LG017 Interviews: Reverend Ralph Abernathy; Juanita Abernathy (LG017Goreau_Side1a)
Description
Side 1: Interview with Reverend Ralph Abernathy at the SCLC Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia on 1972-12-14. Side 2: Interview with Juanita Abernathy on 1972-12-18, conducted by telephone to Atlanta, Georgia. Abstract for Ralph Abernathy and Juanita Abernathy: [00:00–59:16] On LG017Goreau_Side1a, in this December 14, 1972 interview, activist Reverend Ralph Abernathy speaks about his first meeting with Jackson in Montgomery, Alabama in 1956, noting that she was the first artist to give a concert to raise funds for the Civil Rights Movement. He speaks about the founding and foreground of the SCLC, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Jackson's role in it. Rev. Abernathy speaks about the beginnings of his relationship with Dr. King – 14:01 and goes on to describe the atmosphere of his neighborhood and home, providing context to the violence he faced and the bombing that occurred there in 1956 – 16:14. They speak about Jackson's contributions to the founding of SCLC and her ideas for organizing the Black community, especially in Chicago – 23:11, referencing the Rally for Civil Rights that she helped organize at Soldier Field – 31:36. He goes on to discuss the attack on the march in Gage Park, Chicago in 1966, recalling Jackson as both a comforting presence and a useful contact between SCLC and Chicago politicians – 35:31. Abernathy discusses their relationship after King's assassination – 43:01 and Jackson's thoughts on the Women's Liberation movement – 45:42, along with discussion about Jackson's relationships with Minters Galloway, Reverend Joe Mays, and Russell Roberts – 47:17. [00:00–02:08] LG017Goreau_Side1b continues from Reverend Abernathy's interview with a touching statement on his views of Jackson as a person and singer. [00:21–21:43] LG017Goreau_Side2 features a December 18, 1972 interview with Juanita Abernathy, who describes her first meeting with Jackson in Montgomery in 1956. They speak about the meals they ate and the people who congregated at the house as they held meetings and performances for the bus boycott. They discuss the SCLC board meeting in Charleston, where Jackson vouched for Reverend and Juanita Abernathy for SCLC leadership, which was in contention with Jesse Jackson – 09:20. She describes Jackson's commitment to the movement and her concern with the well being of others, which Abernathy attributes to her deep religious convictions – 15:35.