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How the Jewish Museum brought Black film history to new audiences

JL;DR SUMMARY In the midst of tense Black-Jewish relations during the 1970s, the Jewish Museum under Karl Katz's direction, sought to bridge communities by showcasing race films—movies made from the early 20th century specifically for Black audiences. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish MuseumCultural PreservationBlack Jewish RelationsPaul RobesonRace FilmsPearl BowserKarl KatzBlack CinemaHarlem Cultural CouncilOscar Micheaux

Places mentioned

Brooklyn, New York, United States
"Two years earlier, the Ocean-Brownsville teachers strike in Brooklyn had pitted Black and Jewish New Yorkers against one another."
New York, United States
"The Art Workers Coalition had just been founded, demanding better Black and Puerto Rican representation in museums, particularly MoMA."
Harlem, New York, United States
"Distrust lingered between Black artists and museums after the controversial 1969 Met exhibit Harlem on My Mind showcased life and culture in Harlem, but excluded the work of Black Harlem natives."
Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
"Its all about this community, said Gillian Bowser, Pearl Bowsers daughter and a professor of ecosystem science and sustainability at Colorado State University."
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
"Her friend and collaborator Louis Massiah, a MacArthur awarded filmmaker and founder of the non-profit media center Scribe Video in Philadelphia, told me she knew where to find old reels or fragments of film strips at risk of being thrown out."
United Kingdom
"Bowser preserved both American and international films, including movies from London and Senegal."
Senegal
"Bowser preserved both American and international films, including movies from London and Senegal."
Durham, North Carolina, United States
"Originally from Durham, NC, she is a 2024 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in sociology."

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Cairo Item ID 75594
Cairo Source ID 35
Retrieved 2026-02-18 05:30:49 UTC
Curated 2026-02-18 08:30:52 UTC