Radical America - Vol 12 No 6 - 1978 - November December

8/8/2019 Radical America - Vol 12 No 6 - 1978 - November December

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V l : N

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ORGANIZING

THE FAR WORKE

THE C L RO E E T

A RA K f

RE OLT AT


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Co er: da ted by ick Thorkelson from a gra e boycott oster by ikki Schuman

d o sF k odh d, M D s, M l l , P ll s ,All , A K , l McC ff , c

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Asociate Editor : Pe er Bikin , Car Bogg . Paul B Ihl , Jorg C Corralego E len D IBBarbara Ehrenrei h, Dan (jeorgaka Martin aberman i ha H r M ke Kazin, nLawren e Sta hton yn Mark Nai\on, Hen orr Brian Pet r on, Shei a Ro b thaAnnemarie Troger, Mar ha Vi in , Stan Weir, Davi W g r

RADICAL AMERICA: Published b -monthly by the Alterna ive Educat on Project, Inc. at Union Square SomervMassach sett (MAILING ADDRESS P O Box B N ambridge Massachusetts )Copyrigh (0Radical Amer ca. Subscr ption rates $ per year $ for two years $ per year fo he unemp oyed. Add $ per yal prices or foreign subscrip ions Doub e rates for ins itut o Free o prisoners Bulk ates per cent reduction cover price for five or more opies Bookstores may order from arrier Pigeon F sher Ave., Bos on MassTypesett ng by Sasha raphics.

con c post paid at Boston Ma"a huset

Ha h Lit


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ARCN vember-De ember 19 8 V

INTRODUCTION 3

THE BORNING STRUGGLE: THE CIVILRIGHTS MOVEMENTAn Interview with Bernice JohnsonReagon by Dick Cluster

MY L FEJess e Lopez de a C uAs told to E len Cantarow

POEMKristine Batey

A RANK AND FILE STRIKE AT G.E.F ank Kashne

LE TERS

POEMSMary Joan Co eman


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NTRODUC

The articles in this issue are personal accounts of the experience of poliOne describes the beginnings of the civil rights movement in Albany, Ge1 1second traces how a migrant farm worker slowly developed into a leading UFW; a third analyzes ctivities around a successful strike in the Ly n, MGeneral Electric lant in1975.

We are particularly happy to publish these articles because it is so rare thato rst hand accounts by organizers Organizing is not usually conducileisurely speculation Waiting to do "oral histories of the old is not a goomemories fade; and the written documents with which historians and otherpiece together accounts of political and s ial movements inevitably neglecrucial - of day to day experience of personal con icts, of complexities celebrations These articles happened because articulate organizers withimportance of preserving their experiences collaborated with skilled inte

Our rst two inter views are part of soon to-be-published books. Bernice Reagon's in view, by Dick Cluster, will appear in T hey S hou ld H ave S e r ed that C u p of C oS eve n R a di cals Re m em be r th e 6 0s, South En d Press, 1 9 79 . Jessie de la Cruz ' in terv iew

E llen Can tar ow will ap pear in M oving the M ounta i n: Wome n W orkin gf r S ocia l C ha ngbe co-pu blished by The Feminist Press and McGra w-H il in la te 1 9 79 . The ar icleFrank Kashner is based on an inter view our own editor Jim Green Stimulated byL ippert s account of a wildcat str ike (in V l 11 # 5), Frank telephoned to ask if we wo


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Students singing on the steps of the Movement church. Selma. AL. 1965 Photo by Danny Lyon. f mMov m ntISimon Schuster. 1964

o ow d - d c c y o y w oc

o d d o d d o o do ' c o o c o c

o c o o oc d oc d o o y o-

o o c , d o c y

o d co o w wo o o o o

o yw


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oo d s d a d oc ss, c a dma y lac s o s. w wo co

a y ss s: s of c l al fo ms a dsym ols of lac comm y sol da y a d as l , a class a d a o al s l ,w lac comm y fo co ol of

os so c s. W as w ll as lac soc al

s s d o f d w a o ss v c l also c s s a d s l o co ol m a do c a m.

FARM W RKER RGAN Z NGM a fa m wo s av d o o a z W s s c la c y.

s cc ss 19 0s, w UFW,d ma ds a alys s all mo ca s follow d af so ma y fa l s W l ss dla z ca as a o a z s o y v ylo , l f s o y affo ds s a lo v w ofm a fa m wo a w s ally a cl s o UFW oday

Fo am l , oo s of d la zac v sm s m o l o m ly D ss o s ff s, s a dow wa dmo l y f om mo os o s woclass l f s ad l d as a small c ld Fmo , lo , calm a d co oll d so al s l a a s mal dom a o s

lac d y s a o o a cal c s lac : a c of ol cald v lo m . L ma y wo -class womof all c l s, s cam ol cally ac vo ly fo s, ca s a c ds l s o f d f m a d s ac oo solo . P a s s s l s w a d

ca s of a c la s a ss of mac smo amo ca os o o a d s s w a ca s of c l alsol da y of ca o o l

U l ma y, a s mos , wom U , ow v , s also v d s c

a d la z always co s d d s lf asm c a wa wo as a y ma . v v d ss

a d d a l of d sc o s ofo s a a m c mo v al

s c co sc o s ss a oof a co sc o s ss acom a a ly so s dd ly

av a d ff c v o a zo s acl s

FA RY RGAN Z NGF a Kas cam f om a m

fam ly w o coll a d aso s a o wo a fac

ma y w o d a , d d oma y s c s s Kas

was ma a l aoc ss of s a a o

o s c s, ow v, s o y md sco s som l m a o s of

z W wo a d s lc d as s a a f om

o l s l v s s d ff c l fo s s a d o o mov yod d, s o

d ff c l oad s a al af s ad d d Ka

ll s a s d ff c l s afac w ffo s a sally y o -of- f c a c a s

Kas s c s ows fo a l f s o wo ff c v lo o ac v s s, d s ow

ca mo a al a off c s ac cs. B , lacco s a a v also

o s of ad o al l f acs l s A m m of P oPa y s a d woKas l f a ca

ac cs a m d s ol cal os o s v d m f om

s f llow wo s oPL d d o s lf allow Kasa sw s fo o l ms of


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s s L s s c c v in s i s s o low s as w l

s d s s co s a s a c in o s w c wo s' ds

in s n wh l add ssin broad ro c s s c s s d a ca vio a d co ni ss s o

o s s c o o a z n asoc w r wo lac s s v r d romso d w wo s wa a nl

o o wo o s a w ll oso o d s o s o o aniz s

s d s o d o is

o s ws a ido s o os o s a o s o social o n s

d os oc s o o s consc o s

o d s w o c a o di c and oc s o c o s o ass s "

L d s w o do no l a n om s o o a iz l a o s d in and ir r ac oo d s also b s ondin a c al l n c an d n a oc ss a s cc ss cr a in socia iso d d n n i os ca aci o so

i s and o ac o s rand ac io s r v n s s o

ow o l c an s lv s ansoc a si a o s Wi o an i ac o b w n o l wio co sc o sn ss and abili w

c a s c lana ions o is n vi ws in is iss oRadical me

a s i o o ac aons a oss b


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B Uhe ivil ights ovement

INTRODU TION

rr c J

by ck

When I ook at the ivi Ri ht Movement I ee an a tivi m that haa t M e of eo e are re eva uatin who the are where the o iet owe them - and ha en in the tru ture that exi t One of t

di erent about thi a i u ar eriod i that it did not eem to be ontrotru e the ivi Ri ht Movement Few movement have reatedertain not ri e that ro ed ra ia and a and o ia ineThe i i Ri ht M ement bein B k nd t the b tt m ffe eth u h n i f iet Pe e wh ed u d he t u tu e f iet The u d me t the uth nd ma h

w the uth han ed but theY the e e wh me t i e thei The e itin thin b ut the i i Ri ht M ement i the e

e ti i nt in n i f wh nd whe e the wet ee t f thin f m th t Pe e wh we e ani h M ement wh h d been white when the t ba k tu ned b wn wh h d w ked with be n t d iti r ni in

e nin the ni h e kin mmunit me f the e dement we e iti i ed b thei w k in the i i Ri ht M eme

f in ement in Vietn m the f und them e e i a m t f me i n He e w m '

Th introdu tory r mark w r mad during th fol owing int rvi w b tw n Di k Clu t r and BJohn on R agon Th y fo u on R agon' hinking abou h n ral rol of Civil Right in th mov m nth 9 0' Th in rvi w and r mark wil b in lud d in a for h oming book T y S ou d H v SCu of Coff S v n R di s R m mb t Sixti so b publ h d in F bruary by th South End Pr

8 A or S a ion Bo on MA 0 h in i w wa r h r di d y B rni John on RShapi


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an ther cut acr ss the s c ety acr ss c ass andrace he m vement f r student s r ghts thew men s m vement the gay m vement a

ffer the same p ss b ty N b dy w restbecause everyb dy w check ut what the rp s t n s

r many v R ghts M vement rgan ersand supp rters eav ng a spec f c pr ject rstrugg e d dn t mean the end f p t caact v ty. hese pe p e came away fr m the r

v R ghts M vement exper ence w th agreater fac ty f r see ng a w de range f uest ns r many there was n end n r rest

he v R ghts M vement was n y a beg nn ng Its d spers n c nt nues t be man fested

n ever w den ng c rc es f eva uat n f c vand human r ghts aff rded by th s s c ety

he M vement c nt nues In fact t sntens f ed e p e are be ng threatened n

a m st every way If t runs tsc urse n nst tut ns r va ues w be unexam ned r untested I fee ke the resp nse tth s s s c ety try ng t say En ugh s en ugh

e cann t have a f th s In ch taansas m re pe p e came ut t v te aga nst

gay r ghts than had v ted n any prev use ect n u rea y have t be c m ng fr m

s mep ace t s s c ear y a c v r ghts ssue tv te aga nst gay r ghts hat brand fMc arthy sm w there be th s t me t cutacr ss gay r ghts Ind an r ghts h can r ghtsB ack r ghts?

I d n t kn w ab ut the react nary presencen th s c untry h w str ng t w be but I fee

ke the w rk f the past per d f strugg e hasstrengthened the bas c fee ng that pe p eohave the r ght t be S we have a chance f n tgett ng kn cked d wn th s t me

I a s want t say that y u cann t present anaccurate p cture f the m vements f the 96 sand 9 s un ess y u sh w them rest ng n thef undat n f the v R ghts M vement A

study that s d ne fr m s me t er v ew w be a my p c rep rt nm vements I f nd genera y thapart c pated n any f the ther mespec a y f th se ther m vementd m nant y wh te see whatever th

pated n as centra It s t easy tne m vement y u w rked n the cenwhatever p s t n y u stand thatg nn ng he v R g ts M vem

ed here m ght be a sentence thav R ghts M vement s the base

and ana ys s the t er movements pred m nant y wh te r se n statureaga n a d st rt n of what B ack pst mu ate the sa vat n of th s c u

M st pe p e s mages f the Newwh te B ack pe p e wh have parstrugg e are presented a m st as an ahave pr b ems w th that perspect ve

s that the v R ghts M vement ust the B ack p wer and B ack rev

m vements but every pr gress ve struas ccurr d n th s country s nce th

a rgan ed strugg es c m ng aftR ghts M ve ent y u w f nd

eaders th se exper enced n m

curs ry eve e energy and tdynam cs f the v R ghts Mthat extent t ey are h dren f the M vement

I want t kn w whe her r n t y ug ng t k t at wa} s g ng ana ys s f the re at nsh p etweements I br ng t up because t s me and because a t e stud es that ab ut the New eft r the S xt esd sserv ce t B ack e p e s struaffected every ne n th s c untry Ithat the center f the p ece n t be anypthe v R ghts M vement heb rn ng essence f the S xt es the N


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a y a n Asb y a d an w o ad b ns ppo in s d n s was i d

Fal 1961 was w n A bany Mov no nd way was on pa ic a inci

d n a cla i i d o w o and w wasin soci y

was a s an do co ns lo a coll pic d p p on on day and isw i y said Do yo wan w n y dolla s "

said Y s" o i was a adio s owo said s w n y dolla s on s a

o y ca " And o a ? adio? " n i inal y i d o a

was so ici in and sinc was a s d n doco ns o was s ppos d o ca c i ! ( oo

c ) ad a da wi is an w n o y

ac y ad iso y sic ac and saidMy God c i d " w n o p sid nw o was c an o d al wi i n w n

o A bany G o ia po ic o dad appoin n o ca p s polic

said y co dn d a wi i b ca s i was aca p s iss po ic o d ca p ss c i y a ds no o s w apons in d alinwi cas was no in o d o is Myadviso s said s oin o b o ay; yo oa ad and w oin o av polic

" o on is co n wai in wassavin wo ld and savin all s s nAnd co s is an in is ol swa nand ways G in ca "

didn s polic and wo dn insaid W s w n y do la s?" said

ad o o cas a c c o i wasa y ood a as d o w n y dol a s

sinc didn av i o d caniv yo no on y " so old i W lo i n " s i l didn s no polic so

d cid d b s a wal in bac o ca p s was d ivin alon sid yin o a

in o ca


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F na ly alon co s M adw l s ( yus c ac s) ca a s all o ol c no

s ns cou dn l ad s c oo ; ou y ody s ould co

ou and ca c an a s w a a nson a s way can sys

wo s l l was lu n n o can sys s cu y o c u dou o M adw l s ca u s and on w an s ca and sa d W a ll doyou n you do n ?" uy d o o

w n down n n n o ol cs a on and ol c sa d W ad you

ou s o ou a n on caus w wano s o s u s w says wasn o

was ou o own "wo w s la was n o d n d ona ons was down a o c s a on and a o a was n on you n s and

ay n on y n s c n s a onand ay n was P c n ono as n W n you n y o c u

us o day?" nd sa d Y a " nd sa d W l d dn w y o you?" nd

sa d o you d dn ca c "a was y awa n ss a c awa n ss

o w a s d was on d always n a a d o o c n w you w n su os d o un n o u on so l us a ou

a you a y cou d ca on a sys and would s ond o you a nc d w

o nd o n u on on s d and ao o o o l a a y d dn now ao a ou on o s d

ow did the demonstrations begin?

l any Mo n ca a ou as asul o wo ud n on o n oo d na n

o ld s c a s a l s odand o d l a on w o ca down o wo

n Blac B l a a ad d c d d o do

o s a on ca a ns a a as o s coun y a

an w s o cally o n y could un os an o a on o d ll and a l s

w n a l s

and sa d W a do you noun y?" sa d s a l lno an w o was o

a s o s on o ycu s ons n o os su ound

y n w s was oo oo a y would d ad

ou y d c nW n o l s ca

y an co n o ou counc n s s caus d a

P B caus was s cc a w n o P d

n lan a y as d Wn do n n you co un y?"

c d and don so o n s w a ou o a n an

ad a ood o y s as dsa d ca ul causco n and you s d u an

a and P as o ay

la la la la la was al u s ; d dn na n n a o n d

a l y o d al w ud n od na n o " os w

an n o couldn oncouldn n o say

P a n a d s ould a n sa

s ood

sa d W wo n o a n w ?" W a an answ onal P ca down o a

ou c a non o dan ua d un o d s c d c


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SNCC.2Th s p opl thou ht it was impo ta tou h to stop SNCC that th y cam dow to

Alba y to t ll us how SNCC would l ad usw o . W had to vot o wh th w would owith SNCC o th NAACP. I ust could 't

i u out why w w maki that d cisio . I

vot d to stay with th NAACP b caus it wasamilia but I v w t to a oth m ti .I Nov mb w d cid d to t st wh th th

I t stat Comm c Commissio would o c its w uli that had com out o thumm F dom Rid s that bus a d t ai

statio s could ot hav s at d aciliti s.Th NAACP chapt vot d that o p sowould o i to th lu ch ooms b a st d a db bail d out th th y would hav a cou t cas

to t st th uli . SNCC d cid d that th ywould t st th uli but th p opl would stayi ail.

B tha Gob a d Bla to Hall stud ts atAlba y Stat t st d th uli . At this poi tp opl w oi hom o Tha ks ivi omth coll a d th d a o stud ts was oidow to th statio maki su that Alba yStat Coll stud ts w t i th colo d sid .So what I'm d sc ibi is ot a black a ai stwhit situatio er se I'm d sc ibi a syst mthat was h ld i tact by almost v ybody i iti cludi ma o p opl i th Black commu ity. B tha was susp d d om school

i ht a t sh ot a st d.B tha a d Bla to w h ld i ail a d

wh th y cam to t ial w had th i stma chi d p ayi at City Hall. Wa ou c d th d mo st atio o campus a dth w w t th ou h th halls t yi to tp opl out. I m mb o t ach w call d

Ma Lat " T ois J. Latim told h stud tsG t out o h a d o o a d ma ch o youi hts! " Ma Lat wasan ient you k ow but

I m mb h y lli at p opl to o. Im mb Bobby Bi ch taki M . Fo d a d

picki him up a d movi him ouust so w could t out o hi

sta t d om th campus a d thust a w littl p opl a d I saiu ss w ail d." W had to c ot to th ail a d by th tim w

b id w could 't s th d ok pt owi . Wh w ot to thw 't v su what to do. W

Ci cl th block k p movi"could 't d cid wh th to si Nothi lik this had happAlba y.

At th d o that ma ch w som plac . Th U io Baptist Chco a th coll campusm t th Stud ts did ot havm t i that city c pt i th BlNAACP m ti s had b h ld Wh SNCC b a to do o vioshops that was i B th l AMEChu ch.

Stud ts had to o to oth i stitucommu ity b caus w did ot cam us o th coll buildi s a

ot t acc ss to th m. I was i c t h th d a saw Co dSh o h a d said, G t oIt was li I was sitti with thTh y all said G t o opolic ! " Th m could ot walkSo th stud t mov m t could ot

o th la commu ity.I D c mb th was a u

th uli by SNCC. A umb Rid s cam dow o a t ai osuppo t us. Th was Jam s FoHayd Sa d a Hayd (th y hadma i d . B tha Gob was atim . A t h i st a st thm ti . Sh 'd ott up a d tasp di Tha ks ivi i ail T


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all th F domRid sp s t I m mb hsta di up a d sayi W ll " It was lik

h sh was a ai Julia a d Alic Bo dw th I Ashby who lat b camI W i ht was th Th mai sp ak wasD A d so who was p sid t o th Alba yMov m tA t th t ai id s w a st d thw mo d mo st atio s a d mo a sts. Iwas a st d i th s co d oup o d mo st atio s Each tim as ws o th d mo st atio sa d a sts cam out wspap s a d TV Black p opl cam to th mass m ti s om

ust v ywh It s m d tosom thi basic.

Th d mo st atio s did 't happvacuum Th ws o ov a y

ull o th s sit-i s Th y had cthi s lik Auth i Lucy a d

om y Bus Boycott a d LittlA ka sas. Ev ybody was p ayiKi wh h ot stabb d It was li

i ally ott h !"So Alba y was ot simply a stud

m t Th w ust swa ms ocam out to d mo st at om h


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tud t to old p opl A d th wa o muchthat you ot om i di that om oldp opl back d you a d w willi to put upbail a d thi o that o t That mad thMov m t much t o . It wa a mamov m t

A lot o th old p opl i th Alba yMov m t w t ch d i Black Cultu alt aditio al a d ot a much i to th Blackcultu you'll i d i coll hythm a dblu a d a a d pi itual . A lot o th it i

o w out o th hythm a d blu idiomo th a a d pi itual idiom. Tho o a

th y w t th ou h Alba y Gb ou ht back to th oot l v l ot aditio al mu ic. Alba y G oto all that it did i t m o a maal o b cam a plac wh th pow ul that p opl b cam coP opl who cam to w it about thb a to w it about th i iu d ta d why. Th y could 'twhat th i i had to do with all it wa o pow ul th y k w it mco cti

lbany G orgia


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ha body o mus c cam h ou h A ba y, was cha d You had o d ad s ad

dom so s, back d by o d ad s a d o dm who a y k w wha h so s w kb o h y'd o o h co campus owh v s . L k h so Am " wh ch

u d o F dom. " Tha sam so hasb do o c u s h B ack chu ch.You ca pu a ha mo y, 1-3-5, sop a o-a o

o -bass o ha a d a h cho a sou d.A SNCC wo k wou d s a o do Am " G o a a d wou d b ak ov by h

co a o who wou d sa ways sa . h y w sbu h y sa h sam w

Am " ha wou d b a Am " s a B ack ad o

ac ua y a upb a so o s k ha

Wh SNC cam o A ba y W Sha Ov com " as

b caus h chu ch wh wdays was I ' Ov com " : W

a d sa d, Ohwe s ha soPho o by Rob r


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th xt m ti th y said What shall wsi ?" Oh th 's anew so that w h a do T a d it o s ." A d you do it th wayyou k ow it As fa as you' co c d youa si i th sam so th y' si i vthou h it's diff t By th tim W ShallOv com " ot to Alba y it had b com

ituali d as th symbol of th mov m t Th yw doi it sta di holdi ha dsWewas ally impo ta t as a co c fo th

oup Th w o o two oth cha sW w doi it a littl fast ha th y wdoi it W slow d it dow a littl that'sjust th stud ts i Alba y a d th SNCCwo k s a d by th tim it ot to a massm ti som thi ls happ d to it i t ms

of imp ovisatio a d slowi it dow mo jail th so s k pt us to th was ijail with about sixty wom a d th wt ach s i th a d ducat d p opl u ducat d p opl a f w p opl who had d u k i

a l m a d just a (O lady said sh waswith h hu ba d a d th ma ch was oi bya d sh says Look th o s my p opl !"a d h says You b tt stay h " a d sh aa d cau ht up with us a d up i jail a d sh

says What did do that fo ? I ai 't vo a d i k o mo "So th w al class diff c s b tw

th Black wom i jail a d music had a lot todo with b aki dow thos thi s b causth w s v al wom i th could l adso s of diff t a s a d v ybody wouldback v ybody up. t was th fi st tim l dso s a d f lt totally back d up by a oup ofblacks f you' owi up i a black chu chyou ca ba k ou d but m a th l ad s aso pow ful th al so l ad s th old o stha you thi k of th day som day wh you'

o a do L t m id J sus" o som thibutyou do 't st ik out o it Mayb wh youjoi th chu ch you' cstatic you mi ht l ad

a so if p opl will si with youk ow you al y ca 't pull that w

Th was som thi about th mov m t wh l ad s w dactivism Not by th i a o thwithi th black commu ity p opl

ook up to stud ts to ask stud tsshould do about x y a d fol ad ship of all so ts of diff t po what th y p c iv d to b a icommitm t to st u l a d stickpa ticu a st u l

Wh t woul yous y w s the feeling of eowho be me involve in the emonstr tWh t were they trying to om lish? W

w s this movement th t you h joine ?

Th was a s s of pow i ayou did 't f l you had a y powa s s of co f o ti thi s that t

ik jail polic walki i th sk ow a whol lot of Black folks couwalk i th st t i thos plac s iSo you w sayi i som basic w

v a ai stay i sid of th s b

Th w thi s ask d fo lika d fi p opl a d sitti wh yoh bus Th was a bus boycott ah bus compa y dow a d b ou

wi h Blacbus d iv s But i t mha d to m a d what happ

opl k w about it was a chaco c pt of mys lf a d ho stood

t was ally xp i c that totth liv s of p opl who pa ticipat d

w p opl who did v y ma chm ti th i whol liv s b caa ou d th Mov m t P opl whjobs who lost th i hom s

A ot of studi s of Alba y hav fovaluati th tactics of P itch tt


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chi f. Th y hav call d him a nonviol ntpolic " b caus h lock d p opl up. H justlock d you up and wh n th was no mo

oom in th city jail h s nt us out to counti s.Wh n I ad about th Albany Mov m nt as

p opl hav w itt n about it I don t co niit Th y add up stuff that was not c nt al towhat happ n d Discussion about P itch ttdiscussion about sp cific achi v m nts discussion about wh th it was a failu o succ ssfo Kin Fo m that was not c nt al I had

own up in a soci ty wh th w v ycl a lin s. Th old I ot th mo I foundwhat thos lin s w . Th Civil Ri hts Movm nt av m th pow to chall n ny linthat limits m

I ot that pow du in that Albany Movm nt and that is what it m ant to m justally av m al chanc to ht and to

st u l and not sp ct bounda i s that put mdown B fo th n I st u l d within a c taincont t but co ni d lin s. Ac oss thos lin sw pow s that could do you in so you just

sp ct th m and don t c oss th m. Th CivilRi hts Mov m nt just d st oy d that and saidthat if som thin puts you down you hav to

fi ht a ainst it. And that s what th AlbanyMov m nt did fo Albany G o ia

Th r w r som s blish ul rof ssion ls in h l rshi of h Alb ny Mov m nbu o h r su ssful Bl ks lik h s hool minis r ion o os i i his sur risyou?

I v found it al su p isin to p opl outsid

th South. I d say I was susp nd d f om schooland th y d say Oh it was a whit school awhit p incipal?" If you ow up Black youknow that th manif stations of th syst mclos st to you a Black. W had known D anMino (th d an at th bus station and at th

jail who mad lists of stud nts s at d ba i s and P swhil It was ally ust b havalways s n

What w did not know thounumb s of p opl on thast samw fi htin . I think that s alwauntil th is a fi ht You n vstank fo you until th issu s alin

You can always fi u out th pcutin th syst m. It app a

v ybody s cutin it v nin it until you fi ht a ainst it. ThI p i nc d was th numb s

isk d v ythin th y had to wo

m nt. P opl of all class s. P oplut ly couldn t affo d to tak thosTh most ind p nd nt p opl wt s of thos Black chu ch s whCivil Ri hts Mov m nt activitiwho w wo kin and w lothat was anoth thin .

s now b n y rs sin S work in Alb ny Wh is Alb ny li

ow o you s h f r n h m n h s m ?Th a hund ds of sp cific

Coll is int at d. D nnis diaft h susp nd d us I stilconn ct d. You can id in whTh a Black polic m n and w(polic m n a still polic m nand whit fi m n Black bus da int at d. Th a Black

ato s. I wouldn t hav to o alB lk s D pa tm nt Sto to odowntown th us d to b onwith st ooms fo Blacks SSto and B lk s. All thos happ n d.


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A ba y o A ba y as w as th CiviRi hts Mov m t o who v was a ct d byit ais d qu stio s a d a sw d som qu stio s i ways that cha d how p op wou db d a t with. So thatyou k ow I cou d t ajob at th Ma i bas as a s c ta y. Thos a

thi s that you tak o a t d i A ba y owbut I m mb wh my sist ot a job at thMa i bas a d it was a i st. Th y hi dma ua abo s at th bas but th y did thi B ack wom .

Thos a th sp ci ics. B hi thos sp ci icsa p op who hav at spo sibi ity owho a d wh th y a a d s i ht y mocha c s to i ht o di c i th i iv s. Isom way th Civi Ri hts Mov m t pos d

th basic st uctu o th cou t y that as it ss t up ca ot sustai its without opp ssisom o . Th cha i th mov m t attowa d iots B ack Pow B ack atio a ism

s to m ik it had to do with som a iabout th Co stitutio .

W did a ot o stu about upho di thCo stitutio ; quoti th Co stitutio sayi

A w wa t is ou i hts i th Co stitutio ."A t A ba y I b a to ook i th Co stitutio a d to a i that v y tim th y d a twith p op ty th y w d a i wit th s avqu stio . So i th Co stitutio I am p ima i yp op ty. A d o d p di o that Co stitutio is ik m waiti o th co o thA ba y po ic to sav m om that ma .

But that was h w w . So o thi thCivi Ri hts Mov m t did was iv us a ssoi th st uctu o this cou t y th most

aphic ki d o civics sso you ca t a dw b a to a y s that th w somp ob ms. I you watch d TV a d watch d ath m B ack p op tti b at o a o thosy a syou k w that you s was comi tw k. A d it b cam much mo di icu t toha d that othi s was comi a d

sp ci y that i som a wayo d was ot cha d by th CiMov m t.

Wh I say you ca wo k i th Maa d you ca wo k at th t pho th imp icatio is that som thi b

cha d i th co omy. But i yowh B acks sta d co omicasoci ty it co ti u s to b a soci tymai tai d its o th p oitatioo p op . Thou h I t th i

oups may b s i ht y b aki dow a wo k s a b i i t

s v s t i i d o th i jobs whth way B ack p op t a th had a job you w sca d a y day

wou d happ so you wou d t bWhat about the effects of voter registrationwork on the ower relations?

I thi k w sti s i it a dwhat th su t wi b . Th havdi c s i pow atio s wB ac ct d o icia s but th

imit d I Cha sto South Catima C k sits o th schoo boa d t1919 d to t h wo k as a tcity. Mayo Da y s itt c iqu by a ss ckso d oup at a Natio a Co v tio . That was 19McGov wa omi at d o Pthat was th y a o This is a y a di c w o a tua ou d a d mak it a p op s paw a thos i hts a d tha ou d 197 Mayo Da y s backk ow what to do.

So you ca ta k bout pow chaoccu d that put Fa i Lou HamD moc atic Natio a Co v tio kick d Mayo Da y out o a itt


25/68

m a s som t i it is mor h lpful to havmo Black p opl i thospositio s. But alsoit m a s that w ' i a sys m that's v ry

l ibl a d ca abso b som d ma ds bas d ohow much you hamm r for th m if y u a

v visibl hamm ri you will ot total y b

i or d. You will ith b t io bd st oy d. A d th som tim s th syst m l tsi a c tai umb r a d th d stroys h

adica f i s of i . But th structur has otcha d a d huma b i s ar still t rribly

ploit d i this cou t y. is is ot a cou trthat's focus d o huma b i s.

h oth r thi that th Civil Ri hts ovm t has do is mak Black p opl s b yo dth ms lv s to s som parall ls i th xp r

i c s of oth r p opl a d otr roups Ifyou' B ack a d oppr ss d you'r also isolat d. Wh I joi d th Civil Ri hts ov m t

v ythi was Black a d whit . h w rBlack p opl a d th r w r whit p opl a dthat was it. h Civil Ri hts ov m t hastau ht at l ast som activist part of th Blackcommu ity i t atio alism som thi aboutth world a d has mad th world ot sodista t a d ot so irr l va t to our owpositio . It is lik b i i to a aly soci tya d u d rsta d wh r you a i it.

ow h ve you erson lly been ffe te s n ethen by your rt t on n the A lb nyMovement?

W ll th fi st thi that happ d was I lostth job I had at that tim . I would t up at fivi th mor i to cl a this b auticia 's shop.

h woma said Sh 's a ood irl but . . . .Sh thou ht h wi dows would t brokb caus my am was i th pap r a d I ota st d.

I was p l d from school i D c mb r19 ot to tur It was fo som thi lik

b havior u b comi a stud tw r p tty worri d about m bschool a d also about ot b i ablwhat to do. I was cl arly makid cisio s. I was scar d but I was rup i th activiti s of th Civil R

m t.h fo ty- i stud ts who wot a off r to o to Black schools i

compl t th y ar. I bruary I wschool i Atla ta to Sp lma Cmost impo ta t thi happ i wm t. f lt lik it was my ov m

Fanny Lou Ham r at th Fo t County Courthin Hatti burg Mi hoto by Matt H ron


26/68

as it was anybody ls s so b in in schooldu in that tim was di icult I t i d to tinvolv d in what was happ nin in Atlanta butit did not hav th community bas ThAtlanta movm nt was stud nt-bas d andsom thin that I had ott n om th Albany

situation was missin I wo k d at th SNCCnational o ic ; I w nt to alli s and d monst ations in Atlanta; and I w nt back to Albany asmuch as possibl Th n t y a I tu n d toSp lman but l t in Nov mb and didn t oback o s v al y a s

I think v ythin I v don sinc has to dowith th Mov m nt. I m still an activist still assin a son l ad as I was th n. I havmov d sinc that tim th ou h b in v y muchin th middl o th pan A icanist and Blacknationalist mov m nt Du in th Civil Ri htsMov m nt I was in a oup call d th F domSin s With Black nationalism I san with a

oup o wom n call d th Ha amb Sin s;w almost only san to Black p opl Now I mwith a oup call d Sw t Hon y in th RockW a Black wom n sin in about ou liv sand ou commitm nt to ou community andou commitm nt to st u l o chan .

What I v had sinc th Civil Ri hts Movm nt is b tt knowl d o who I am in thissoci ty anund standin o my pow as ap son to stand and sp ak and act on any issuthat I l appli s to m in som way andth o to oth p opl . That has includ d thwa in Vi tnam Black nationalism lib ationmov m nts a ound th wo ld and othmov m nts I v com to with som suppo tb caus o what I l a n d in th Civil Ri htsMov m nt And music is just th way I talkabout that commitm nt and that und standin

I l a n d was that I did hav a li to iv owhat I b li v d Lots o p opl don t knowthat; th y l th y don t hav anythin Wh n

you und stand that you do hav a lihav a bodyand you can put that on th

iv s you a s ns o pow . So I d by th Civil Ri hts Mov m

Th hav b n many tim s sinI v lt oth l v ls o opp ssio

doo s that op n o m as a Blackhav anoth slant on th m o m I now mov th ou h a di nt soci ty than I did th n I m shapp ns wh n you Black whwoman wh n vou a outsid o caa com o tabl Lik I hav a histo y but docto at s a not suppand i th y sin th y not suppoth way I do usin Black t aditit c niqu s Th a just a hundways o clashin . Y t I som tim s hav a i ht almost a sponsibilityto b all o thos thin s I I donmy li tim who I am and i ht oth nI will n v be I will b som bo

p s ntation o th soci ty s what it will tol at m to b

BERN CE JO NSON REAGON s Cultustor n t the Sm thson n nst t

s nger n om oser n the mother oh l ren, she l ves n W sh ngton

CK CLUSTER s st ff member of Do

& S ns so l st m g z ne ofe onom s, n free-l n e wr ter one-ye r-ol son.


27/68

N

Au e ine Lu y in 956 be ame e fi s Bla ks uden o en oll in e Unive s y of Alabama b

as even ually ex elled2 Ve on Jo dan en Geo ia field se e a y foe NAAC is no exe u ive di e o of eNa ional U ban Lea ue Ruby u ley as sou ease n e ional di e o of e NAAC3 James Fo man as Exe u ive e e a of SN

Documents

Radical America - Vol 12 No 6 - 1978 - November December