NEW RELEASE – On African American Funeral Traditions

Through the portrait of Harlem undertaker, Isaiah Owens as well as the community he serves, Homegoings examines the unique funeral traditions amongst African Americans. Christine Turner’s celebrated and moving documentary premiered on February 28 in the Museum of Modern Art’s prestigious Documentary Fortnight series and had its national PBS broadcast premiere on June 24 in the P.O.V. series. Please check local listings for rebroadcast information.

Marlon Riggs Complete Edition, Plus New Resource Page!

California Newsreel launches the first Complete Edition of Marlon Riggs’ seven films, the first time local streaming licenses have been available for them. Riggs’ classic work, Ethnic Notions, recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its release. It is one of the most widely used tools promoting multicultural awareness on U.S. campuses. His courageous Tongues Untied on Black gay identity became a flashpoint in the Culture Wars of the 1990s. All seven of Riggs' films are now available as five individual DVDs including local streaming licenses.

To honor Marlon Riggs’ important cultural legacy as well as to facilitate the appreciation for and use of his work, we have created a Marlon Riggs Critical Resource page featuring articles, guides, transcripts and media.

UNNATURAL CAUSES Now at a New Low Price!

DVDs of the award-winning, 4-hour health equity film series, Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?,, have now been reduced to $195 for colleges, corporations and government agencies and to $49.95 for community organizations, high schools and public libraries (the price includes public performance rights).

Are We Crazy About Our Kids? How High Quality Early Ed Pays for Itself

Investing in high quality early care and pre-school offers huge benefits for individuals, their parents and the nation. They even pay for themselves – many times over. You can now stream Are We Crazy About Our Kids?, an episode from California Newsreel’s forthcoming documentary series, The Raising of America: Early Childhood and the Future of Our Nation (DVDs coming soon!)

60 years of Racial and Economic Justice Organizing in the South

Anne Braden: Southern Patriot provides an in-depth portrait of the legendary Southern organizer and journalist whose life long activism exemplified what progressive white people can do to fight racism. She was labeled a “race traitor” by white supremacists and praised by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

New Title Recognizes Africa's Role in World Civilization

The Manuscripts of Timbuktu introduces viewers to the thriving economic and cultural world of Timbuktu, which flourished from the 11th to the 18th centuries and influenced much of the world. The remaining artifacts there are severely endangered by threats from Islamic fundamentalists who have captured the city.

Black Representation in Popular Culture

White Scripts and Black Supermen: Black Masculinities in Comic Books examines 40 years of changing portrayals of Black masculinity in a significant area of popular culture - action comic books.  This genre's reach and impact extended into other forms of cultural production, such as movies and animated TV series and continues to influence contemporary representations.

Race - The Power of an Illusion
and Racial Wealth Gaps

The Pew Research Center recently released an important report on the increase in racial wealth gaps in the United States. "The House We Live In," the third episode of Race - The Power of an Illusion, details how institutional discrimination has contributed to disparities in wealth between African American and white households. Click here to view the Pew report.

70 African Film Classics now $24.95 per DVD

In an effort to make North America's largest collection of African films more widely available, we are now offering these African feature films and documentaries at the greatly reduced price of $24.95 per DVD! California Newsreel's Library of African Cinema was launched in 1981 with 8 films from 5 different countries to provide film resources to educators and build an appreciation for African cinema. The collection has since grown to more than 70 DVDs from 25 countries, including classic feature films by by internationally renowned master filmmakers like Ousmane Sembene (Faat Kine) and Djibril Diop Mambety (La petite vendeuse de Soleil, Le Franc).
Read an article in the Statesman about this uniquely "valuable collection" here.