Memorial for Saint Clair Bourne

The Riverside Church was full on January 25, 2008. The enormous sanctuary was filled with filmmakers, writers, artist, architects, organizers and fans-- all of whom turned out to pay their respect to the great spirit who had passed-- Saint Clair Bourne. Bourne was a prodigious filmmaker who completed 42 documentaries. At the time of his death, there were at least six on-going projects that he was working on. His documentaries chronicled the history of African Americans with biographies of John Henrik Clarke, Paul Robeson, Amiri Baraka, Spike Lee, Langston Hughes and many others. These documents will be the shown to high schools and colleges for decades to come. At Riverside, Amiri Baraka was the Master of Ceremonies, as many rose to speak of Bourne's wide influence and profound gifts of talent and dedication. As Thomas Allen Harris describes he was a mentor to generations of African American independent producers. Carol Maillard and Alexander Elisa sang a duet of Joe Hill.
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you or me
Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead,"
"I never died," says he
"I never died," says he.

"In Salt Lake, Joe," says I to him,
Him standing by my bed,
"They framed you on a murder charge,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead."

"The copper bosses killed you, Joe,
They shot you, Joe," says I.
"Takes more than guns to kill a man,"
Says Joe, "I didn't die,"
Says Joe, "I didn't die."

And standing there as big as life
And smiling with his eyes
Joe says, "What they forgot to kill
Went on to organize,
Went on to organize."

"Joe Hill ain't dead," he says to me,
"Joe Hill ain't never died.
Wherever workers go on strike
Joe Hill is at their side,
Joe Hill is at their side."

"From San Diego up to Maine,
In every mine and mill,
Where workers strike and organize,"
Says he, "You'll find Joe Hill,"
Says he, "You'll find Joe Hill."

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you or me
Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead,"
"I never died," says he
"I never died," says he.

Kathleen Cleaver spoke about how Saint Clair introduced her to the world of film and film festivals. He helped her organize the Black Panther Film Festival in Harlem. Melvin Van Peeples said Saint Clair had a PHD in Loving.

Saint Clair Bourne Passes

Photo Credit: Chester Higgins, Jr.
"Most of mainstream and public television in the late ’60s, and even during the ’70s,” he said, “was from the point of view of an outsider looking at a subculture — white people looking at black people. We said we identify with and are a part of the subjects we are filming.” -- SCB

St. Clair Bourne, pioneer filmmaker and activist, died on Saturday due to complications following an operation to remove a brain tumor. His many great documentaries will continue to be a definitive collection of African American art and history. He did the key biographical films on Paul Robeson, Amiri Baraka, Walter Mosley, Gordon Parks, John Henrik Clarke and Langston Hughes among others. His film on Spike Lee and the making of "Do the Right Thing" was called as tense and ingrossing as the film itself. In addition to producing and directing many films that chronicle the experience of Black Americans, St. Clair founded Chamba Notes, an important list serve and website.
The New York Times Obituary has a video of him on their site. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/arts/18bourne.html
Arrangements have been set for 7:00 pm on January 25th, 2008 at Riverside Church to memorialize the life and untimely loss of St Clair Bourne.