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Tom Simons speaks about Hartford (video in two parts, with transcript)

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@ Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library

Biggs, Julian Glascock, Baylis

Description

Tom Simons sits in what may be his business office in Hartford as he discusses the challenges in the city of Hartford, especially when it comes to the racial divide and what he sees as the opportunities in the city. Simons arrived to Hartford six years ago and states that Hartford’s social concerns have mirrored that of the whole country. He believes that what has changed is that more people in the community are trying to get involved in a more sophisticated, action-oriented, less naïve approach than in the past. Simons discusses his fear that the black community is not interested in liberal-minded whites but rather with people in power who can get things done. He believes this is “bruising” to liberal-minded whites who are interested in coalition-building. He thinks there is an overemphasis on racism but that even if racism were removed, the whole problem would not be gone. He talks about the significance of fundamental needs beyond communication including jobs, education, motivation, elimination of rats, decent rent, day care centers and that this “systems approach” shows the enormous complexity of the problem. Communication is important regionally and across the boundaries between political, business, recreational, and transportation sectors ,and all issues should be worked on at once. Simons discusses how whites have “taken a terrible beating,” with a somewhat self- sense of guilt. He also discusses what he sees as issues with what he calls the black leadership, in that the black community needs to reflect on attitudes as...
Type:
Video
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Video Recordings Color
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Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library

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Connecticut Digital Archive