Description
Bolden discusses his early years and his work as a civil rights activist. He provides an overview of his activity with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Poor People's Campaign, and the Summer Community Organization for Political Education (SCOPE). Specifically, he addresses his work with voter registration drives in Albany, Georgia, the efforts to integrate hotels and restaurants in St. Augustine, Florida, and his role as 'wagon master' for the Poor People's Campaign. Other topics include the events of Bloody Sunday and his relationship with civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr., and Hosea Williams.Willie Bolden was born in Sumter, South Carolina on December 7, 1938. He was raised in Savannah, Georgia. Bolden served in the U.S. Marines. Inspired by Hosea Williams and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He was the "Wagon Master" for the Mule Train on the Poor People's Campaign, preparing cities for Dr. King's arrival. Bolden was also active in Williams' Summer Community Organization for Political Education (SCOPE), a program designed to recruit white students to help with the movement. In 1972, he earned a master's degree in education from Harvard University. He served with the labor movement from 1973 to 1979. He then worked as the director of personnel for the Atlanta Public Library until 1983. Afterwards, Bolden began serving as pastor of the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta.Finding aid available in repository.Interviewed by Bob Short.
Video
Short, Bob, 1932
Resources may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
