Sam, Sam and Harlem

SAM, SAM, AND HARLEM

A short movie was made by two young Harlem residents in 1973-74.  It is rich in scenes of Harlem street life and traces the experiences of Sam Walton and Sam Gaynor as they organize a self-help community group called "We Care."

In addition to tracing the history of this organization, there are many aspects of this film that make it of interest to historians, film makers, and ethnic sudies programs.  Perhaps most striking are the documentary footage that show Harlem street life during the early 1970's.  The movie begins, for example, with a scene of various dancers performing for an audience of children and residents of one Harlem block.  In additioin to a dance troop performing traditional African dances to the beat of a drummer an elderly one-legged performer who has, by that time, thrown away his crutches while continuing to perform.

Scenes of street corner orators in front of Micheaux's book store provide unique footage of a side of Harlem life that is rarely seen.  Lucille Levy, Malcolm X, Adam Clayton Powell, Charles Kenyatta, and Pork Chop Davis are all shown speaking to audiences in the street.  The recent movie, "Malcolm X", reencacted what is documented in this film.  Other scenes show Pop Foster, "Dean of Comedians", and Ella Baker, founder of SNCC and Harlem activist.

Despite the issues of poverty, powerlessness and drugs that form the core of many of the scenes, the film is remarkably upbeat, giving us a very different sense of Harlem and the social activism of the late Civil Rights period.  In contrast to many current depictions of the hopelessness of urban life, this film indicates that many in Harlem still foresaw the possiblility of change and renewal.

The focus of this film is on children and young adults, as the hope for Harlem's future.