The Death of Saint Clair Bourne

by DeeDee Halleck

Fri, Dec 21, 2007 10:45AM

St. Clair Bourne, pioneer filmmaker and activist, died on Saturday due to complications following an operation to remove a brain tumor. His many great documentaries will continue to be a definitive collection of African American art and history. He did the key biographical films on Paul Robeson, Amiri Baraka, Walter Mosley, Gordon Parks, John Henrik Clarke and Langston Hughes among others. His film on Spike Lee and the making of "Do the Right Thing" was called as tense and ingrossing as the film itself. In addition to producing and directing many films that chronicle the experience of Black Americans, St. Clair founded Chamba Notes, an important list serve and website.

The New York Times Obituary has a video of him on their site. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/arts/18bourne.html
Arrangements have been set for 7:00 pm on January 25th, 2008 at Riverside Church to memorialize the life and untimely loss of St Clair Bourne.

See http://www.deepdishwavesofchange.blogspot.com

§The Credo of Saint Clair Bourne

by DeeDee Halleck

Fri, Dec 21, 2007 10:54AM

The Credo of Saint Clair

"Most of mainstream and public television in the late ’60s, and even during the ’70s,” he said, “was from the point of view of an outsider looking at a subculture — white people looking at black people. We said we identify with and are a part of the subjects we are filming.” This credo is very similar to that of indymedia- to be part of the struggle, not outside it, nor as a "neutral" corporate journalist.

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