Boycott Report

Item Information

Title:
Boycott Report
Description:
In June 1963 the Education Committee of the Boston Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) presented the Boston School Committee with a 14-Point Proposal to end de facto segregation in the public schools. The contentious and failed negotiations precipitated a series of nonviolent, direct action demonstrations in Boston, not the least of which was the June 18, 1963 Stay Out for Freedom Day. The Citizens for Human Rights, co-chaired by Rev. James Breeden, St. James Episcopal Church and Noel Day, Director, St. Marks Social Center, called for a Stay Out for Freedom direct action whereby Black junior and senior high school students would attend Freedom Schools rather than the Boston public schools. WGBH interviewed local and national civil rights leaders and Roxbury community residents in anticipation of the Stay Out. In the “Boycott Report,” Thomas Atkins, Executive Secretary of the Boston Branch of the NAACP provides a detailed report on the failed negotiations with the Boston School Committee. Of particular note is his explanation of the NAACP’s 14-Point Proposal presented by NAACP Education Committee, led by Ruth M. Batson, to end de facto segregation in the public schools and the reaction of the Boston School Committee. Also, he explains both the overwhelming support for and the possible legal ramifications of the Stay Out. Comments of solidarity for the Stay Out are provided by Roy Wilkins, the national Executive Secretary of the NAACP; Gordon Carey of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE); and Rev. O. Karl Olander, New England Synod President, Lutheran Church in America. This support is juxtaposed with the explanations of opposition to the Stay Out by Roxbury education activists, Gladys Holmes and Rev. Este Clair Kirton. Rev. Breeden and Noel Day provide an overview of the meaning, purpose, and organization of the Stay Out and Freedom schools. In addition, the ‘Boycott Report” includes short interviews with Roxbury junior and high school students regarding their perspective on the upcoming Stay Out for Freedom Day. Summary and select metadata for this record was submitted by Audrea Dunham.
Interviewee:
Olander, O. Karl
Interviewee:
Wilkins, Roy
Interviewee:
Breeden, James
Interviewee:
Kirton, Este Clair
Interviewee:
Atkins, Thomas
Producer:
Mascott, Ted
Interviewee:
Carey, Gordon
Interviewee:
Holmes, Gladys
Reporter:
Connelly, Tom
Producer:
Holson, Al
Interviewee:
Day, Noel
Date:
June 17, 1963
Format:
Audio recordings (nonmusical)
Location:
WGBH
Collection (local):
WGBH Open Vault
Series:
Stay Out For Freedom
Subjects:
African Americans-Social Justice
Freedom Schools
Race Relations-Northern Discrimination
Politics-National Association for the Advancement of Colored People/Boston School Committee Negotiations
Stay Out for Freedom Day
Roxbury, Massachusetts
African Americans-Human Rights
Race Relations-De facto Segregation
African Americans-Structural Racism
African Americans-Civil Rights
Race Relations-Similarities in discrimination in the North and South
Boston, Massachusetts
Civil Rights Era
African Americans-Educational Opportunities
Politics-1963 Boston School Committee Election
Extent:
01:18:39:00
Link to Item:
https://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/A_82347169B9CE491B95A843B5934A68BD
Terms of Use:
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Identifier:
A_82347169B9CE491B95A843B5934A68BD