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

Description

In this series of WSB-TV newsfilm clips from Atlanta, Georgia, on October 9, 1966 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks about "black power" and segregationist Lester Maddox's campaign for governor of Georgia. The first three clips are silent shots of Dr. King sitting at a table at an outdoor press conference surrounded by reporters and photographers; the first clip is from the front while the next two are from the side. The sound section begins with King apparently responding to a question, clarifying that he believes in the idea of "black power" if it means "amassing political and economic strength so that the Negro can achieve his legitimate goals." He condemns the connotations of separatism and violence that surround the phrase declaring that "there is no salvation of the Negro through isolation" and that violence "only serves to relieve the guilt of the white community while increasing their fears." Another silent section focuses for a moment on a woman who is standing on a balcony and looking down on the press conference below. This is followed by a silent shot from the side showing King speaking and a tape machine recording; there are also silent shots of men taking notes. Next King asserts that gubernatorial candidate Lester Maddox cannot stop the civil rights movement; continuing King suggests that Maddox through his extremism unites African Americans and white moderates. He concludes that the civil rights movement will continue whether or not Maddox is elected. This is followed by several silent shots...

Record Contributed By

Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia