George Washington. VO: famous quotes on equality
of man. CU White girl, Black boy & Japanese girl look up against
dark BG & mouth words as host recites melodramatically - "Let us
keep the faith. Let us break bread together." End credits.| Let Us Break Bread Together | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Film Production Unit, Bureau of AV Instruction |
Production companies | Film Production Unit, Bureau of AV Instruction |
| Distributed by | Film Production Unit, Bureau of AV Instruction |
Release date | ca. 1954 |
Running time | 25:59 |
| Language | English |
- Thumbnail
