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Performing Black Power in the "Cradle of Liberty"

Say Brother Envisions New Principles of Blackness in Boston

Lake Forest College

This article examines the early history of Boston's black public affairs television program Say Brother from 1968—1970. This history shows that as a local broadcast, WGBH's Say Brother could take a more outspoken position than a national program, such as Black Journal, could have taken. The article explores the radical pedagogy offered by Say Brother, which attempted to impart "new principles of Blackness" to its viewers using multiple genres. Through an analysis of the archived program and interviews with former staff members, the article demonstrates how Say Brother's youthful creators took advantage of establishment fears about black uprisings to create an openly critical television show that examined black discontent, showcased black viewpoints and black artists and overcame a cancellation attempt by rallying community response.

Key Words: black power • television history • Kerner Commission Report • educational television • Boston • black public sphere • Say Brother • civil rights • uprisings • riots • Stan Lathan • WGBH • apartheid

This version was published on September 1, 2009

Television & New Media, Vol. 10, No. 5, 392-415 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1527476409332048


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