WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)

Description

In this WSB newsfilm clip from January 3, 1980, Atlanta, Georgia mayor Maynard Jackson speaks about the impact on the Civil Rights movement on the country and on his life.The clip begins with Mayor Jackson sitting in an office in a high-backed leather chair. A female reporter begins to say something to Jackson. He interrupts her to suggest that she close the door to block excess noise. After a break in the clip, the camera focuses on Jackson's hands. The reporter asks Jackson about the impact of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Jackson points to politics as the "last nonviolent role for the masses of people." Jackson explains that while he does not believe in violent social change, he does believe "that politics, even though it is imperfect, affords the best opportunity for change. The Civil Rights movement made possible the laws that made possible the political change we are now seeing." The reporter next asks Jackson if he feels the Civil Rights movement is still alive. Jackson responds that the movement is still alive and in a new phase focusing on fulfilling promises and producing change. Asked about the future of African Americans in the Civil Rights movement, Jackson predicts a growth in African American political activity. He points out that there are ninety-seven African American mayors in the United States and over two thousand African American elected officials. According to Jackson, that number represents about one percent of all elected officials in the United States. He...

Record Contributed By

Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia