01 Black and White, 1933, I Ivanov-Vano and L. Amalrik.

1. Black and White, 1933, directed by I. Ivanov-Vano and L. Amalrik.
Mezrabpomfilm.

Based on Black and White, a poem by Vladimir Mayakovsky.
Mayakovsky is often called the loudspeaker of the Bolshevik Revolution.
Yet he was also a most talented poet, whose works are widely quoted
even today. As a graphic artist, he was one of the founders of the Okna
Rosta (Rosta Windows) a massive media publicity blitz which used
posters to spread word of the Revolution via the Russian telegraphic
agency.

The animation in Black and White is based on his drawings.
In 1922, Mayakovsky received special permission to travel to America.
En route he stopped in Cuba where Americans controlled the sugar and
tobacco industries. Black and White tells the story of Willie, the shoe
shine boy, who makes the fatal mistake of asking the White Sugar King
Mister Bragg, Why should white sugar be made by a black man?
Only fragments of the film were found, without restorable sound. It was
decided to underscore the fragments with excerpts from Sometimes I
feel like a Motherless Child, recorded by Paul Robeson in 1949 at the
Tchaikovsky Theatre in Moscow. The son of an American slave,
Robeson was an athlete, actor, singer, cultural scholar, author, and
political activist. He spoke fluent Russian. Although he never officially
joined the Communist party, he supported the USSR politically which
brought him to the attention of the House Un-American Activities
Committee, and ultimately probably cost him his American career.

In 1952 Robeson was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize. He translated the
Soviet national anthem into English. His rendition, also recorded in
Moscow in 1949, underscores the end credits of this episode.
Oleg Vidov (actor/producer): The Soviet propaganda machine glorified
Robeson almost as an achievement of the International Revolution. But
for the Soviet people who attended his concerts or heard him on radio, he
was a good friend from America, the country which helped us to defeat
the Nazis. During a time of oppression and Stalin terror, here came this
good-spirited, free person from the United States. Unlike us, he could
travel freely and bring us songs in English. He also taught us to sing
Ole Man River in Russian.

Total Running time: 2:27 min.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• СССР
• пропаганда
• съветска
• империализъм
• комунизъм
• USSR
• propaganda
• imperialism
• communism
• soviet
• animation
• анимация
• 1933

[apgarian]

it's true that conservatives have historically more often been perpetrators of racial violence, or at least callous to it, but it doesn't need to remain that way. this is not a liberal or conservative issue - it's about human dignity and self-respect. this movie can be used for propaganda by a failed state (ussr), but the fact remains it's based on the story of our american culture.

[Bobofwestoregonusa]

This film brings to mind the fact that the American upper class is STILL subjugating the lower and middle classes here. I have nothing against communism at all. It's a great idea and if the rich could get over themselves we'd be a better country.

[GayGeisha]

Despite the fact that this was used as propaganda by one of the most tyrancical goverments ever to have existed - this does not stop the fact that everything shown here is completly true. Every country in the world should face up to it's own sordid and terrible past.

[apgarian]

@KeithDameo "More Often" and "Almost All" are so similar or the same depending on how the words get minced... I think we agree. I am left of liberal, so I also see neoliberals as major perpetrators of racial inequity.

[KeithDameo]

@apgarian More often? Almost ALL racial violence has been brought on by conservatives.

[Amilah2010]

@apgarian well said.

[Amilah2010]

@AderanWars America is still incredibly racist

[iwantcoolname]

@Bobofwestoregonusa when you say "better" you should also add "for". not for "rich", obviously :)

[soakchips]

Until 1935, the Communist International called for the secession of an independent black republic from the United States.

[AderanWars]

USA was a radically racist country back in 1933.

Even during Vietnam war there was racial discrimination in USA

[KojiroKuchiki]

"this animation is evidence that communists and liberals have been preying on white guilt" - I'm white before I start this, but do you not think, if you gave people equal treatment. They wouldn't have this to prey on? To be honest, if you actually read documents, communism is a solution, if you look at it in it's purest form, look at the ideaology not the people behind it.

The real problem, is that communism, can not, and will not work, with humans like us, who've lived with wealth