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The Jackson 5 performing in their vibrant outifts.

Save the Children (1973)

  Stan Lathan

  United States     99 minutes

Synopsis

In 1972, during a period of political and racial unrest, Rev. Jesse Jackson and his organization Operation PUSH held a Black Exposition on Chicago’s South Side to celebrate Black excellence in business and culture. This new version of the film captures the epic five-day event — virtually unseen since its original release more than 50 years ago — with a glorious display of legendary musical performances, creating a jubilant and soul-stirring snapshot of the times.

The Temptations’ singing “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” Bill Withers crooning “Lean on Me.” Gladys Knight & The Pips pounding out “I Heard it Through the Grapevine.” A show-stopping number from The Jackson 5 singing “I Want You Back.” These and many more rousing moments — from the Staples Sisters to Issac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield to Quincy Jones — keep on coming. There are also somber moments that evoke the contentious time period, from Sammy Davis, Jr.’s confessional “I’ve Gotta Be Me” to Marvin Gaye’s political ballad “What’s Going On.” Like Questlove’s Summer of Soul, director Stan Lathan has crafted and restored this transportive film, which is both a reclamation of forgotten Black history and a testament to the power of music.

 English 

Screenings & Events

Screening

Sun, Oct 20 @ 3:00pm CDT

at Logan Center for the Arts

Scheduled to Attend:
Director Stan Lathan

Media

Film Credits

  •   Matt Robinson
  •   George Bowers, Paul Evans
  •   Charles Blackwell, Bob Fletcher, Robert Grant, Doug Harris, Rufus Hinton, Roy Lewis, Leroy Lucas, David Myers
  •   Clarence Avant
  •   1973

Sponsors

Black Perspectives Program Sponsor

Logo: AllState

Documentary Program Partner

Logo: WTTW (2019)

Documentary Program Patron

Cynthia Stone Raskin