Polaroid presence in South Africa

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Description

This program focuses on Polaroid's decision on November 21, 1977, to cut off all business ties with South Africa, making it the first major American firm to withdraw from the country for political reasons. Host Stephen Curwood speaks with Boston Globe reporter Robert Lenzner, People Against National Identity Cards representative Caroline Hunter (who lost her job with Polaroid in 1970 for protesting the company's policy in South Africa), and African National Congress member Themba Vilakazi about Polaroid's history in South Africa, Lenzner's news article that spurred the withdrawal, the denial of Polaroid management that they knew their agreement with their distributor in South Africa was in violation; and the impact of the withdrawal on Black South Africans. Additional segments include an excerpt of a press conference with Dr. Edwin Land (Polaroid's founder), the 'Say Brother News' with reporters Margaret Tarter, Leah Fletcher, and Karen Holmes, and the 'Community Calendar.'