Ossie Davis (1917-2005)
Basics
On the Web: Articles
Elvis Mitchell on the Life & Work of Ossie Davis. NPR (2/5/05).
Ossie Davis, 1917-2005: Acclaimed Actor, Civil Rights Activist Crumbled Barriers. Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle (2/5/05).
On the Web: Specialized Sites
In the Library: Articles
In the Library: Non-Fiction Books
Davis, Ossie. With Ossie & Ruby: In This Life Together (NY: W. Morrow, 1998).
In the Library: Fiction
In the Library: For Young Readers
Davis, Ossie. Just Like Martin (NY: Simon & Schuster, 1992).
In the Library: Poetry
In the Library: Drama
Davis, Ossie. Purlie Victorious: A Comedy in Three Acts (NY: S. French, 1961).
__________. Escape to Freedom: A Play about Young Frederick Douglass [1976] (NY: Puffin, 1990).
__________. Langston: A Play (NY: Delacorte, 1982).
__________. Curtain Call, Mr. Aldrich, Sir! (Alexandria VA: Alexander Street, 2002).
__________. Alice in Wonder (Alexandria VA: Alexander Street, 2002).
__________. Montgomery Footprints (Alexandria VA: Alexander Street, 2002).
__________. What Can You Say to Mississippi? (Alexandria VA: Alexander Street, 2002).
In the Library: Photography
CD & Audio
"Ossie Davis & Bill Cosby Address the Congressional Black Caucus" (12-in. LP; Detroit: Motown, 1972).
Film & Video
"All God's Children" [1980], dir. Jerry Thorpe, 100m.
"Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid" [1977], dir. Steve Gethers, 98m.
"Black Girl" [1972], dir. Ossie Davis, 97m. From J.E. Franklin play.
"Back Theater: The Making of a Movement" [1978], dir. Woody King Jr., 110m. From California Newsreel. Davis' figure looms large.
"Cotton Comes to Harlem" [1970], dir. Ossie Davis, 97m. In video stores. From Chester Himes novel.
"Countdown at Kusini" [1976], dir. Ossie Davis, 101m. Transition to independence in an African country.
"Do the Right Thing" [1989], dir. Spike Lee, 120m. In video stores.
"The Emperor Jones" [1955]
"Finding Buck McHenry" [2000], dir. Charles Burnett, 94m.
"Freedom Road" [1979], dir. Ján Kádar, 240m. Davis narrates TV miniseries from Howard Fast novel about an ex-slave (Mohammed Ali) elected to US Senate in 1870s.
"Gone Are the Days" [1963], dir. Nicholas Webster, 99m. From Davis' Purlie Victorious.
"Gordon's War" [1973], dir. Ossie Davis, 85m. Vietnam vets' campaign against drug addiction in Harlem.
"I'm Not Rappaport" [1996], dir. Herb Gardner, 135m. In video stores.
"King" [1978], dir. Abby Mann, 300m. Davis plays the great man's preacher father.
"Kongi's Harvest" [1970], dir. Ossie Davis, 87m. From Wole Soyinka play.
"Malcolm X" [1972], dir. Arnold Perl, 91m. Includes Davis' eulogy for the fallen leader.
"A Man Called Adam" [1966], dir.Leo Penn, 99m.
"Seven Times Monday" [1962], dir. Wes Kenney, ?m.
"The Tenth Level" [1975], dir. Charles S. Dubin, 102m. How people can be pressured into doing terrible things to others.
"The Sheriff" [1971], dir. David Lowell Rich, 73m.
"Slaves" [1969], dir. Herbert J. Biberman, 110m.
"Teacher, Teacher" [1969], dir. Fielder Cook, ?m.