Assignment Four - Hunters Point: A View from the Hill

About This Item

KRON-TV Assignment Four documentary film which aired on October 5th 1969 at 7:00pm about poverty, racism, urban renewal and community action in San Francisco's Hunters Point neighborhood (predominantly African American). Features scenes of: SFPD Community Relations Unit's Palmer Jackson walking around the neighborhood and talking with youths; Adam Rogers of Young men For Action meeting with police and community members; an interview with Dr. Arthur Coleman, head of the Hunters Point Bayview Community Health Project; Mrs Elouise Westbrook chairing a public meeting of the Joint Housing Committee; Sylvester Brown criticizing Mrs Westbrook for not permitting more voices to be heard at the meeting; Rev. Charles Lee preaching a sermon about how a "revolution" is coming, at the Ridgepoint Methodist Church; brief views of the September 1966 Hunters Point uprising (including police shooting at residents) and urban planner William Keller presenting ideas of how to transform the neighborhood. At one point, narrator Ed Hart comments that: "In Hunters Point ... the burden of public responsibility has been shouldered largely by black women." This film was written and produced by Ira Eisenberg, edited by John Bradley and shot by John Hines, Walter Nash and Sam Lopez. Please note: the original viewing copy in DIVA was sourced from a Betacam SP video tape master; it was updated on 10/8/12 by a video file derived from the higher quality 16mm film print (Ref. KRON 461). Thanks to historical researcher and consultant Paul Lee for establishing the date of broadcast. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.

This 16mm film print was remastered in 4K (4096 x 2970) using a Lasergraphics ScanStation film scanner, in July 2022.

Originally aired on
KRON-TV
Date aired
1969
Recording medium
BetaSP video tape
21:52
Rights for this video belong to
KRON-TV
Type of material
special report
Identifier
KRON 461
Views
16328

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Elouise Westbrook on the New Look for Hunters Point Senator Cranston Visits Hunters Point Building New Homes and a Better Image for Hunters Point League of California Cities Conference Groundbreaking ceremony for Jackie Robinson Garden Apartments Hunters Point Teaching Assistants Ben Williams Tours Housing in Bayview Hunters Point Youth for Service Christmas Party (1970) Dr Arthur Coleman on Community Health Services Hunters Point Health Protest (1972) Campaign to get Hunters Point Pool Enclosed Dr Arthur Coleman Press Conference on Community Clinic Community Press Conference about the Bayview Uprising Hunters Point Urban Renewal Protest Dr Arthur Coleman on Medical Director Position (Hunters Point) San Francisco Poverty Tour with Robert Kennedy Community Meeting - Jobs for Hunters Point Senator Robert Kennedy Visits Hunters Point Elaine Brown discusses shortcomings of Model Cities program Jobs for Hunters Point?

Comments

Over a year ago, 360 Black wrote…

Don't give me that "isolated" excuse. Fillmoe, Hayes Valley, etc were in the middle of everything and it was just as much of sh!thole as HP. And many other parts of SF are even more isolated than HP and the people there are doing just fine.

Over a year ago, Bev Farris wrote…

Thankful there is a record of my family's former neighborhood and proud that my friends and family are a part of this documentary.

Over a year ago, Alicia Butler wrote…

I am so grateful for the opportunity to have watched this film. I am a native of San Francisco and a long time resident of Bayview Hunter's Point. This film should be viewed by the young people of San Francisco. This is a part of history that is important because it shows how our elders challenged the systems of oppression. Better housing, health care, police brutality, and etc. Thank you to all of the African American people who made it possible for myself and peers. It's so unfortunate that 50 years later things are still the same. It's up to the community to see that we continue to fight for our rights and the love of our community. Black Lives Matter!!! P.S please share this treasure with more people as you discover it.

Over a year ago, Denise Phillips Gooden wrote…

My grandmother Elouise Westbrook worked a many and hard hours to get this development started and she wasn't along but I remember the night's when she would come home drained from trying so hard not to disappoint anyone she's gone now and all I know is I'm very proud of her and will forever love her and respect what she was and all she accomplished.

Over a year ago, Emily Rogers wrote…

The work of my father, Adam Rogers, and others was not on vein.  Thank you for allowing an opportunity for me to hear his voice both physically and metaphorically for the first time in 37 years.  His sound is familiar to me again.  There is still much work to be done.  Be inspired.  Daughter of a soldier.  

Over a year ago, Francisco Da Costa wrote…

Hunters Point produced some great leaders and still do. The point that has to be made is clear - past Mayors - including Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. failed the community. The community must own the land and the homes - they paid their dues.

Instead we have Rogue Developers like Lennar, the John Stewart Company, and sell outs mostly Blacks the like of Willie B. Kennedy, Linda Richardson, Dorris Vincent, Aurelious Walker, Veronica Hunnicutt  and others - undoing the work that was laid.In the 1980s "Crack Cocaine" was introduced to the community - and the community decimated. Today, the few so called leaders are bought - none are educated on issues - they talk a good talk - but cannot walk a good walk.We have NO gangs - but "gang injunctions" have been introduced - to intimidate our young women and men. No opportunities are given - so that we can own the land and the homes - as this documentary so eloquently states.We cannot wait for the Messiah to come - our time is now - and we watching the situation - and we WILL act - it may come as a surprise to many - but not the soldiers - who are prepared.A salvo was sent in 1966 and it is now 2013 - and nothing much has changed.Good leaders know the way, show the way, and go the way.Francisco Da Costawww.hunterspointnavalshipyard.com

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