Series of WSB-TV newsfilm clips of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking about "black power" and segregationist Lester Maddox's campaign for governor, Atlanta, Georgia, 1966 October 9

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 of the event and cameras filming. At 1:54 there is a close-up of the WSB News camera and an unidentified cameraman. The final clips are various angles showing King speaking. The philosophy of "black power" as embraced and endorsed by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) supported African American independence and even supremacy over white citizens and culture. The move by SNCC and CORE towards "black power" increased the tensions and division between these organizations and other civil rights groups including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which remained more concerned with obtaining legal rights and economic opportunities.

Title supplied by cataloger.

IMLS Grant, 2008.

Digibeta Center Cut (4 x 3) downconvert from HDD5 1080/23.98PsF film transfer.