McWilliams, Carey

Description

Carey McWilliams, regular contributor to Common Ground 1941-1950, interviewed by William Beyer, 24 June 1977 at McWilliams'. Mr. Beyer is interviewing Mr. McWilliams about an editorial magazine named Common Ground. He inquires about how Common Ground was an institution to help publish new authors, mainly immigrant and ethnic authors who otherwise didn’t have a way to get published. Also how Common Ground was used as an educational tool in the immigration movement of the 30’s and 40’s. And finally, how Common Ground was used as ethnically influential as well. He begins by asking Mr. McWilliams about his role in Common Ground, and how Common Ground fits in historically with the ethnic press. Mr. McWilliams responds by saying his impression of the “ethnic movement” – dealing with race, mostly – didn’t really come about until around WWII. He says that the war changed the whole idea of race, uniting people more and citing the Nazi’s and their racial views. He says that the war years helped lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement that sparked in the 60’s. He says that the race issue got put on the backburner again because of the Cold War, and says it sparks again with the Montgomery Bus Boycott, saying it was the most important event of the entire decade (50’s). He also mentions all the unity councils that were set up during the time, saying it was a great deal of progress in the sense of making people aware of the issue. Mr....

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