Mr. Johnson’s School: 1940

This circa 1940 documentary, Mr. Johnson Goes to School, showcases African American ministers at a continuing education program in black-and-white 16mm, likely with sound. It opens with, “School never stops for the alert Negro pastor of today,” highlighting Schools of Practical Methods by the Bureau of Negro Work, led by Dr. W.A.C. Hughes of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Filmed at a training site—possibly Gammon Theological Seminary—pastors engage in practical theology, leadership workshops, and community uplift discussions. A pre-Civil Rights era record, it captures Black clergy’s dedication to education and service amid segregation’s challenges.