African American man speaks on the assassination of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King. King' picture near him. Scenes of riots after King's assassination. Roy Wilkins condemns the riots and looting. Scenes of looting. Police maintain order. Sammy Davis junior makes a speech.
Shows African Americans looting shops during the riots following Martin Luther King's assassination. Crowd of people looting and stealing from stores. The Rev Wyatt Walker, close friend of Martin Luther King Jr, condemns the riots. Police maintains law and order. James Brown makes a public speech.
African American and white children swim and play in an integrated swimming pool in the United States in the 1960's. A black man beside a white man working on an integrated engine car assembly line. A black shoe shine man. A black street sweeper. Narrator indicates that African American workers are in increasingly skilled jobs and supervisory positions. A black draftsman in an officer environment. A black bank manager gives an application to a black woman. Huey Newton leads the Black Panthers in a protest. Stills portray trade and transport of African American slaves. Stills show the Civil War in the United States, and aftermath of war showing blacks voting and as politicians during reconstruction. Footage of African American people working on farms in cotton fields picking cotton, including boy and girl child laborers picking cotton. Footage of a Rust Cotton Picker machine in operation as African American workers watch. American troops, including African American soldiers of the U.S. Army 369th Infantry "Harlem Hellfighters", marching in victory parade in the United States after returning from World War 1. View of segregated African American soldiers in the parade in New York City cheered by parade attendees. Brief scene with Henry Johnson on the side of the parade route being congratulated by civilians. (Johnson and Needham Roberts received the Croix de Guerre for exceptional heroism). Black and white workers entering or exiting a factory during World War 2. Black American troops and Tuskegee Airmen pilots in segregated units during World War 2. The Tuskegee pilots in uniform gathered together during a briefing on an airfield. View of U.S. military forces comprised of white and black personnel, integrated beginning in 1947. A white officer gives binoculars to a black soldiers.
Co-founder of the Black Panther Party for self defense, Bobby Seale, seated in the organization's office, speaks about brutality and discrimination by police against African Americans in Oakland, California. He believes that black citizens are unfairly blamed for social unrest and claims that police and business interests are responsible. Sign on wall behind him reads: "Set Huey Free"
American writer, political activist, and Black Panther Party leader, Leroy Eldridge Cleaver, speaks about the impact of the Black Panthers on the situation in Oakland California. Eldridge Cleaver asserts that African American people are oppressed by the police and business interests. A white American policeman passes by on his motorcycle. Black Americans on streets. Black Panther Party members, including Elbert Howard and Bobby Seale, discuss the effect the Black Panther Party can have on police, as well as on African American troublemakers.
Black Panther Party members demonstrate and march in Oakland, California during civil rights movement. They carry Black Panther banners and line up in formation to listen to Party leaders at Hutton Memorial Park. They briefly give the 'black power' salute. African American leaders shown at a podium before the demonstration assembly. Camera pans up to a 'black power' fist symbol above podium. Voiceover narration carries themes of Black Panther philosophy.