Appendix A: Interview Questions
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Appendix A: Interview Questions The University of Virginia EXPLORATIONS IN BLACK LEADERSHIP An oral history videotaped initiative Sponsored by: The College of Arts and Sciences The Institute for Public History Co-directors: Julian Bond and Phyllis Leffler Website: www.blackleadership.virginia.edu Explorations in Black Leadership is an important and inno- vative exploration of issues centered on African American leadership in America. Through in-depth analytic inter- views, we focus on the myriad ways in which African American leaders have emerged in the American landscape and play a decisive role in American life. The following questions form the basis of the inter- view. The interview will proceed as a discussion, so this order may not be fol- lowed exactly. Brown v. Board of Education M What did the Brown case mean to you at the time of the court decision? M What did you think it was going to mean? M What has it turned out to mean? M How has it impacted your life? Background and Education M Who are the people who have been most significant in helping you develop your talents? 224 / Appendix A M What led you to choose your career? M What parts of your education were instrumental in developing your leader- ship skills? M What historical events or episodes do you particularly remember hearing about? What impact did they have on your larger consciousness and on your personal growth? M As you look back over your life, at what point did you begin to think of your- self as a leader? Leadership Philosophy M What do you see as the difference between vision, philosophy, and style? Will you describe the interaction between the three for you? M Do you have a vision that guided your work? Has it changed over time? Why? M Some categorize the making of leaders in three ways: (a) great people cause great events; (b) movements make leaders; (c) the confluence of unpredictable events creates leaders appropriate for the times. How would you characterize your path to leadership? M Do you see your legitimacy as a leader grounded in your ability to persuade people to follow your vision or in your ability to articulate the agenda of a movement? M Do you have a general philosophy that guides you through life? How has it sustained you through challenges or moments of alienation? Black Leadership M How does race consciousness affect your work? Do you see yourself as a leader who advances issues of race or society or both? Is there a distinction? Is there such thing as a race-transcending leader? M Do you have a different leadership style when you deal with groups that are all black, mixed race, or all white? M In Challenging the Civil Rights Establishment, the authors quote William Allen who writes of a danger in continually “thinking in terms of race, or gender . Until we learn once again to use the language of American free- dom in an appropriate way that embraces all of us, we’re going to continue to harm this country” (Conti and Stetson, 45). Is there a danger of further divisiveness when we focus on the concept of black leadership? M Do you feel that black leaders have an obligation to help other African Americans? Is there a point at which that obligation ends, and one can pursue his or her own professional ambitions? Appendix A / 225 M What do you see as your greatest contribution as an African American leader? M In his book Race Matters, Cornel West writes “[the crisis of leadership is] a symptom of black distance from a vibrant tradition of resistance, from a vital community bonded by ethical ideals, and from a credible sense of political struggle.” (37) Do you see a crisis of leadership in black communities today? If so, what contributes to this? Leadership in the Future M What kind of leaders does contemporary society demand? How will future problems demand different leadership styles? M As a society, how can we foster the most effective leaders for the future? Appendix B: Glossary For biographical information on individuals interviewed in Explorations in Black Leadership, see www.blackleadership .virginia.edu. 16th Street Baptist Church: The church was founded in 1873 as the first black church in Birmingham, Alabama, and became a social center, hosting such notable black figures as W. E. B. Du Bois and Mary McLeod Bethune. It was an organizational center for many of the meetings and rallies of the civil rights era and was bombed by racially motivated terror- ists in 1963, killing four young girls. Abernathy, Ralph (1926–1990): Abernathy was key in organizing the Montgomery bus boycotts alongside Martin Luther King Jr. He was also a cofounder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was later president of the organization. Abernathy assumed direction of the SCLC Poor Peoples’ Campaign after the assassination of Dr. King, his very close friend. Abyssinian Baptist Church of New York: The church was founded in 1808 and has been a center for African American culture and worship. It advocates for civil rights and equality. Located in Harlem, the church’s leadership had included such famous preachers as Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. and then his son, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. From the Harlem Renaissance to today, the church has been a major site for black gospel music. Adorno, Theodor (1903–1969): Adorno was a highly influential German philos- opher, sociologist, and musicologist in the post–World War II era. He is known for his thorough examination of Western philosophical tradition, particularly from Kant onward. He was a leading member of the Frankfurt School. American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): AIPAC is a pro-Israel lob- bying group designed to strengthen ties between the United States and Israel. It is a grassroots, domestic lobby described by the New York Times as “the most important organization affecting America’s relationship with Israel.” Its policy is to support the views of the Israeli government within the United States. 228 / Appendix B Almond, J. Lindsay (1898–1986): During his time as governor, Almond is best known for closing public schools across Virginia to prevent integration in 1958. His name has become synonymous with the Massive Resistance movement. AME Church: Reverend Richard Allen founded the church out of the antislav- ery movement in 1816. It is a predominately African American Methodist denomination and was the first major religious denomination of its kind in the Western World. The church was born in protest of racial discrimination and slavery and has maintained a strong commitment to serve the needy and to speak out against injustice. American Negro Historical Society: Robert Adger, W. M. Dorsey, and Jacob C. White, Jr., among others, founded the Society in Philadelphia in1897. They collected and preserved materials that reflect the black experience in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These records are held at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Angelou, Maya (1928–2014): Dr. Angelou was an acclaimed American poet, novelist, memoirist, dramatist, actress, and civil rights activist. One of her best known works is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969). She spoke at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration, worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and has received numerous awards and recognitions. She was pro- fessor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. Aptheker, Herbert (1915–2003): A political activist, ardent civil rights sup- porter, and Marxist, Aptheker wrote more than 50 books. He is best known for his three-volume Documentary History of the Negro People in the United States. He was a major voice for the American left in the 1950s and 1960s. Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH): Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland founded the association in 1915 in order to foster the study and appreciation of African American history. The association has been credited with founding Black History Month and publish- ing The Journal of African American History. Baker, Ella (1903–1986): Baker worked with such organizations as NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC helping organize grass roots activism during the civil rights movement. For over 50 years, she worked behind the scenes with such leaders as W. E. B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr. Baldwin, James (1924–1987): Baldwin was a writer and social activist whose works focused on race, sexuality, and class. His most well-known works are Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953) and Giovanni’s Room (1956). Notes of a Native Son (1955) is a well-known collection of essays. He called attention to the dif- ficult obstacles faced by black, gay, and bisexual men in American society. Bender, Rita (Schwerner): Bender is an attorney who focuses her interests on family law, assisted reproduction, and mental health issues. Bender’s first hus- band, Michael Schwerner, was one of three civil rights workers killed by a Klansman in 1964 in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Ray Killen was finally con- victed of manslaughter in 2005. Appendix B / 229 Bennett, William (1943–): Bennett was secretary of education from 1985 to 1988 under the Republican administration of President Ronald Reagan. He later served as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under George H. W. Bush, among other titles. During the Reagan administration, he recommended major cuts to education and he has been an outspoken critic of affirmative action, and a conservative voice for school vouchers, curriculum reform, and religion in education. In 2000 he created an online, publically traded education corporation called K12. Berrigan brothers (Phillip 1923–2002; Daniel 1921–): Brothers Phillip and Daniel Berrigan were peace, civil rights, and antipoverty activists during the Vietnam War, even serving prison terms for their activism.