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Soul! EP 68 (426)
TLS African-American children playing at fenced-in playground at park in New York City, some kids riding bicycles through frame; Ossie Davis enters frame wearing blue pullover and brown Mao-like snap-brim cap, reciting poetry of Beat poet Bob Kaufman. Diss to Ruby Dee standing on steps outside library, reciting Bob Kaufman poetry: "I want to prove that Atlantis is a summer resort for cavemen / I want to prove that Los Angeles is a joke played on us by superior beings on a humorous planet / I want to expose heaven as an exclusive sanitarium filled w/ rich sycophants." "I want to prove once & for all that I am not crazy." Diss to Ossie Davis sitting in studio, speaking to camera about "the loving sensivity" & "cutting wit" of Bob Kaufman.
Soul! EP 68 (426)
TLS/MSs Ruby Dee sitting cross-legged on floor of shadowy, otherwise empty blue-black lighting studio, reciting Bob Kaufman poetry about or reminiscent of prison life (Kaufman had spent time in jail). Dramatic reading w/ audio accompaniment of jazz guitar being played off-screen. "Am I not more than a mass of entrails and rough tissue?/ Must I drink my bones, drink my wine-dilluted blood?/ Should I dredge old sadness from my chest?/ Not again." "In a universe of cells, who is not in jail? Jailers!"
Soul! EP 68 (426)
TLS/MSs Ossie Davis sitting slouch-backed on walkup apartment stoop in unidentified borough of New York City, chilly winter afternoon, reciting Bob Kaufman poetry affected by the Holocaust: "Sometimes I feel that those who escaped the ovens, where Germans shall forever cook their spiritual meals, are leaning against my eyes. And yet when I think of those ovens I turn my head in any other direction." Diss to TLS/MSs Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee sitting on director's chairs in lighting studio, reciting & discussing the work of Beat poet Bob Kaufman. Diss to TLS Ruby Dee sitting on bench in dim lighting studio, exhibiting thousand-yard stare while reciting Kaufman poem: "Somewhere there waits-- waiting, a book is waiting, waiting to be written. Cold cold pages waiting to be written. Man seeks God in a book."
Soul! EP 68 (426)
B&W stills of poet Bob Kaufman w/ son, Parker; from off-screen, Ossie Davis reads Bob Kaufman poem about Parker. Zoom-in on B&W aerial photograph of Japanese city (Hiroshima or Nagasaki, allegedly); B&W WLS atom bomb explosion; TLS mushroom cloud; Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis recite Bob Kaufman poem about "A-Bombunism" & "A-Bombunists." Martial drumbeats from off-screen.
Soul! EP 68 (426)
"Soul!" Producer Ellis Haizlip interviews Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Ms. Dee says she was introduced to Bob Kaufman by a young woman at a school performance in Pennsylvania. Mr. Haizlip congratulates Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis for the award they won for their performances on a similar-themed "Soul!" episode on the work of Langston Hughes. Ruby Dee says she derives much satisfaction from poetry recitation & performance. Ellis Haizlip says black poetry is enjoying a renaissance. Mr. Haizlip mentions that Ossie Davis has become an acclaimed director, coming off the heels of "Cotton Comes to Harlem." Ossie Davis says he prefers (in following order) writing, directing, & acting, though he loves to watch Ruby act. Mr. Davis always believed, even from his childhood in White Cross, Georgia, that he would become a writer.
Soul! EP 68 (426)
Ellis Haizlip continues to interview Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. Mr. Haizlip praises Ruby Dee for her performance in "Buck and the Preacher." Ossie Davis says he is deeply involved with Third World Cinema, referring to his project of educating minorities the art of film production & ultimately presenting an accurate portrayal of African-Americans & Puerto Rican-Americans in mainstream cinema. Ruby Dee says she loves her community-building projects just as much as her artistic endeavors. Ms. Dee says that there has been moderate improvement but there is still a derth of decent roles for African-American women in film & television.
Soul! EP 68 (426)
Ellis Haizlip continues to interview Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis. Ossie Davis says their oldest daughter will enter the communications field, the youngest will enter journalism, and their son plans to mix music & psychology. Ossie Davis says he and Ruby have been socially & politically active since before they met, though he somewhat regrets not spending enough time on his writing & artistic endeavors. "I have never really tried to put everything in one channel & focused on that." Ellis Haizlip mentions Ossie Davis was the keynote speaker at the first fundraiser for the Congressional Black Caucus. Mr. Davis says he cannot see black being denied political power, even if they are not necessarily interested in it. "I see in the future many political challenges facing black people and I don't see that we can duck facing them." Ellis Haizlip concludes segment, thanks Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.
Soul! EP 68 (426)
MCU Gretsch hollow-body electric guitar being played by African-American man. MS black male drummer playing song intro on snare drum; zoom out to Soul Orchestra conducted by Lucky Thompson performing jazz instrumental. Saxophone, trumpet, trombone, acoustic bass, drum, piano solos between verses of Bob Kaufman poetry uttered by Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee from off-screen. Beat poem regarding, celebrating jazz music.
Soul! EP 68 (426)
(DO NOT USE STILLS FOUND WITHIN THIS SEGMENT) 3/4 view MCU hands of black man playing Steinway piano. Diss to Ruby Dee reciting Bob Kaufman poem about Ray Charles. B&W stills of jazz bass player & composer Charles Mingus. Ossie Davis recites Bob Kaufman poem heralding the bass technique of Mingus. B&W stills of jazz vocalist Billie Holiday; from off-screen, Ruby Dee recites Bob Kaufman poem mourning the loss of Lady Day. B&W stills of Charlie Parker playing saxophone; Ossie Davis recites Bob Kaufman poem celebrating, mourning Bird. Beat poetry.
Soul! EP 68 (426)
Ruby Dee recites Bob Kaufman poem: "Sing, little children, sing!" Soul Orchestra provides sauntering, swinging accompaniment in BG. Ossie Davis says, "Wherever you are, Bob Kaufman, however it is that you-- man, you are needed. You are wanted. You belong." Ruby Dee recites Bob Kaufman poem: "Uncall my name. Tear up my eyes, I refuse to appear!" "Ancient gods will pray for me, a poor lost poet."
Soul! EP 68 (426)
Ossie Davis recites Bob Kaufman poem, "Crosswinds": "Crosswinds/ Heat lost mad ones / Cactus, roll them over / Dig small graves, shallow/ Lay them gently in the soft earth." "In the end & in the beginning, give life, give love, and at last, give death." Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee recite Bob Kaufman poem about long distance & short distance runners, blacks, drumbeats. Diss to B&W still & illustration of Bob Kaufman. Credits roll.
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Funky "Soul!" opening credits with audio overlay of King Curtis & the Kingpins performing "Soul!" theme. Diss to Ellis Haizlip introducing program, welcoming audience. Ellis Haizlip announces the departure of director Ivan Cury, says that this will be his last show; mentions that Ivan & his wife had a baby the previous week, a boy named Peter Bruno; Mr. Haizlip dedicates the show to Ivan Cury. Panning MS seated studio audience (composed predominantly of young African-Americans dressed in atypical 1970s fashions inc Afros). Mr. Haizlip introduces poet/writer Jackie Earley (Jacqueline Earley); MS Jackie Earley nodding, smiling. Mr. Haizlip introduces Boobie Knight; CU Boobie Knight (wearing dark green top hat) sitting at microphone; zoom out to MS Boobie Knight and the Soulciety manning musical instruments. Mr. Haizlip introduces Irene Reid; MS Irene Reid standing, listening, smiling.
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Jackie Earley reads an original poem dedicated to "all my brothers who are in jail." "He ain't going to bail you out / Go right on with your work." "Go right on with your rapping & go right on with your work / Because you can't put no wall around the truth / You can't put a wall around revolution." Black bars sear across screen, mimicing prison cell bars. Jackie Earley reads another original poem, titled, "Harlem Changes." Jackie Earley appreciates how blacks can take a language such as English and truly make it their own, then reads an original poem titled "Heaven Nation."
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Panning MS seated studio audience applauding. MSs Boobie Knight (wearing dark green top hat & sleek form-fitting green suit) sitting behind monstrous double bass drum kit (one bass drum is 28" high), banging out a fat beat, blowing through a kazoo. Nice panning shot of Boobie Knight & the Soulciety offering a Black Power salute while Mr. Knight (Milton Edwards) plays drums, sings. Boobie Knight & the Soulciety perform "Power to the People." Large ensemble mid-tempo funk with two drummers. Drum breakdown (minor breakbeat) with Mr. Knight shouting "Black Power!" & "White Power!" & "Power to the People" while band again offers Black Power salute.
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Boobie Knight (Milton Edwards) & the Soulciety perform "Soul Ain't No New Thing." Large ensemble, mid-tempo funk with two drummers. Funky breakbeat section!
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Nice panning TLS seated studio audience (comprised largely of African-Americans) applauding, stop at Irene Reid & band waiting to perform. Irene Reid & band (organist Jiggs Chase, saxophonist Billy Phipps, drummer Kenny Pollard, flutist Joe Thomas) perform an extended intro to "(Didn't We Almost Make It) This Time" during which Irene Reid performs a long spoken word. Blues jazz vocal with Hammond organ.
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Irene Reid & band (Jiggs Chase, Billy Phipps, Kenny Pollard, Joe Thomas) perform "(Didn't We Almost Make It) This Time." Jazz-blues.
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Irene Reid & band (Jiggs Chase, BIlly Phipps, Kenny Pollard, Joe Thomas) perform "I Gotta Find the Real Me (I Don't Know Where to Start)." Jazz vocal with Hammond organ.
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Poet/writer Jackie Earley (Jacqueline Earley) reads an original poem about Bessie Smith. Dramatic reading about American-styled racism.
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Irene Reid & band (Jiggs Chase, Billy Phipps, Kenny Pollard, Joe Thomas) perform a cover of the Van Morrison song, "Moondance." Jazzy interpretation w/ Hammond organ. Tenor saxophone solo by Joe Thomas.
Soul! EP 50 (408)
MS three young African-American men (black brothers, cool cats) wearing sunglasses (shades) while sitting in studio audience, applauding. Irene Reid & band (Jiggs Chase, Billy Phipps, Kenny Pollard, Joe Thomas) perform "The World Needs What I Need (And I Need a Good Man)." Joe Thomas plays flute. Jazz blues vocal.
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Poet / writer Jackie Earley (Jacqueline Earley) reads an original poem titled, "The Black Man Cannot Be Destroyed."
Soul! EP 50 (408)
MSs seated studio audience (comprised predominantly of African-Americans) applauding. Boobie Knight & the Soulciety perform "If I Were Your Woman and You Were My Man." Unidentified black woman sings/speaks the lead vocal. R&B, soul ballad conducted by Boobie Knight (Milton Edwards).
Soul! EP 50 (408)
Credits roll as Boobie Knight & the Soulciety perform an unidentified Latin funk instrumental over which Boobie Knight (Milton Edwards) dances with a jingle stick from which a tuft of black hair hands (the stick is apparently named Martha); Boobie spreads a bag of pennies on the floor & dances on the money. Strange.