Remnants of the Watts Festival

1972-73, compiled 1980, 60 min, b&w, sound

The collective from Venice, California known as Video Venice News documented the Watts Festival in 1972 and 1973. Writes Jenkins: "This videotape program presents an overview of what was a historical event in the black and brown community of south east Los Angeles, CA... more notably recognized as WATTS, CA... [it] is a documentary of a time and place, which was a major outlet for a community... I hope that what this presentation divulges and provides is an understanding of the issues that are facing the African American communities in this country." This historically important tape examines the issue of covert surveillance that has defined the relationship between the state and the African American community in the U.S.