Moving Image:Let Us Break Bread Together

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

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