A Saint Bourne in Harlem

December 3, 2007

Center for Communication:How to Make a Great DocumentaryGroundbreaking Harlem filmmaker St. Clair Bourne died Saturday in a New York hospital after an operation to remove a brain tumor. He was 64.Bourne’s blend of artistic vision and activism led him to an unconventional and sometimes controversial career, which included a string of acclaimed documentaries highlighting the African-American experience.

Born in Harlem in 1943, Bourne attended Georgetown University in the 1960s, buthegot kicked out of school after being arrested at an off-campus sit-in.

He then joined the Peace Corps and almost single-handedly resurrected a fading newspaper, El Comeno, in Lima.

Bourne later returned to college, graduating from Syracuse University with a dual degree in journalism and political science.

In 1971, Bourne was tapped as a producer for “Black Journal” – the nation’s first black-oriented public affairs show. But the restless filmmaker soon left to found his own production company, Chamba, which he led until his death.

At the time of his death, Bourne was working on a documentary about veteran Memphis-based civil rights photographer Ernest Withers, who died in October at age 85.

Bourne is survived by a sister, Judith Bourne, a lawyer in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Harlem World Magazine, 2521 1/2 west 42nd street, Los Angeles, CA, 90008, https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
We're your source for local coverage, we count on your support. SPONSOR US!
Your support is crucial in maintaining a healthy democracy and quality journalism. With your contribution, we can continue to provide engaging news and free access to all.
accepted credit cards

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles