Oak Park 1968-1974

The late 1960s and early 1970s were a difficult time for Sacramento's Oak Park neighborhood. This video, made up of two 16mm film reels produced by KCRA-TV in 1968 through approximately 1974, highlights many of the issues the neighborhood was struggling with at the time.
We start with reporter Vic Biondi discussing recent neighborhood disturbances as children happily play in the park behind him. We then see Sacramento Unified School District meetings regarding busing of schoolchildren outside of the area. While the adults are upset about it, the children seen and interviewed at Caleb Greenwood School seem to be enjoying their new school and friends. Next, we see Sacramento Mayor Richard H. Marriott meeting with Black Panther leader Charles Brunson inside the vandalized headquarters of the Panthers' Sacramento branch. Finally, reporter Ginger Rutland takes us on a tour of her old neighborhood with four other residents of Oak Park who openly and honestly tell their stories and give their opinions on "What happened to Oak Park?"
This film has been re-edited in sequential order with soundtrack added. If you would like to see the films in their original condition, visit: archive.org/details/casacsh_0.... The original films are housed in the Center for Sacramento History's film archive.
REVISED 4/2024