I Am Somebody (1970)
Madeline Anderson’s documentary brings viewers to the front lines of the civil rights movement during the 1969 Charleston hospital workers’ strike, when 400 poorly paid Black women went on strike to demand union recognition and a wage increase, only to find themselves in confrontation with the National Guard and the state government. Anderson personally participated in the strike, along with such notable figures as Coretta Scott King, Ralph Abernathy and Andrew Young, all affiliated with Martin Luther King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Anderson’s film shows the courage and resiliency of the strikers and the support they received from the local black community. It is an essential filmed record of this important moment in the history of civil and women’s rights. The film is also notable as arguably the first televised documentary on civil rights directed by a woman of color, solidifying its place in American film history.
Cast
- Ralph Abernathy - Self
- Coretta Scott King - Self
- Andrew Young - Self
- Claire Brown - Self - Narrator
Keywords
equality, race, woman director
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is I Am Somebody about?
- Madeline Anderson’s documentary brings viewers to the front lines of the civil rights movement during the 1969 Charleston hospital workers’ strike, when 400 poorly paid Black women went on strike to demand union recognition and a wage increase, only to find themselves in confrontation with the National Guard and the state government. Anderson personally participated in the strike, along with such notable figures as Coretta Scott King, Ralph Abernathy and Andrew Young, all affiliated with Martin Luther King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Anderson’s film shows the courage and resiliency of the strikers and the support they received from the local black community. It is an essential filmed record of this important moment in the history of civil and women’s rights. The film is also notable as arguably the first televised documentary on civil rights directed by a woman of color, solidifying its place in American film history.
- Who directed I Am Somebody?
- I Am Somebody was directed by Madeline Anderson.
- Who stars in I Am Somebody?
- I Am Somebody stars Ralph Abernathy, Coretta Scott King, Andrew Young, Claire Brown.
- How long is I Am Somebody?
- I Am Somebody has a runtime of 30m (30 minutes).
- What genre is I Am Somebody?
- I Am Somebody is a Documentary film.
- Where was I Am Somebody produced?
- I Am Somebody was produced in United States of America.