The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories

[Children of the civil rights movement oral history collection]

Repository: [John Blake repository]

Collection Description (CRHP): John Blake performed forty taped interviews for his book, "Children of the Movement: The Sons and Daughters of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, George Wallace, Andrew Young, Julian Bond, Stokley Carmichael, Bob Moses, James Chaney, Elaine Brown, and Others Reveal How the Civil Rights Movement Tested and Transformed Their Families" (Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books, 2004.). Mr. Blake interviewed both civil rights activists and their children, some of whom are no longer living. Some of his interviews did not end up in the book. The following people were interviewed:

1. Rev. James Bevel, part of inner-circle of Dr. King and later convicted of child molestation. He recently died.
Bevel's two daughters, Chevara Orrin and Bacardi Jackson.

2. James Forman Sr., former executive director of SNCC, (now dead). His son Chaka Forman, an actor, and James Forman Jr., a Georgetown Law professor.

3. Rev. James Zwerg, Freedom Rider (photograph of bloodied Zwerg next to John Lewis became an international sensation) and his daughter, Mary Brown.

4. Bob Moses, SNCC leader, and his daughter Maisha Moses.

5. Ralph David Abernathy II, son of Ralph David Abernathy Sr., King’s closest confidant.

6. Julian Bond, SNCC and NAACP leader; Michael Julian Bond, son of Julian Bond.

7. Lawrence Guyot Sr., SNCC field secretary; Julie Guyot, daughter of Lawrence Guyot Sr.

8. Andrew Young, SCLC leader and member of King’s circle; “Bo” Young III, son of Andrew Young.

9. Martin Luther King III, son of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X.

10. Peggy Wallace Kennedy, daughter of former Alabama Gov. George Wallace.

11. Quida Barnett Atkins, daughter of former Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett Sr.

12. Stephen Smitherman, son of former Selma Mayor Joe Smitherman.

13. Bokar Ture, son of Stokely Carmichael, a SNCC and Black Panther Party leader.

14. Elaine Brown, former chairwoman of the Black Panther Party; Ericka Abram, daughter of Elaine Brown.

15. Warith Deen Muhammad, (now dead) son of Elijah Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam.

16. Penny Liuzzo Herrington, daughter of Viola Liuzzo, white activist killed during Selma campaign.

17. Angela Lewis, daughter of James Earl Chaney, one of three civil rights workers killed in “Mississippi Burning” murders in 1964.

18. Ben Chaney, younger brother of James Earl Chaney, one of three civil rights workers killed in “Mississippi Burning” murders in 1964.

19. Anne Reeb, daughter of Rev. James Reeb, white minister killed in Selma.

Digital Status: No

Extent: circa 40 audio cassettes

Language: English

Interviewees: Rev. James Bevel, Chevara Orrin, Bacardi Jackson, James Forman Sr., Chaka Forman, James Forman Jr., Rev. James Zwerg, Mary Brown, Bob Moses, Maisha Moses, Ralph David Abernathy II, Julian Bond, Michael Julian Bond, Lawrence Guyot Sr., Julie Guyot, Andrew Young, “Bo” Young III, Martin Luther King III, Ilyasah Shabazz, Peggy Wallace Kennedy, Quida Barnett Atkins, Stephen Smitherman, Bokar Ture, Elaine Brown, Ericka Abram, Warith Deen Muhammad, Penny Liuzzo Herrington, Angela Lewis, Ben Chaney, Anne Reeb

Rights (CRHP): Contact the repository which holds the collection for information on rights

Subjects:

African American children
African American children--Civil rights
African American clergy
African American families
Black power
Civil rights movements--Southern States
Civil rights workers

Genres:

Sound recordings