We Work Again

About

05:11:27:00 We Work Again

Amazing glimpse of African-American life during the Great Depression. This film acknowledges the fact that African-Americans were disproportionately unemployed. There are scenes of forward-looking programs of housing renovation and public works in Harlem, as well as pre-school and adult education. However, there are also some painful scenes in which African-American women - "girls" - are being trained as cooks and maids, or being taught child care with white dolls.

05:11:50:00 med shot of African-American man sitting on pavement, head on hand VO - "Only a few years ago..." 05:11:52:00 MCU of African-American man sitting in front of brick wall VO - "...we were a discouraged people." 05:11:53:00 MCU of older African American man reading newspaper on front steps VO - "Because we were the first to lose our jobs... 05:11:55:00 MCU of another older African American man sitting on steps, looking dejected VO - "...when old man depression came along, and the last..." 05:11:57:00 med wide shot of African American man sitting on front stoop, older African American woman watching him, going inside doorway VO - "...to get them back, we struggled vainly..." 05:11:59:00 MCU of several young African American men reading newspaper VO - "...to regain our bearings while depression,..." 05:12:01:00 MCU of African American man lighting cigarette VO - "... fear, and failure stalked the nation." 05:12:03:00 MCU of young African American man carving piece of wood with knife VO - "A tenth of the population..." 05:12:05:00 med shot of two African-American men seated at campfire - Hooverville scene VO - "... of the United States, we formed as a race..." 05:12:07:00 med shot of two African-American men seated on steps VO - "...over a sixth of the unemployed." 05:12:09:00 med wide shot of African-American woman seated on stoop with head in hands VO - "One in four of us was on relief." (05:12:10:00)

05:17:27:00 med shot of kitchen - three African-American women working as cooks VO - "As part of the program of rehabilitation..." 05:17:30:00 MCU of one cook’s hands making cookie/tea cake VO - "...and the conservation of human resources, a number of household training schools have been established by WPA. In these schools, girls from relief families are prepared for domestic work which will make them self-supporting. Others take the course to learn the arts of homemaking..." 05:17:44:00 med shot of African-American women working in institutional kitchen VO - "...for use in their own homes. In modern kitchens under competent instructors,..." 05:17:47:00 MCU of woman’s hand preparing food VO - "...the girls are taught to cook and to prepare salads and other delicacies which add much to everyday meals." 05:17:53:00 med shot of woman taking sheet of cookies from oven (05:17:59:00) 05:18:00:00 med wide shot of African-American women in maid’s uniforms making bed VO - "Here’s where you may be able to learn something: this is the way the girls are taught to make..." 05:18:05:00 MCU of woman’s hands tucking in corners of sheet VO - "...beds, an art which [sound problem]" (05:18:08:00)

05:18:11:00 med shot of African-American woman in maid outfit fluffing huge white pillows, making bed VO - "These household training courses have already sent hundreds of girls out into the world well able to secure domestic positions and able to command skilled workers’ wages." (05:18:21:00)

05:18:22:00 med shot of African-American nurse with white baby doll showing two young African-American woman how to hold a baby VO - "Health education is an important part of the WPA program. At a number of health centers in large cities, qualified instructors..."(05:18:29:00) 05:18:30:00 MCU of African-American nurse’s hands caring for white baby doll VO - "...teach groups of women first aid methods and the proper care of children." (05:18:34:00)

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