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With No One To Help Us (1967)

Documantary demonstrating how the formation of a food-buying club by a group of Newark welfare mothers brought about a necessary change in the community.
Nice images of African-American neighborhood in Newark.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Production Company: U. S. Office Of Economic Opportunity
Sponsor: Head Start Programs
Audio/Visual: sound, b&w
Keywords: need keyword

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Spuzz - - October 2, 2004
Subject: Get your grits here!
Ver interesting and absorbing doc about a group of black 1960's welfare wives banding together and forming a shopping club so that they can take advantage of wholesale prices. The club, when formed, faces opposition at every turn from city government officials, wholesalers, and even potential members ("You think we're gonna keep your money?"). The club ultimately succeeds, with somewhat of a hopeful but somewhat sad ending about the kids of the future. Amelie moment: The kid at the end of the meeting (around 11:47) mugging for the camera. Highly reccomended!

Reviewer: postel - - August 21, 2003
Subject: Straightforward except the ending
A low-key, straightforward piece about the attempts of neighborhood women on welfare to organize a buying club, due to overpricing of items to welfare recipients. This film is basically a long video showing some of the group's meetings and discussions. Few cuts; no real 'theatrical' quality, doesn't appear to have been scripted. Narration is by one of the women on the committee. Doesn't really discuss the issues underlying. Seems vaguely sanitized, but when the black women enter a warehouse staffed by largely white men you can feel a subtle hint of tension. Hints of resistance and resentfulness on the parts of the store owners to the strange idea of bulk buying.

The film ends on a sentimental note with images of children, and a voiceover hoping that children do not end up in poverty and having to collect welfare in the future.

Abrupt and jarring closing credits of children riding an amusement park ride to exaggerated calliope music completely fractures the mellow tone of the rest of the piece. Very strange, inappropriate ending.

William C. Jersey production financed by Project Head Start- A film by Eugene and Carole Marner.