C-SPAN: James Baldwin January 15, 1979

In this 1979 speech Mr. Baldwin talked about being a black writer, about the civil rights movement, and other topics.

“They know they would not like to be black here. If they know that, they know everything they need to know. And whatever else they say is a lie….The American idea of progress, when Americans talk about progress, they mean how fast I become white. And it’s a trick bag because they know perfectly well I can never become white….

“There is a reason, there is a reason, that no one wants our children unto this day educated.”

—January 15, 1979, James Baldwin Speech