ELEVENTH HOUR, THE {RACISM IN BENSONHURST} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of interview programs that examines current events in New York City. Host Robert Lipsyte analyzes the social and political unrest in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, in the wake of the racially motivated murder of African-American teenager Yusef Hawkins. Guests include playwright Frank Pugliese; the Rev. Herbert Daughtry, pastor of the House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn, Bensonhurst; Assemblyman Frank Barbaro (D-Bensonhurst); and author Gay Talese. Prior to the interviews, the program features an excerpt from Pugliese's play, "Aven'U Boys," and video footage of a protest march led by African-American activists in Bensonhurst. Pugliese states that his play about three Italian-American thugs in Brooklyn does not represent his entire neighborhood; the Rev. Daughtry, who is among the participants in the protest march, agrees that Bensonhurst is a monolithic, racist community. Both Talese and Assemblyman Barbaro contend that they were offended by the show's opening clip of "Aven'U Boys," which they say reinforces negative Italian stereotypes that portray them as unintelligent and biased. Uneducated Italians, they add, are also victims of prejudice. The program concludes with footage of a race relations workshop at John Dewey High School in Bensonhurst.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: September 20, 1989 11:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:18919
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Blacks - Politics and suffrage; Blacks - Relations with Italian Americans; Ethnic relations; Minorities; New York City - Officials - Talk/Interviews; Race relations; Racism
- SERIES RUN: WNET (New York, NY) - TV series, 1989-1990
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven Weinstock … Executive Producer
- Lesli Klainberg … Coordinating Producer
- Kevin Cosgrove … Senior Producer
- Mary Dore … Producer
- Andrew Carl Wilk … Director
- Robert Lipsyte … Host
- Frank Pugliese … Guest
- Gay Talese … Guest
- Herbert Daughtry … Guest
- Frank Barbaro … Guest
- Patrick Breen … Performer, For "Aven'U Boys"
- Rob Morrow … Performer, For "Aven'U Boys"
- Fisher Stevens … Performer, For "Aven'U Boys"
- Yusef Hawkins