Interview with Roy Wilkins, April 7, 1964

Interview Summary

Roy Wilkins, a prominent civil rights movement leader affiliated with the NAACP, begins by discussing the reformation of American public schools. Additionally, W.E.B Dubois' sociological concept of the split regarding Blacks choosing between either American or African culture is detailed. The sense of pride in Black history of African Americans is described, as well as the historical events that led up to the civil rights movement. Next, the organization Freedom Now is examined by Wilkins. Wilkins speculates upon what issues Blacks would encounter following the passing of adequate civil rights legislation. The issues facing the South both economically and politically are detailed. The NAACP and its interactions with other civil rights organizations is chronicled. Finally, Wilkins contemplates the potential overreaching of movement leaders, and future aspirations for the movement once their central goal has been achieved.

Interview Keyword

W.E.B. Dubois Freedom Now National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Africa Nonviolence Passive resistance. African Americans--Relations with Jews. Who Speaks for the Negro? (Book)

Interview LC Subject

African Americans--Civil rights Equality Integration African Americans--Economic conditions African Americans--Education Racism Protest movements Race discrimination African Americans--Segregation African Americans--Social conditions African Americans--Race identity United States--Race relations Civil rights movements--United States African Americans--Southern States African Americans--Politics and government African American leadership African Americans--Societies, etc.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.