High Tide of Black Resistance and Other Political & Literary Writings - Softcover

Forman, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0940880423 ISBN 13: 9780940880429

Publisher: Open Hand Pub Llc, 1994

Synopsis

Nine stories and essays from a noted African-American activist capture the mood of the late 1950s and early 1960s. By the author of The Making of Black Revolutionaries. Simultaneous.

About this title

About the Author

James Forman is best known for his leadership in the civil rights movement. He served, during the 1960's, as Executive Secretary and as Director of International Affairs of the Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Currently residing in Washington, D.C., he is president of the Unemployment and Poverty Action Committee (UPAC) and of the UPAC Fund, Inc. (a non-profit tax exempt organization). Highly respected as a historian and political thinker, Dr. Forman holds a B.A. in public administration from Roosevelt University, Chicago; a Masters degree of Professional Studies in African and African-American History from Cornell University; and a Ph.D. degree from the Union of Experimental Colleges and Universities, now known as the Union Istitute.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

We have been in jail one week today. Our morale is good, although there are serious undertones of a desire to be free among some members of the group. Now and then, the jokes of one or two turn to the outside. John Doar and the Justice Department received some sharp, but still humorous comments from some of the fellows. They actually believed the Justice Department would have had them out by Monday. When we received news that the temporary injunction had been denied [we] were somewhat disappointed. Some of us tried to explain that we must prepare ourselves psychologically to spend six months in this jail.

The cell in which we are being held is not bad so far as American prisons go. (The entire penal system needs reforming.) We are eight in a cell with six bunks. We have two mattresses on the floor. There is an open shower, a sink, a stool. It took us two days to a broom and five days to get some salt for our food. The inner cell in which we are "contained" is approximately 15' x 12'> Not much room, is there?. . .

People outside send us food. When we were in the city jail, we got food twice a day, Here we received a great deal Sunday, enough to last us till today. We are counting on someone to replenish our supply. However, [my doctor] has been to see me three times since I have been in the county jail. Each time she brings some food which I share with the fellows.

So far as My own diet is concerned, I have had sufficient eggs and bananas to sustain me. I must guard against giving these away since I don't want to become ill. They, the prison officials, have allowed me to take medicine and the doctor keeps me supplied. I am really not suffering due to my, although my sickness helps the group - through the visit of the doctor.

We are also improving our minds. We have been allowed to keep our books, and we have sufficient cigarettes, I even have my pipe and some tobacco. Personally, I have tried to organize our lives. Do you expect anything else of me? We have occasional classes. Moses gave us an excellent math lecture the other day. I gave one lesson in writing and English. Guyot has delivered several in biology. We are always having discussions. Sometimes one of us will read a passage from a book, and then we will discuss the meaning of it. We have had several stimulating conversations based on Thoreau's essay on civil disobedience and N'krumah's thoughts on positive action.

Around eleven o'clock we usually turn out the one large light in the middle of the room. We do not have sheets or blankets. We sleep in our underclothes. I suppose if it got cold we would put on our clothes.

In the mourning when we get up we have grits, biscuits, and a piece of salt pork for breakfast. Then we sweep the cell. For the last tow days, Bob, Guyot, and I have swept the cell and scrubbed it on our hands and knees. During the morning we usually have discussions, showers, play chess, talk, and wait for the beans or peas and cornbread, which arrive around two o'clock. We do not have any more meals from the county until the next morning.

My personal opinions as to the significance of our staying in jail follow. I am convinced that all the people connected with SNCC are busily engaged in protesting our unjust imprisonment. This is as it should be. I am also convinced that others sympathetic to the cause of Freedom are also alarmed at this travesty of justice.

Perhaps more important is that only our bodies are confined to this cell. Our minds are free to think what we wish, and we know our stay here will also pass away. Our imprisonment serves to dramatize to the nation and to the world that the black man does not even have the to try to be an American citizen in come parts of our stalled democracy.

Our jail without bail may also serve to remind others in the movement of the need for some of us to stay in jail to dramatize the situation.

On a local and state level, it is important that we stay in jail, for people are remembered more by what the do than by what they say. We have been telling Mississsippians that we must prepare to die. We have encouraged them to accept our beliefs. Thus it follows that we must lead by example rather than by words.

Moreover, many acts of violence have been committed in Greenwood. The people are not afraid, but perhaps when they see our spirit and determination, they will have more courage. Then too, the government must assume its responsibility for our release. If the Civil Rights Act of 1960 is ever to mean anything, then those arrested in connection with voter registration activities must be released by the efforts of the U.S. government.

When our people were arrested in Sunflower County for passing out leaflets announcing a voter registration meeting, it was really the government which should have sought their release. Instead of this, bond was posted, and then the government moved slowly to get the cased dropped and come consent agreement from local officials about future arrests and interference with voter registration workers.

Perhaps more important than these social and political reasons is the personal significance that our imprisonment has for us. I have not yet asked each person for his personal reaction. As for myself, I am glad to made a witness for a cause in which I believe. I am glad for the chance meditated, to think of many things, and to see the world continue as I sit here.

About this edition

• Publisher: Open Hand Pub Llc
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0940880423
• ISBN 13: 9780940880429
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 142