African Languages and Societies Commons^™

Yurumein - Homeland Study Guide, Andrea E. Leland, Lauren Poluha

Documentary Study Guides

The Garifuna and Carib communities of St Vincent in the Caribbean collaborated with the documentary filmmaker Andrea E. Leland to produce Yurumein – Homeland: The Caribs of St Vincent, an exploration of the historical and spiritual significance of St Vincent and Baliceaux to Garifuna and Carib communities.

This film guide speaks about the history, culture, music, and food of the peoples that were displaced from their home and, through activities addressing the film's content, informs readers about the movement to bring Garifuna/Kalinago culture back to St Vincent and reconnect Garinagu to their homeland.

Interview With Helen Shiller, Jacob Martin Lingan

Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement

Length: 50 minutes

Oral history interview of Helen Shiller by Jacob Martin Lingan

Ms. Shiller first outlines the path that led her to forming the Anti-Apartheid Ordinance, beginning with her work with the Minister of Information for ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) and a trip to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa, which led to her interest in the latter. She recalls how, when she returned to Chicago, she was motivated to strengthen legislation against the Apartheid government. She describes the process they went through to force Chicago banks to divest from South Africa, which happened to coincide with Nelson Mandela’s …

Interview With Danny Davis, Terence Sims

Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement

Length: 67 minutes

Oral history interview of Danny Davis by Terence Sims

Dr. Davis begins by outlining his introduction into activism and politics, when he served as executive director for the Greater Lawndale Conservation Commission in 1968. He explains how his definition of apartheid, which he is still fighting against, encompasses the massive underrepresentation of Black Americans in U.S. government positions. He details his childhood in rural Arkansas, growing up with ten siblings on a farm. He recalls early figures in the Civil Rights Movement in Arkansas, like the Little Rock Nine and Martin Luther King, Jr. He explains how …

Interview With Funeka Sihlali, Renell Schubert

Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement

Length: 92 minutes

Oral history interview of Funeka Sihlali by Renell Schubert

Ms. Sihlali begins by describing her childhood in King William’s Town when the Apartheid regime was instituted, living in government housing with her family in a single-room house with no bathroom, sharing a toilet with four other households. She explains having to learn the customs which were different from that in her home, for example, to look at African elders was a sign of disrespect, but outside of the home, she had to learn to make eye contact with white people to keep them from seeing her as …

Interview With Otis Cunningham, Danny Fenster

Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement

Length: 98 minutes

Oral history interview of Otis Cunningham by Danny Fenster

Mr. Cunningham begins by explaining what it was like growing up amidst the Civil Rights Movement in Chicago, witnessing the reactions to the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. He explains how he first became involved in activism for African liberation movements when he joined the African-American Solidarity Committee where he served on the editorial board of their journal and he elaborates on the work they did. He recalls the social gatherings that sprung up through the movement. He explains the complicated history and relationships …

Interview With Carol Thompson, Marcia Monaco

Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement

Length: 91 minutes

Oral history interview of Carol Thompson by Marcia Monaco

In this interview, Carol Thompson recalls her involvement and work in the anti-apartheid movement. She explains that her awareness of the anti-Apartheid movement began while at Northern Illinois University, but she first became involved after she moved to Chicago, when she met South African author, Donald Woods, which led to her involvement in the Dennis Brutus’ defense committee. She recalls that she initially worked with Clergy and Laity Concerned and later, alongside Prexy Nesbitt, became a founding member of CIDSA, which was committed to passing legislation in Chicago …

Interview With Prexy Nesbitt, Erin Mccarthy

Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement

Length: 350 minutes

Oral history interview of Rozell 'Prexy' Nesbitt by Erin McCarthy, PhD in 2009. Transcript created by Katherine Philipson, summer 2017

Prexy Nesbitt recounts his childhood in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, living in the family-owned apartment building with eleven flats and multi-racial family and friends. He speaks about his education at Francis Parker school and his first trip to African while a student at Antioch in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he began his anti-apartheid work in the early 1960s,He recalls his years of activism with governments, organizations, and political groups, including the the six liberation …

Interview With Michael Elliott, Brian Gibson

Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement

Length: 56 minutes

Oral history interview of Mike Siviwe Elliott by Brian Gibson.

Mr. Elliott begins by recounting his childhood in Detroit, raised in a working-class union neighborhood on the west side of the city. He talks about his early challenges in school, attending an alternative school where he received his GED, then attending Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan where he studied political science for three years. He explains how he first became involved in activism, working for the Black Panthers when he was young and serving as chair of the Association of Black Students in college. He recalls how …

Interview With Anne Evens, Beth Thenhaus

Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement

Length: 84 minutes

Oral history interview of Anne Evens by Beth Thenhaus

Ms. Evens begins by recalling her childhood memories, growing up in Evanston with two academic parents. She began her work in activism during high school, demonstrating for stricter gun control laws and against racism. She explains how she first learned about Apartheid South Africa as she learned about the struggle of Palestinian people in Israel and the economic ties between the two countries. She explains how she became involved in anti-Apartheid efforts on her first day of college when she was introduced to the South African Divestment Coalition, …

The Garifuna Journey Study Guide, Andrea E. Leland, Kathy Berger

Documentary Study Guides

Garifuna tradition bearers, artists, and technicians collaborated with filmmakers Andrea E. Leland and Kathy Berger to produce The Garifuna Journey, a documentary focused on the story of resistance and continuity of culture. The National Garifuna Council of Belize also worked on the project with the goal of cultural retrieval, as little had been documented and collected for its own archives.

With direction from tradition bearers in Belize, video footage and audio taped oral histories were collected, transcribed, and returned to the Belize community. The documentary was produced from these materials, focused on the Garifuna experience in Belize.

Southern African Network Newsletter, Columbia College Chicago

Lisa Brock Collection

South Africa Network newsletter about the decision to disband SART as the goal of this organization was successfully met, and the change of name from SART to SAN, the Southern African Network, along with a list of its goals.

Stop The Apartheid Rugby Tour (Sart) Rally Flyer, Columbia College Chicago

Lisa Brock Collection

Announcement of a September 12 rally in Chicago against the South African rugby team playing a match in Chicago. Speakers at the rally include: Gus Savage, Danny Davis, Lew Myers, Dennis Brutus, Joan Elbert, and Harold Rogers.

Stop The Apartheid Rugby Tour (Sart)/Chicago, Lisa Brock

Lisa Brock Collection

Press release about the Springboks South African rugby team tour to New Zealand, that was met with a large social protest by HALT (Halt All Racists Tours) and calling for awareness and support for the Chicago protest rally against the South African team on September 12, 1981.

Stop The Apartheid Rugby Tour (Sart) Letter, Lisa Brock

Lisa Brock Collection

Letter about the South African rugby team's plan to play a match in Chicago on September 19, 1981 and an invitation to readers to join in the efforts and protests against this match taking place.

Stop The Apartheid Rugby Tour (Sart) / Chicago, Lisa Brock

Lisa Brock Collection

An invitation from SART to SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organization) to join them at a rally in support of opposing the Springbok rugby match in Chicago.

Stop Apartheid Rubgy Tour Flyer, Columbia College Chicago

Lisa Brock Collection

No abstract provided.

Sart/Chicago Stop The Apartheid Ruby Tour Press Release, Columbia College Chicago

Lisa Brock Collection

"Chicago labor, religious, black and community groups today announced the formation of a broad coalition, Stop the Apartheid Rugby Tour (SART/CHICAGO) to oppose the September 19 rugby sports match in the Chicago area sponsored by the Midwest Rugby Football Union."

A press release from the Black Coalition Against the Rugby Tour organization, " composed of numerous Black organizations and individuals who have come together to fight against this scheduled tour to Chicago by the Springboks and to exemplify our support for our brothers and sisters in South Africa who are still oppressed by the white supremacist apartheid South African government" …

Stope The Apartheid Rugby Tour (Sart) Statement, Columbia College Chicago

Lisa Brock Collection

Press release announcing the formation of this broad-based coalition, SART, to "prevent the tour to Chicago, Albany and New York City of the South African national rugby team, the Springboks", including the groups' goals and list of other organizations who also stood in opposition to the United States rugby matches.

"Don't Play Ball With South Africa!", Columbia College Chicago

Lisa Brock Collection

Newsletter produced by the Clergy and Laity Concerned organization to alert Chicagoans about the planned Chicago rugby game with the South African rugby team, the Springboks. Also reported is news about the Clark Amendment for United State Restraint in Southern Africa.

"Apartheid Rugby Is Not Sport", Columbia College Chicago

Lisa Brock Collection

Photograph of woman on the roof of a car holding a sign reading Apartheid Rugby is Not Sport. The vehicle, a Cadillac, has a license plate that reads RUGBY 2. The image was taken in protest against the South African rugby team, the Springboks, planned matches in 1981 with United States rugby teams, including Chicago, in violation of the United Nations Sports Ban.