Unlocking the Past: Exploring Racism in Sacramento
This video series created by the Center for Sacramento History includes John Sutter, Desegregating Sacramento: A Fight for Fair Housing parts 1 and 2, The KKK in Sacramento, and Slavery in Sacramento parts 1, 2, and 3. All videos can also be found on the Center for Sacramento's YouTube channel.
Creation of the series
Center for Sacramento History's video series "Unlocking the Past: Exploring Racism in Sacramento" focuses on the history of systemic racism in the Sacramento region in order to provide a historical context for the issues that affect our community today. The goal with these short films is to tell stories from the region in a more complete and honest way, and to face and examine discrimination while acknowledging its long-term effects on our communities. The films are produced by the Center and local filmmakers using film footage, photographs, and archival material from the Center’s collections, along with interviews with national and local scholars, and people from the community telling their own stories. The series received the 2023 Leadership in History Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History.
John Sutter
This video is the first in a series that will explore the history of systemic racism in the Sacramento region in order to provide a historical context for the issues that affect our community today. Here, we focus on John Sutter and his impact on the Native communities of Sacramento then and now. Featured in the video are historian Albert Hurtado, author of "John Sutter: A Life on the American Frontier"; John Fraser, Capital District superintendent for California State Parks; Dahlton Brown, executive director of administration at Wilton Rancheria; Jesus Tarango, tribal chairman of Wilton Rancheria; and Nancy Jenner, curator of Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park.
The Center for Sacramento History was asked to produce this series by the City of Sacramento’s Manager’s Office. Particularly since the death of George Floyd in May 2020, we have confronted our traditional understanding of national, state, and local history. As we have done so, we have found holes in the historical narrative that leave out entire communities, realities, and perspectives. These videos are our attempt to tell a more accurate and complete story. While some might feel this is “revising” history, we disagree and believe we are bringing to light the stories of those who have been left out, so we can engage in a conversation and exploration of the past in order to help us navigate a more equitable future.
Special thanks to our Historical Advisors:
Dr. Lorena V. Márquez, Professor, Department of Chicana/o Studies, UC Davis
Dr. Milmon Harrison, Professor of African American Studies, UC Davis
Clarence Caesar, Historian
Desegregating Sacramento: A Fight for Fair Housing, Part 1
In this film, we focus on the early landmark efforts to desegregate housing in Sacramento. These efforts place Sacramento on the frontlines in the long fight to end racial discrimination in public and private housing across the United States.
Featured in the film are urban sociologist Dr. Jesus Hernandez, author of "Race and Place in Sacramento," and historian Clarence Caesar, author of "A Historical Overview of the Development of Sacramento's Black Community, 1850-1983." This story is also told archivally through the voice of Nathaniel Colley, Sacramento's first private-practicing African-American attorney and a national leader in the fight for fair housing. To learn more about Nathaniel Colley's life and career, see the Center for Sacramento History's Emmy-nominated PBS documentary "The Time Is Now: The Civic Life of Sacramento's Nathaniel Colley"
Produced by: Chris Lango
Archival Producer: Kim Hayden
Film Technician: Chad E. Williams
Video & Drone Services: Steve Davis Productions
Support Provided by: California Revealed
Executive Producer: Marcia Eymann, City Historian
Historical Advisors: Dr. Lorena V. Márquez, Professor, Department of Chicana/o Studies, UC Davis; Dr. Milmon Harrison, Professor of African American Studies, UC Davis; Clarence Caesar, Historian
Special Thanks: Clarence Caesar, Dr. Jesus Hernandez, Nathaniel Colley Civil Rights Coalition.
Desegregating Sacramento: A Fight for Fair Housing, Part 2
Part One highlighted Sacramento's role in the national effort to end discrimination in public housing. In Part Two, Sacramento is again at the center of the struggle, this time in the fight to end racial discrimination in the sale and rental of private homes and apartments across the United States. Featured in the film are urban sociologist Dr. Jesus Hernandez, author of "Race and Place in Sacramento," and historian Clarence Caesar, author of "A Historical Overview of the Development of Sacramento's Black Community, 1850-1983." Longtime Sacramentans Macia Fuller and Marian Uchida also provide context by sharing personal stories in the fight for fair housing.
Produced by: Chris Lango, Senior Archivist Kim Hayden, Archivist Nicholas Piontek
Film Technician: Chad E. Williams
Video & Drone Services: Steve Davis Media Services
Support Provided by: California Revealed
Executive Producer: Marcia Eymann, City Historian
Historical Advisors: Dr. Lorena V. Márquez, Professor, Department of Chicana/o Studies, UC Davis; Dr. Milmon Harrison, Professor of African American Studies, UC Davis; Clarence Caesar, Retired Historian, State of California.
Special Thanks: Clarence Caesar, Dr. Jesus Hernandez, Macia & Paul Fuller, Marian Uchida, Nathaniel Colley Civil Rights Coalition.
The KKK in Sacramento
When you think of the Ku Klux Klan, you might think of the South and their campaign of terror against Blacks after the Civil War. But do you think of California? Or Sacramento for that matter? You should. Because the Klan was here, and just 100 years ago, they tried to infiltrate Sacramento’s city governments in order to institutionalize their racist ideas. While the city fought back and the KKK went underground for a while, they never really disappeared.
Produced by City Historian Marcia Eymann and Senior Archivist Kim Hayden
Narration by Jack Hastings
Production/Editing/Graphics by Chad E Williams of Williams Etc. Productions
Production Assistance from Staci Cox, Sabrina Holecko, and Nicholas Piontek
Slavery in Sacramento, Part 1
Part I of a three-part subseries on the history of African American enslavement in the Sacramento Region. This film focuses on a court case that took place in 1852 regarding three former slaves who had been freed and left in California only to have their former owner return and reclaim them as fugitive slaves.
Slavery in Sacramento, Part 2
This film tells the story of Archy Lee and his fight against California's Fugitive Slave Law.
PRODUCED BY:
Marcia Eymann, City Historian
Kim Hayden, Senior Archivist
Narration - Jack Hastings
Producer/Editor - Chad E. Williams
Research/co-writer - Dale Kasler
Production assistance - Staci Cox, Sabrina Holecko, Nicholas Piontek
IMAGES:
Sacramento Bee Collection at the Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento Union
Library of Congress - Getty Images
California State Library
THANK YOU:
Stacey Smith - Associate Professor of History, Oregon State University
Clarence Caesar - Independent Historian
Lorena Márquez, Acting Chair/Associate Professor of Chicana/o Studies, UC Davis
Milmon Harrison, Associate Professor of African American and African Studies, UC Davis City of Sacramento
Sacramento Bee
Dorothy Womack Foundation for the Arts
Slavery in Sacramento, Part 3
This film focuses on what is considered the last slave case in California, that of a 12-year-old girl named Ada who was held in Sacramento County, and who was freed via the court system by Daniel Blue, a leader in Sacramento's African American community who won guardianship over Ada in 1864.
PRODUCED BY:
Marcia Eymann, City Historian
Kim Hayden, Senior Archivist
Narration - Jack Hastings
Producer/Editor - Chad E. Williams
Research/co-writer - Dale Kasler
Production assistance - Staci Cox, Sabrina Holecko, Nicholas Piontek
IMAGES:
Sacramento Bee Collection at the Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento Union
Library of Congress - Getty Images
California State Library
THANK YOU:
Stacey Smith - Associate Professor of History, Oregon State University
Clarence Caesar - Independent Historian
Lorena Márquez, Acting Chair/Associate Professor of Chicana/o Studies, UC Davis
Milmon Harrison, Associate Professor of African American and African Studies, UC Davis City of Sacramento
Sacramento Bee
Dorothy Womack Foundation for the Arts