Henry Hampton

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Henry Hampton (August 19, 1940-November 22, 1998) was the founder of film production company Blackside Inc. where he produced Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years (1954-1965) and Eyes on the Prize II: America at the Racial Crossroads 1965-mid 1980s. Hampton's production company made eight other PBS documentary series on diverse subjects: The Great Depression (1993), Malcolm X: Make It Plain (1994), America's War on Poverty (1995), Breakthrough: The Changing Face of Science in America (1997), Hopes on the Horizon (1997) and I'll Make Me a World: A Century of African-American Arts (1999). Hampton's film archive is held by the Libraries at Washington University in St. Louis [1].

1 Education
2 Awards
3 Organizations
4 Health
5 External links

[edit] Education

Hampton attended St. Louis University High School and Washington University in St. Louis.

He was the recipient of 13 (14?) honorary degrees, including his alma mater, Brandeis University, Boston College, and Tufts University in Boston.

[edit] Awards

Ralph Lowell Award (1993).
The first Harold C. Fleming Award for "a lifetime of service in the field of political participation and community education against hatred in politics." (1994).
The first Heinz Family Foundation Award - arts and humanities (1995).

[edit] Organizations

In addition to his work with Blackside, Hampton was involved in a number of other organizations, including:

Museum of Afro-American History in Boston, chair of the board.
Children's Defense Fund, board member.
Boston Center for the Arts, board member.
Beacon Press, Advisory Board.
Unitarian Universalist Association, Director of Information (1963-1968).

[edit] Health

Hampton contracted polio as a child. In his later years, he had lung cancer - the treatment for which led to a bone marrow disease. He died at Brigham and Women's Hospital in November of 1998.