Racial Unrest in Durham
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- | People hear me now? | 0:03 |
This is Mike McBrat. | 0:10 | |
At this point. | 0:17 | |
At this point, there's no need for long speeches | 0:21 | |
and discussions, I think we've been talking | 0:24 | |
too long with these people. | 0:26 | |
What we would like to report to you on two recent meetings, | 0:28 | |
that were here with members of the faculty | 0:32 | |
and some representatives of administration. | 0:35 | |
First of all, I'd like for Lerch to read the statement, | 0:39 | |
which deals with meeting, that was help Saturday. | 0:43 | |
- | On Saturday, march eight, | 0:54 |
I met with doctor Hara Louis, | 0:56 | |
dene of Rasa census, doctor Colt and his department | 0:57 | |
and doctor First in the english department. | 1:01 | |
I met because I hoped, that something could be worked out, | 1:03 | |
that we could start to resolve the problem | 1:06 | |
of student participation and decision making | 1:08 | |
revolving around the black studies program | 1:10 | |
it was indicated to me at the meeting I have, | 1:13 | |
that the administration intended to carry on | 1:15 | |
with the proceedings recommended in the proctor committee | 1:17 | |
report, a report, which the Afro American | 1:20 | |
society have rejected. | 1:22 | |
Therefore, although I took part in the meeting, | 1:24 | |
the results have no meaning until | 1:27 | |
the Afro American society officially gives sanction | 1:29 | |
to the report and the meeting. | 1:33 | |
As of now, the Afro American society | 1:35 | |
has not recognized the proctor committee report | 1:37 | |
or the meeting. | 1:40 | |
- | Now I want to report | 1:44 |
on the most recent meeting, that was held | 1:47 | |
with these people live, it was help at about 5:15. | 1:49 | |
We went into this meeting | 1:57 | |
with open minds again, with the idea, | 2:00 | |
that we were going into a discussion | 2:02 | |
with honorable men with integrity | 2:05 | |
to deal with the problem of adequate black representation | 2:08 | |
on the black studies program. | 2:12 | |
What we were faced with was a committee | 2:16 | |
of five faculty people, | 2:20 | |
which have been appointed as a result of the report | 2:22 | |
from the proctor committee, which has been appointed | 2:27 | |
by some university official. | 2:29 | |
These five people had in fact this morning | 2:32 | |
or earlier today sometime met and voted, | 2:36 | |
that they would, in fact, | 2:41 | |
accept black student representation | 2:42 | |
on the supervisor committee, | 2:44 | |
but out of five, that is five faculties, | 2:47 | |
they would only accept three black students. | 2:53 | |
Our position has been all along, | 2:56 | |
since the beginning of our struggle, | 3:00 | |
when of equal representation for black students | 3:02 | |
on the supervisor committee, why? | 3:06 | |
What was that rationale behind this? | 3:10 | |
It is crystal clear to us, | 3:12 | |
that because of the difficult struggle, | 3:15 | |
that we have been having with these people, | 3:18 | |
to try to set up the black studies program, | 3:20 | |
it's clear to us, that certain goals, | 3:22 | |
as far as direction of the black studies program, | 3:26 | |
different on both sides. | 3:29 | |
It is the black people, who have different views | 3:31 | |
and the white faculty has another. | 3:34 | |
Members of the faculty have another. | 3:38 | |
Our reason for asking for equal representation | 3:42 | |
was to institutionalize or ensure, | 3:44 | |
that no one element would be placed into position | 3:48 | |
of forcing something, that was not agreeable on a minority. | 3:50 | |
That is to say we purposely did not ask | 3:56 | |
for black student control of the program, | 3:59 | |
that for instance, six black students to fore faculty, | 4:03 | |
because we did not want to put ourselves into position | 4:07 | |
of forcing something onto minority faculty, | 4:11 | |
that they could not live with. | 4:15 | |
On the other hand, we wanted the same thing for ourselves, | 4:19 | |
that is to say, we do not want to put ourselves | 4:24 | |
into position on a committee, | 4:27 | |
where each time we vote on critical issues, | 4:28 | |
it will be a five three vote, | 4:31 | |
five faculty and three black students in the minority. | 4:36 | |
We do not wanna put ourselves in that position, | 4:39 | |
therefore we want to institutionalize | 4:41 | |
a mechanism, wherein we would have equal representation | 4:46 | |
and because it was an equal representation, | 4:50 | |
both elements of this agreement will be forced | 4:52 | |
to work out something, that will be mutually agreeable | 4:56 | |
if the committee is to function or were to function. | 4:58 | |
This was our rationale behind asking for five five. | 5:02 | |
The committee rejected this, stating, | 5:07 | |
that they had voted this morning or earlier some time, | 5:10 | |
that they would only accept three black students. | 5:13 | |
We decided to offer a compromise, the black students did. | 5:16 | |
Our compromise was this, | 5:20 | |
that we would accept five faculty members, | 5:23 | |
four black students and one person, | 5:27 | |
which would be mutually agreeable to both sides. | 5:33 | |
This was rejected, they again stated they had met | 5:38 | |
and they unanimously voted, | 5:42 | |
that they would recommend, they had decided earlier today, | 5:45 | |
that is three black students | 5:51 | |
opposed to five faculty members | 5:53 | |
we could not accept this, | 5:56 | |
cuz we would be putting ourselves into position, | 6:00 | |
that black people have always been put in, | 6:02 | |
when they try to deal with white people on committees, | 6:05 | |
that is tokens, we see tokenism throughout this university, | 6:07 | |
we did not want to be a part of its institutionalizing | 6:11 | |
the same tokenism in the black studies program. | 6:15 | |
This is why we are rejected. | 6:19 | |
It is crystal clear, that we can no longer tolerate | 6:24 | |
the delay and double talk of administration and faculty. | 6:28 | |
Equally losing is the fact, | 6:33 | |
that we cannot participate | 6:35 | |
under the inhuman conditions, | 6:39 | |
which we have been subjected to | 6:44 | |
and retain our dignity and sends a word. | 6:47 | |
Existent with them erase a society | 6:51 | |
is dependent of the ability of the oppressed | 6:55 | |
to make it on their own. | 6:58 | |
To develop a power base from which to operate, | 7:01 | |
to develop programs relevant to their needs. | 7:04 | |
If black students cannot participate meaningfully | 7:10 | |
and all faces of the Afro American studies program, | 7:13 | |
then it has no meaning for us. | 7:18 | |
In light of this situation | 7:21 | |
the Afro American at Duke are faced with three alternatives. | 7:24 | |
As to our future course of action. | 7:29 | |
One, we could remain here and completely disavow | 7:33 | |
ourselves from the university, | 7:39 | |
the second alternative is for us to destroy the place, | 7:44 | |
the third alternative is for us to withdraw from Duke | 7:51 | |
and refuse to legitimatize an illegitimate system. | 7:55 | |
We have chosen the last alternative | 8:02 | |
and will continue our education | 8:04 | |
by establishing on the outside of Duke university, | 8:07 | |
an institution, which will speak to the needs of students, | 8:12 | |
especially black students and the way | 8:16 | |
we will put an end to the constant destruction of our minds | 8:21 | |
and our humanity. | 8:28 | |
We will establish the Malcolm X university for liberation. | 8:31 | |
Long live Malcolm X Liberation university. | 8:37 | |
- | At this time, black students are going to march from here | 8:48 |
to saint Joseph church, we'd like your support | 8:55 | |
and your solidarity. | 8:59 | |
The black students are leaving this institution, | 9:01 | |
will be in the vanguard and the front of the march, | 9:04 | |
please stay in twos, we'd like your solidarity, | 9:07 | |
please, thank you. | 9:10 | |
- | What do you think you can accomplish | 9:20 |
by showing your support? | 9:22 | |
Are you trying to reinstate the blacks | 9:24 | |
or are you trying to just get the Malcolm X school | 9:26 | |
working to its most efficient point? | 9:28 | |
- | I don't think I can do much of anything, | 9:31 |
I'm just profoundly despairing, | 9:34 | |
that the blacks, who first took over Alan building | 9:38 | |
and then said they would withdraw, | 9:42 | |
if they couldn't accomplish anything, | 9:44 | |
I don't see how we can and I think if the faculty | 9:45 | |
committees, that are set up now | 9:49 | |
want to honestly deal with the problem, | 9:52 | |
there's still perhaps some hope for them, | 9:54 | |
but there's little pressure we can bring to them | 9:56 | |
and, I think, that what we have to do now | 9:58 | |
is just show, that although things haven't changed yet, | 10:00 | |
we have to keep on fighting | 10:05 | |
and just not let ourselves get beat. | 10:08 | |
For me, my paradigm, if I might call it that, | 10:10 | |
would be Sisyphus rolling that rock up the hill | 10:14 | |
and Camus myth, rolling the rock up the hill | 10:17 | |
and he gets to the top only to see it roll down again. | 10:21 | |
That's how all these things always go | 10:23 | |
and as Camus says, the only thing you can do | 10:25 | |
is keep rolling that rock, cuz that's what it is to be human | 10:27 | |
and accept it and you find some measure of joy | 10:30 | |
if not satisfaction in rolling that rock | 10:32 | |
and keep trying. | 10:36 | |
To give up now, to stop fighting | 10:38 | |
just because not much can be done at this point | 10:41 | |
is to exceed to what | 10:44 | |
this society appears to be, which is racist. | 10:48 | |
I don't label it that, but I think that it's evident, | 10:52 | |
that it is that, because the people, | 10:55 | |
who feel oppressed by racism are all leaving. | 10:59 | |
25 have dropped out and 15 more or 17 more | 11:02 | |
will at the end of the semester, | 11:05 | |
that's more than half of the black students. | 11:07 | |
I just feel despair. | 11:10 | |
- | Do you think a march like this today | 11:12 |
is merely to demonstrate support | 11:14 | |
and you don't feel it can get anything accomplished? | 11:15 | |
- | I have some hopes, that the faculty can do something, | 11:18 |
I would rather be delightfully surprised, | 11:22 | |
than expect anything from them | 11:25 | |
and be disappointed once again. | 11:27 | |
I think it can show, that there are students, | 11:29 | |
who really do care and who will continue | 11:32 | |
and can show the faculty and the administration, | 11:35 | |
and anybody outside Duke, who's looking on, | 11:39 | |
that there are some people, who won't be satisfied | 11:42 | |
until we do have equality and justice. | 11:45 | |
- | Okay, thank you very much. | 11:47 |
- | Sure. | 11:48 |
- | Can we take a minute and everybody's emotions all up, | 11:53 |
let's go let's go, let's take a minute and think about that. | 11:56 | |
Let's take a minute to think about that. | 12:01 | |
Talk to somebody, those who have been assessed. | 12:06 | |
- | Will you go tonight, go downtown? | 12:11 |
- | Yes. | 12:14 |
- | Will you go downtown tonight? | 12:15 |
- | Sorry? | 12:17 |
- | Will you march downtown tonight, | 12:18 |
if they decide to go tonight? | 12:19 | |
- | I don't know, yeah. | 12:22 |
- | Will you march tonight | 12:26 |
if the general consensus is to march today? | 12:28 | |
- | Today, tomorrow night, tonight after, all the nights. | 12:32 |
- | I'd march every night, yeah, if I had to. | 12:35 |
- | We gon march. | 12:39 |
- | I'll march. | |
- | You'll march, what about you, sir? | 12:40 |
- | Tomorrow night, have time to make up the mind | 12:42 |
in the right way. | 12:44 | |
- | You think people should wait | 12:46 |
and think about it? | 12:48 | |
- | Yeah, tell them all that. | 12:49 |
- | How about you, sir, will you wait till tomorrow night? | 12:52 |
- | No. | 12:54 |
- | March tonight? | 12:56 |
- | Right. | 12:57 |
- | Any night? | |
- | Any night. | 12:58 |
- | Any night? | |
What about you, sir? | 13:00 | |
- | I marched last night. | 13:01 |
- | I would say think, before you make up your mind, | 13:02 |
but if you can't make up your mind, | 13:04 | |
then go tonight and tomorrow night. | 13:05 | |
- | 200 years to go. | 13:07 |
- | What is your name, please, sir? | 13:11 |
- | Jones, Roger Jones. | 13:12 |
- | Marching time is over now, time for action. | 13:15 |
- | It's time for action now? | 13:19 |
- | This is it, it's time for action. | 13:20 |
- | Don't get that, there's two kinds of action. | 13:22 |
- | What are the two kinds? | 13:26 |
- | The violent way and the non violent way. | 13:27 |
- | What do you think would happen if I march tonight? | 13:30 |
- | That depends. | 13:34 |
- | Knowing, that the city dorms get there, | 13:38 |
they're fine a staff tonight. | 13:41 | |
- | Alright, just hold tight. | 13:43 |
- | You can't count, you can estimate. | 13:51 |
- | I'd say about a 1000. | 13:56 |
- | You gonna have to go back to the door. | 14:00 |
Since this you won't have to go back to the dorm. | 14:04 | |
Brothers and there have been scholars, | 14:08 | |
if you decide to go, I'm with you all the way. | 14:11 | |
The rest of the brothers here with you. | 14:15 | |
With the ladies, it's essential, | 14:17 | |
but you won't have to return to the dorm. | 14:20 | |
I know. | 14:25 | |
I know you wanna go. | 14:28 | |
I know you wanna go. | 14:31 | |
I know you wanna go. | 14:35 | |
We do not want. | 14:40 | |
We don't want anything to happen, | 14:46 | |
that you will not respect or that you will not be in favor, | 14:50 | |
as far as the applicants. | 14:56 | |
Brothers, the calls is ours as well as the sisters, | 14:58 | |
but we have to look out for our women. | 15:03 | |
The ladies will go back and the men, ladies will go back. | 15:09 | |
- | Are you gonna go back? | 15:15 |
- | Yes. | 15:16 |
- | Are you gonna go back? | 15:17 |
- | Yes, I'm going back. | 15:18 |
- | To you all, does it look like you're gonna march tonight? | 15:24 |
- | I guess so. | 15:27 |
- | I guess so. | |
- | Will there be a chicken march before? | 15:29 |
- | I beg your pardon? | 15:33 |
- | Will there be a meeting at the chicken box? | 15:34 |
- | I can't answer that, cuz I don't know. | 15:37 |
- | A white student got up and said, | 15:44 |
that they should march on doctor nights now | 15:46 | |
rather than downtown, he is quickly put down. | 15:49 | |
- | In support of the Duke students. | 16:01 |
I don't think we should let our thing | 16:03 | |
little less over shout of it. | 16:06 | |
What do brothers and sisters say from Duke. | 16:10 | |
We prefer we get together tonight | 16:14 | |
and back them and their things tomorrow night. | 16:18 | |
We just can't fly off your helicopter, | 16:21 | |
we gonna do this and that. | 16:23 | |
You know what might happen, | 16:25 | |
but whatever we gonna do, we got to be together. | 16:27 | |
If you can't get together. | 16:30 | |
As far as MCC is concerned, I leave it up to him, | 16:34 | |
because I represent you. | 16:37 | |
Whatever you say, that's what I say. | 16:39 | |
But I would like to say this to you. | 16:43 | |
I suggest, that we go along with the wishes of the students. | 16:47 | |
Look, look, look, let's get clear | 16:54 | |
and let's start getting out of here. | 16:58 | |
It's this, that I hear some of yall know. | 17:00 | |
That's beautiful, you wanna go, some people don't wanna go. | 17:04 | |
Let's wait until tomorrow and if you're really with us, | 17:07 | |
that means, that you'll be here. | 17:10 | |
If you dive in, then you won't be here. | 17:13 | |
If you gotta go down south anyway | 17:16 | |
and if you go, go this way, | 17:18 | |
let me just make one word of caution. | 17:20 | |
That if you go down now, I'm talking to some of yall, | 17:24 | |
that won't go, if you go down now, | 17:28 | |
make sure, that you've got your things right, | 17:31 | |
because if you don't, there will be way more you tomorrow. | 17:36 | |
- | Howard Fuller is now describing judge Riley downtown | 17:54 |
and referring to the five convictions. | 17:57 | |
- | We don't need tomorrow night | 18:01 |
and the freshmen hold. | 18:06 | |
Go get your roommate, get you roommate's roommate, | 18:10 | |
get your auntie, get your uncle, get your cousin, | 18:17 | |
get everybody, that you can find and be here at seven. | 18:21 | |
- | Seven o'clock. | 18:26 |
- | After the prayer, this is how we go out. | 18:50 |
If you would get you all to listen, | 18:54 | |
left all other people, who are in the house go out first. | 18:56 | |
Those of you, who are scared, just remain seated | 19:02 | |
until we clear the isle. | 19:05 |
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