He Lived Racism As A Boy & As A Man. You Won't Forget His Story
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Published 2020-06-17
There are some commentators on this video who feel that it is time to forget the past and move to the present and that reliving the past continues to heighten resentments that are no longer relevant. I understand that point of view but I believe that it is dangerous to forget our history.
Roger Wilkins was a prominent civil rights leader, journalist and professor of history and American culture at George Mason University. He was a key player in the civil rights movement and worked as an assistant attorney general during the Johnson administration, where he was instrumental in implementing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Wilkins was also a respected journalist and won a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1972 for his coverage of the Watergate scandal as a Washington Post reporter. He later served as the editorial page editor for the New York Times and wrote numerous articles and books on race, politics, and history.
Wilkins had a complicated relationship with President John Kennedy. While he respected Kennedy's commitment to civil rights he was critical of what he saw as the president's inaction on the issue.
In his memoir, "A Man's Life: An Autobiography," Wilkins wrote that he was disappointed with Kennedy's slow response to the civil rights movement, particularly during the Freedom Rides and the Birmingham campaign. He believed that Kennedy was too cautious and hesitant to take bold action on civil rights, and that his administration was more concerned with maintaining political power than advancing the cause of racial equality.
Wilkins also criticized Kennedy's handling of the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, arguing that the president's aggressive foreign policy decisions were driven by a desire to prove his toughness rather than a commitment to national security.
Despite his criticisms of Kennedy, Wilkins ultimately recognized the president's important contributions to the civil rights movement, particularly in his support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The experience that Roger is describing is part of our history. Part of the history of America. And it is also true as some commentators have said, that this is not the only relevant history, this negative, painful, somewhat horrible history. There are also beautiful moments in the history of America at this time and with people of all colors and ethnicities. I know because I have interviewed people who have lived some of it.
For example, I have an interview with a black American, Robert Woodson, who grew up in Philadelphia in a totally black environment which was just wonderful. And I have an interview with a gentleman from California who grew up at the same time in an integrated community where color of skin was not a major factor. All of this is a part of our history and it is complex and three-dimensional and in my view, needs to be recorded and remembered and considered when looking at the present and the future.
During this challenging time I thought that I would present Roger's comments again. I always felt that every student (at any age) should hear Roger to better understand what was experienced by so many Americans during slavery, in the 1940s, the 1950s, the 1960s, and, to some extent, today. I want to take the time in this description to thank Roger Wilkins for the effort and energy he put into his responses to my questions.
I wish to thank the advertisers who place advertisements on this video. It helps me to continue to do what I am doing, posting clips from my work and from my archive. Civil rights movement. Founder of NAACP. Civil rights advocates groups today. Political rights law firm near me. Civil rights law firm near me. List of civil rights. Civil-rights interest groups. FBI civil rights. Civil rights advocacy groups. Human rights lawyer near me. Discrimination lawyer near me. NAACP civil rights.
David Hoffman filmmaker
All Comments (21)
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When you sit down and let people tell their stories, you realize it’s not hatred that a lot of black people feel. It’s hurt and betrayal.
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I was a newspaper delivery boy, in Philadelphia, in the early 60's and delivered to a black neighborhood. I got to know my customers very well and was treated like a 12 year old boy should be treated...with respect and guidance! Till this day, I am proud of the way I was brought up in my white Irish family and was taught to look upon all human beings as equal and to be respectful! We are all the same. We are put here without choice and will answer to God how we treated his creations! Be kind!
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This needs to be shown in every school and colleges in America.
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I grew up in a country town in Pennsylvania. I was taught to fear black people. My father was extremely racist. I was in 10th grade and sat behind a guy that was black. I noticed no one spoke to him. He didn't seem scary and I felt ignorant and ashamed because I had never spoken to him either. I finally tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he had a pencil I could borrow. I had to chase him down to try to give it back. I continued to speak to him and we became friends. I would seek him out at the school dances and have to talk him into dancing with me though it would be away from the dance floor. Two years later a boy I had known since kindergarten warned me (people are talking) ! I am proud I did not care what anyone thought and we remained friends. Wherever he is I hope he is doing well 💕 My friend Arthur (Art) proved he was just like anyone else and opened my eyes and my heart! That was 1972
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I could still see his hurt, after all his accomplishments in life.
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When he said, “we had a profound faith in the “decency of white Americans” that when they saw the effects of racism things would change and change quickly across the nation. I no longer have that faith.” That was too real.
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“The worst thing you can do to a human being is make her or him feel like he doesn’t count” beautifully said.
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I am black and I would never ever would live in a country like america in those times. Black people then were so brave.
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This is Professor Roger Wilkins, one of my favorite freshman and then senior year college professors. You taught me invaluable lessons that I continue to apply to my life today. Thank you for changing my life. RIP Prof Wilkins.
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I wish every "American" would seriously watch and listen to this video.
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I am so sorry that this beautiful mind had to die of dementia. That is really cruel. I'm glad you preserved his story and his legacy.
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He was one of the greatest treasure's that I have seen in my lifetime. RIP Mr Wilkins
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"The worst thing you can do to another human being is make them feel they don't count" those were POWERFUL words
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His honesty is beautifully brutal and crystal clear, every american should be required to watch this from age 6 to 100. Speak the truth and the light will heal us. Thank you
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My dad tells a story sometimes of when he was a street cop in B-more. One of the only black cops in his precinct. It was the 80s and he chased down a runaway suspect and caught him. The guy gave up and didn’t resist arrest. When a white cop came by in a paddy wagon, he goes up to the suspect and kicks him in the face. My dad stepped in and defended the suspect. My dad was never treated right by his fellow cops because he stood up for his fellow man. Now he works in internal affairs.
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I’m sad for Roger that he died with such pain in his heart. He seemed like a good guy who just wanted to provide for his family with dignity. RIP
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This should be preserved in our national archives and taught/shown in schools.
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I sat here and tried my best to write out a good, heartfelt response. I have no better words than these. Thank you for sharing this with us.
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To know that this amazing, intelligent,eloquent, articulate human being died of dementia is absolutely tragic.
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I am Caucasian, and grew up in a small Midwest town. I remember the racism, and could never understand how people could be so ignorant and cruel, simply because the color of ones skin. Thank God I was able to move away from that hatred and ignorance.
