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Television Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Journal

St. John Fisher University

2012

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Television

The Civil Rights Movement: The Power Of Television, Amanda Philley Jan 2012

The Civil Rights Movement: The Power Of Television, Amanda Philley

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: “I am not a nigger” (Thomas). These five words seared through American television screens in May of 1963. James Baldwin, a preacher and novelist, declared his freedom from the chains of discrimination in an interview with Kenneth Clark and forever changed the conscience of black and white television owners. When asked if he was optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the nation, Baldwin made one thing clear: the fate of America lies within the ability to answer the question, why was the ‘nigger’ created? Born in Harlem in 1924, Baldwin grew up following in his father’s footsteps as …