Playgrounds in Color - Writers Guild of America/East -2009

A One Hour Documentary that highlights the historical vacation locations of African Americans

what is it about?

Backdrop

“Playgrounds in Color” is a one hour documentary that highlights historical vacation locations (i.e. “playgrounds”) of African Americans. The show explores the modern appeal along with historical anecdotes often unknown to the general vacationing population – and usually excluded from travel guides. Each episode will include events modern and traditional, little known restaurants with traditional culinary fair, integrated into the culture and hand print of African Americans. African Americans were not welcome, to also enjoy a good time, in many parts of the United States, therefore they created their own welcoming holiday communities, inclusive of businesses to support their families and the vacationers. The communities highlighted, came into existence during slavery, segregation and one particular community, the African American community of Sag Harbor, existing since 1830.

“Playgrounds in Color’s intention, to highlight generationally travelled playgrounds of African Americans, (that no matter the segregation and racial strife happening in America we still found places to vacation and have fun, too), while exploring the richness of their cultural presence and contributions to the area. Highlighting will begin with four African American vacation spots in the United States.

“Playgrounds in Color,” is the brainchild of Sherry Tucker Brown, experiences include being a training consultant for staff at Time Warner, Inc. the HBO Division, Principal Consultant bringing businesses together for the purpose of developing a town, inclusive of a full infrastructure in Liberia, West Africa, the New England Public Relations and Development Consultant for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, (LDF). She has and is presently producing and hosting shows on Community Television.

“Playgrounds in Color,” is directed and produced by seven-time Emmy Award winning and twenty-seven times Emmy nominated director, Barbara Barrow-Murray. Ms. Murray began her career at WGBH-TV in 1972 and is known for producing such shows as “Say Brother,” which became the template for many television programs that highlighted the African American experience.

communities to be presented

Sag Harbor, New York

Located in the Villages of both South Hampton and East Hampton, on the South Shore of Long Island, and inhabited by Black American's since 1830. To this day many Black Americans vacation and have vacationed here: Ken Cheneault – Former American Express CEO, Earl Graves - Founder and Publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine, Johnny Cochran – well known attorney, Alfred W. Tucker – Co-Founder Lucas and Tucker, First Black CPA firm in New York State,

Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Many Black Americans have vacationed and continue to vacation here, Senator Edward Brooke – First Black United States Senator since Reconstruction, Vernon Jordan – Director of the United Negro College Fund and President of the National Urban League, Dorothy West – Short Story writer of The Wedding, later to a movie, Spike Lee – Film Producer, Director, Actor and Professor, and inclusive as of late, President Barack and Michelle Obama.

Idlewild, Michigan - Known as "The Black Eden of Michigan"

The mid-West, began in 1912, inviting Black vacationers from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Black residents of note included, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams – First Black American Surgeon, Dr. W.E.B. Dubois – noted Black Professor and Author, Madam C.J. Walker – Black Female Millionaire early 20thCentury. Black entertainers, often appearing at a Black Night Club called the “Summer Apollo of Michigan,” included Aretha Franklin, Dinah Washington and the Four Tops.

COMMUNITIES TO BE PRESENTED

Carr’s Beach & Sparrows Beach -Annapolis, Maryland

The origins of Carr’s Beach can be traced back to 1902 when Frederick and Mary Wells Carr purchased 180 acres of farmland on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula. Black vacationers from the East Coast enjoyed the area and surrounding areas came to enjoy the beach and enjoy in the Carr’s Beach pavilion, built by Willie “’Little Willie” Adams, a businessman from Baltimore. Performances at Carr’s Beach Pavillion included super stars James Brown, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Patti Labelle and The Bluebelles.

As Black residents went to “The Beaches” Willie Adams used the money he earned, from Carr’s Beach Pavillion, putting it back into Black businesses.

Advisory Board

Barbara Barrow-Murray

Filmmaker, 7 X Grammy Award Winner, PIC Co-Executive Producer, “Say Brother Radio” Executive Producer

Malik K. Brown

Boston Neighborhood Network TV and Bourne CTV Executive Producer PIC Producer, Science Teacher

Sherry Tucker Brown

PIC Story Originator and Co-Executive Producer

Cheryl L. Duncan

Founder & CEO Cheryl Duncan & Company, INC.

John E. Oxendine

Founder & CEO Blackstar Communications, Inc.

Judy Richardson

Documentary Filmmaker- (Eyes on the Prize, Malcolm X, Make It Plain)

Sharon Sodekson

Host Bourne Community TV

Mary Truong

Massachusetts - Director of New Americans

Charles Mal Woolfolk

Vice President – Global Trade & Technology Center Former Community/Government Relations