Interview with Richard Gunn, May 7, 1964

Interview Summary

Richard Gunn, an African American attorney in Cleveland, Ohio, was heavily involved in the push for school integration. Originally from Kansas City, he moved to Cleveland in 1948 and after passing both the Ohio and Kansas bar, began practicing law in Ohio in 1949. In this interview, Gunn largely focuses on the integration of Cleveland schools, the state of the Cleveland school system, and the quality of education for African Americans. Gunn describes demonstrations in front of the city's Board of Education as well as his own personal experiences and feelings concerning the progress of the civil rights movement. In addition, Gunn describes Cleveland's largest employers of African Americans including the Cleveland Electrical Illuminating Company and the Ohio Bell Telephone company. He also discusses the substantial number of African American owned businesses in Cleveland. Gunn discusses the differences between the civil rights movement in the North and the South and also provides his own feelings on the role of young white people in the movement.

Interview Keyword

Community Action for Youth Congress of Racial Equality Demonstrations New Negro Movement Who Speaks for the Negro? (Book)

Interview LC Subject

African American business enterprises African Americans--Civil rights African Americans--Civil rights--Ohio African Americans--Civil rights--Ohio--Cleveland African Americans--Education Civil rights movements--Northern States Civil rights movements--Southern States Civil rights movements--United States Clark, Kenneth Bancroft, 1914-2005 Cleveland (Ohio)--Race relations Educational equalization--United States Gunn, Richard L., 1925-1976 Gunn, Richard L., 1925-1976--Interviews Race relations Racism--United States--Public opinion School integration--United States Segregation Segregation in education--United States Whites--United States--Attitudes

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.