William Greaves
Director · Actor · WriterWilliam Greaves (October 8, 1926 – August 25, 2014) was a documentary filmmaker and a pioneer of African-American filmmaking. He produced more than two hundred documentary films, and wrote and directed more than half of these. Greaves garnered many accolades for his work, including four Emmy nominations, one of which he won for his work as executive producer on the African-American news program Black Journal.
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KNOWN FOR
FILMOGRAPHY
ACTOR14
Once Upon a Time in Harlem
2026
Self (archival footage)
The Man Who Built Cambodia
2017
Self
- Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson
Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson
2007
Self
Discovering William Greaves
2006
Self
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2½
2005
Self
That's Black Entertainment
1989
Host/Narrator
Black Power in America: Myth or Reality?
1986
Narrator/Interviewer
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One
1968
Self - Director
The First World Festival of Negro Arts
1966
Narrator
Souls of Sin
1949
Isaiah 'Alabama' Lee
Lost Boundaries
1949
Arthur 'Art' Cooper
Miracle in Harlem
1948
Bert Hallam
The Fight Never Ends
1948
Sepia Cinderella
1947
Patron
DIRECTOR33
Once Upon a Time in Harlem
2026
Director
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2½
2005
Director
- Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
2001
Director
That's Black Entertainment
1989
Director
Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice
1989
Director
- The Best of Black Journal
The Best of Black Journal
1988
Director
- The Deep North
The Deep North
1988
Director
Black Power in America: Myth or Reality?
1986
Director
Frederick Douglass: An American Life
1985
Director
- Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story
Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story
1984
Director
- Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
1982
Director
- Space For Women
Space For Women
1981
Director
- Where Dreams Come True
Where Dreams Come True
1979
Director
Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops)
1976
Director
The Marijuana Affair
1975
Director
From These Roots
1974
Director
The Fighters
1974
Director
- Whose Standard English?
Whose Standard English?
1974
Director
The Fight
1974
Director
Nationtime: Gary
1972
Director
- On Merit
On Merit
1972
Director
Voice of La Raza
1971
Director
In the Company of Men
1969
Director
- Black Journal: 9
Black Journal: 9
1969
Director
- Black Journal: 18
Black Journal: 18
1969
Director
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One
1968
Director
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class
1968
Director
The First World Festival of Negro Arts
1966
Director
Wealth of a Nation
1964
Director
- Four Religions
Four Religions
1960
Director
Emergency Ward
1959
Director
- Smoke and Weather
Smoke and Weather
1958
Director
- Putting It Straight
Putting It Straight
1957
Director
WRITER17
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2½
2005
Writer
- Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
2001
Writer
Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice
1989
Writer
Black Power in America: Myth or Reality?
1986
Writer
Frederick Douglass: An American Life
1985
Writer
- Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story
Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story
1984
Screenplay
- Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
1982
Writer
- Space For Women
Space For Women
1981
Writer
Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops)
1976
Writer
The Marijuana Affair
1975
Writer
Nationtime: Gary
1972
Writer
Voice of La Raza
1971
Writer
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One
1968
Writer
The First World Festival of Negro Arts
1966
Writer
Wealth of a Nation
1964
Writer
- High Arctic
High Arctic
1959
Writer
- Smoke and Weather
Smoke and Weather
1958
Writer
PRODUCER22
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2½
2005
Producer
- Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
2001
Producer
Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice
1989
Producer
- The Deep North
The Deep North
1988
Producer
Black Power in America: Myth or Reality?
1986
Producer
Frederick Douglass: An American Life
1985
Producer
- Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story
Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story
1984
Producer
- Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
1982
Producer
- Space For Women
Space For Women
1981
Producer
Bustin' Loose
1981
Executive Producer
Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops)
1976
Producer
The Marijuana Affair
1975
Producer
The Fighters
1974
Producer
Nationtime: Gary
1972
Producer
Voice of La Raza
1971
Producer
Black Journal: 26; Alice Coltrane
1970
Producer
- Black Journal: 23; New-Ark
Black Journal: 23; New-Ark
1970
Producer
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class
1968
Producer
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One
1968
Producer
The First World Festival of Negro Arts
1966
Producer
Wealth of a Nation
1964
Producer
- Smoke and Weather
Smoke and Weather
1958
Producer
EDITOR21
- Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
2001
Editor
Black Power in America: Myth or Reality?
1986
Editor
Frederick Douglass: An American Life
1985
Editor
- Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
1982
Editor
Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops)
1976
Editor
The Marijuana Affair
1975
Editor
The Fighters
1974
Editor
Nationtime: Gary
1972
Editor
Voice of La Raza
1971
Editor
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class
1968
Editor
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One
1968
Editor
The First World Festival of Negro Arts
1966
Editor
Wealth of a Nation
1964
Editor
- Four Religions
Four Religions
1960
Editor
Emergency Ward
1959
Editor
- High Arctic
High Arctic
1959
Editor
Blood and Fire
1958
Editor
- Smoke and Weather
Smoke and Weather
1958
Editor
Trans Canada Summer
1958
Editor
Islands of the Frozen Sea
1958
Editor
- Profile of a Problem Drinker
Profile of a Problem Drinker
1957
Editor
CINEMATOGRAPHER3
SOUND5
CREW8
Black Power in America: Myth or Reality?
1986
Cinematography
- Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
Booker T. Washington: The Life and the Legacy
1982
Cinematography
Every Nigger Is a Star
1974
Cinematography
Nationtime: Gary
1972
Cinematography
Voice of La Raza
1971
Cinematography
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class
1968
Cinematography
The First World Festival of Negro Arts
1966
Cinematography
- Four Religions
Four Religions
1960
Cinematography
