Madeline Anderson

Madeline Anderson

Honored by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture as the first black women to direct a documentary film, Madeline Anderson’s landmark films ‘Integration Report 1’ (1960) and ‘I Am Somebody’ (1970), both newly scanned and digitized by the museum, bring viewers to the front lines of the fight for civil rights. A testament to the courage of the workers and activists at the heart of her films as well as to her own bravery, tenacity and skill, the films of Madeline Anderson are essential historical records of activism and formative works of cinema. From her childhood growing up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to her work with directors including Ricky Leacock, D.A. Pennebaker and the Maysles Brothers, Anderson’s spirit, example and vision continue to inspire today.


Image credit: © Myrna Suarez

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Madeline Anderson
  • I Am Somebody

    Directed by Madeline Anderson • Documentary • 1970 • 30 minutes

    In 1969, black female hospital workers in Charleston, South Carolina went on strike for union recognition and a wage increase, only to find themselves in a confrontation with the state government and the National Guard. Featuring An...

  • Integration Report 1

    Directed by Madeline Anderson • Documentary • 1960 • 20 minutes

    INTEGRATION REPORT 1 examines the struggle for black equality in Alabama, Brooklyn and Washington, D.C., incorporating footage by documentary legends Albert Maysles and Ricky Leacock, protest songs by Maya Angelou, and a speech by M...

  • A Tribute to Malcolm X

    Directed by Madeline Anderson • Documentary • 1967 • 16 minutes

    Made for the William Greaves-produced WNET program Black Journal, A TRIBUTE TO MALCOLM X includes an interview with Malcolm X’s widow Dr. Betty Shabazz, shortly after his 1965 assassination.

    Courtesy of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS, LLC an...