He Lived Racism As A Boy & As A Man. You Won't Forget His Story
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 มิ.ย. 2020
- As my subscribers know, I have done thousands of interviews in my life. This interview with journalist, civil rights advocate, lawyer Roger Wilkins was one that I never forgot. I asked him to be straight and honest with me and to speak to his grandchildren in the future, of his experiences. That is exactly what he did, with such intensity and clarity. He describes living in the South, Jim Crow laws and behaviors, in ways that are visceral. You can see it in his face and feel it in his words.
There are some commentators on this video who feel that it is time to forget the past and move to the present and that reliving the past continues to heighten resentments that are no longer relevant. I understand that point of view but I believe that it is dangerous to forget our history.
Roger Wilkins was a prominent civil rights leader, journalist and professor of history and American culture at George Mason University. He was a key player in the civil rights movement and worked as an assistant attorney general during the Johnson administration, where he was instrumental in implementing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Wilkins was also a respected journalist and won a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1972 for his coverage of the Watergate scandal as a Washington Post reporter. He later served as the editorial page editor for the New York Times and wrote numerous articles and books on race, politics, and history.
Wilkins had a complicated relationship with President John Kennedy. While he respected Kennedy's commitment to civil rights he was critical of what he saw as the president's inaction on the issue.
In his memoir, "A Man's Life: An Autobiography," Wilkins wrote that he was disappointed with Kennedy's slow response to the civil rights movement, particularly during the Freedom Rides and the Birmingham campaign. He believed that Kennedy was too cautious and hesitant to take bold action on civil rights, and that his administration was more concerned with maintaining political power than advancing the cause of racial equality.
Wilkins also criticized Kennedy's handling of the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, arguing that the president's aggressive foreign policy decisions were driven by a desire to prove his toughness rather than a commitment to national security.
Despite his criticisms of Kennedy, Wilkins ultimately recognized the president's important contributions to the civil rights movement, particularly in his support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The experience that Roger is describing is part of our history. Part of the history of America. And it is also true as some commentators have said, that this is not the only relevant history, this negative, painful, somewhat horrible history. There are also beautiful moments in the history of America at this time and with people of all colors and ethnicities. I know because I have interviewed people who have lived some of it.
For example, I have an interview with a black American, Robert Woodson, who grew up in Philadelphia in a totally black environment which was just wonderful. And I have an interview with a gentleman from California who grew up at the same time in an integrated community where color of skin was not a major factor. All of this is a part of our history and it is complex and three-dimensional and in my view, needs to be recorded and remembered and considered when looking at the present and the future.
During this challenging time I thought that I would present Roger's comments again. I always felt that every student (at any age) should hear Roger to better understand what was experienced by so many Americans during slavery, in the 1940s, the 1950s, the 1960s, and, to some extent, today. I want to take the time in this description to thank Roger Wilkins for the effort and energy he put into his responses to my questions.
I wish to thank the advertisers who place advertisements on this video. It helps me to continue to do what I am doing, posting clips from my work and from my archive. Civil rights movement. Founder of NAACP. Civil rights advocates groups today. Political rights law firm near me. Civil rights law firm near me. List of civil rights. Civil-rights interest groups. FBI civil rights. Civil rights advocacy groups. Human rights lawyer near me. Discrimination lawyer near me. NAACP civil rights.
David Hoffman filmmaker - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
When you sit down and let people tell their stories, you realize it’s not hatred that a lot of black people feel. It’s hurt and betrayal.
Duh
BLACKS are most racist !, since 1955 ! Greetings from compton, CALIFORNIA, originally " los ranchos de la familia Dominguez".
@@ahamed6702
I wish i was !.
@@jg0037 bigotry and racism comes in all colors and creeds man.. no need to point fingers at whose the biggest.. I grew up in LA county my fams roots are deep all over the area and I can honestly say you're right and wrong at the same time. Ten respeto compa y no generalices a un grupo porque luego tienen toda la razón de defenderse.
Salam, what is most disturbing is that most people only think it is whites against blacks and everyone else. This is not true. I am a Muslim of Caucasian descent and have been treated no different than those of color my entire life till this day. Alhamdullilah Oppression is color blind. And so is Allah's justice. Wow! Keep your white women, now that is a reverse racist comment if there ever was one. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Sad that it is so superficial. I traveled to Georgia in the 90's with my mulit-cultural child and an African American teenager, on our way to Disney world. We stopped at a cafe and was immediately escorted to a table in the back by the toilets. Seeing that there were many tables that were open I summoned the Manager, who was a White man, and expressed my distaste of our table. "That's what you get." He said to me as he looked at my children. Well, I told him, "Then I guess you wont get this green money from this White woman." And I took "My Children" out of that filth and moved on. Alhamdullilah If any child is in my charge they ARE my child, no matter where they come from. Just to clear that up for people. This is the way of Islam, and there is no other way. A way of life I walked before calling myself a Muslim. Alhamdullilah
I was a newspaper delivery boy, in Philadelphia, in the early 60's and delivered to a black neighborhood. I got to know my customers very well and was treated like a 12 year old boy should be treated...with respect and guidance! Till this day, I am proud of the way I was brought up in my white Irish family and was taught to look upon all human beings as equal and to be respectful! We are all the same. We are put here without choice and will answer to God how we treated his creations! Be kind!
Thanks for sharing this, Parents play a big part in ending racism.
At some point Irish people weren’t considered white in America........ sounds shocking. ..this attitude also existed in England in days gone by (hopefully not anymore).
@@davem16able
I read about that. I believe it said that, in England, there were far more deaths, than births,
then it said, Greece and France, became a part of that "family." More is better.
Same I was brought up to respect everybody regardless of what colour they were
george Fitter: Same!! They technically aren’t family by blood but they’re my family. They’ve been in my life since I can remember & are there if I ever need anything. I grew up with gay men & women, all different skin colors, trans men & women among ppl from all walks of life. I always thought this was life growing up, that it was everyone’s life growing up that family/friends wasn’t just white until..... middle school. I didn’t know racism, sexism, anti-LGBTQTII+ existed till then. The day I first saw racism I came home so confused, my mom told me & I was still so incredibly confused... I didn’t get why skin color &/or who someone loved mattered so much. I cried so hard cause I didn’t understand why so much pain over something that is part of who someone is & didn’t think it should matter that much. Kids ARE NOT born racist or sexist, etc. they’re taught. Please be safe!!
“The worst thing you can do to a human being is make her or him feel like he doesn’t count” beautifully said.
Yep....many Whites feel that way today
@@bjn3536 way to completely miss the point. white people have had more say than black people in this country for hundreds of years
@@diabeticdizzle1902 Fake News
It's happening with rising ageism.
@@bjn3536 🙄 You have white people to thank for that.
I’m sad for Roger that he died with such pain in his heart. He seemed like a good guy who just wanted to provide for his family with dignity. RIP
: Roger was not the only one that felt that way, believe me.
I don’t think he died with pain in his heart. He just recounted his experiences as a black man in America. We all have stories to tell from that generation.
I'm wondering how he would have felt to see Obama in the White House and if you were to interview him today 2023.
You can see the pain in his face
What do you mean he seemed like a good guy?🤔
I’d say the 130+ people who dislike this video are the people he’s talking about. They still exist...😑
EXACTLY
Tim Toz YOU NAILED IT ‼️
I am sure that 130 persons dislike what happend and the rest like the video because it is telling us important things about racism that is destraktiv.
Goodness! It’s over 200 now... how sad and hopeless...
They've gone up to 206
😢
I could still see his hurt, after all his accomplishments in life.
His accomplishments says something about him not his color!!
Diane Silva These are memories that you can't erase. Look at Congressman John Lewis, it's been 55 years since the March on Selma and you could still see the pain in his eyes. These are indelible scars!
The experiencd never goes away.....
And he was probably shielded from the worst of the hurt with his solid middle class status. I'm not trying to take anything away from his hurt, but, if it hurt him THAT badly, imagine how it felt for those that didn't have his protections.
Graham Herbert I started to respond to your ignorance. Lol, your not even worth it.
This man recalling his story admitting to how we "believed" things would change.....only to fast forward all of these years later and see NO changes still really speaks volumes to the elephant that has been in the room for over 400 years!
Exactly.
😶🌫️😐😑😐😬😬😬
dammitcantstopmyself, I'll bite. 🤦♂️
🙋♂️ Hi there, maybe-neighbor. *I am not* looking for an internet fight, truly... but, _no changes_ you say?
@@asicsjohnson Hey. I hear you. I don't think it's fair to say 'no' changes. But I'll explain it to you as I did in a comment of my own under this same video. If I had to walk a thousand miles, as an example, I could stop at mile 500 and acknowledge how far I've come, while simultaneously accepting that I still have a long way to go. I hope that makes sense. And thank you for watching this video and asking questions and wanting to educate yourself on these sorts of topics. It's very much appreciated. 🙏🏽❤️
You better preach 👏👏👏
@@asicsjohnson take a look around, then again if it doesn't affect you it's not a reality to you, it only comes off as a complaint, but go off I guess neighbor 🤷
I am so sorry that this beautiful mind had to die of dementia. That is really cruel. I'm glad you preserved his story and his legacy.
It is appointed by God once to die and that's for everyone for sure.
It's a real tragedy that this man had to die the way he did. May God have mercy on his soul.
I am a 55 year old African American. Went to mostly white schools. College educated. Home owner. Business owner. Traveled to 22 countries including Morocco, Egypt and Gambia. And though America offers many opportunities, it sh*tty the way they treat African Americans to the current day.
You still there?
I’m here in the DC area, but planning to return to Gambia to start a business and buy a home. By the way, 1 American dollar = 48 of theirs!
@@videxvid What's the quality of life like and acceptance of African Americans? Thank you for your input!
The thing I feel most proud of in my life is that even as we are white & lived in the south, my parents taught me not to be a racist, that I didn’t teach my children racism, & they do not teach racist thoughts to their children. From my two parents to their 12 grandchildren & many great grandchildren I have never heard racist language. May there never be any!
Yes, it is. And it's horrifying.
I wish every "American" would seriously watch and listen to this video.
If just 10% of Mr. Hoffmans audience hits the like button” this would at least push the story up in TH-cam’s algorithms. Might not get all “Americans” to watch but would certainly show up on a huge number of TH-camrs suggestions to watch! So everyone watching please HIT THE LIKE BUTTON !
Gregory Edward 👍 👍 👍 👍
mark mark - you ought to try living it ! !
well then get to work VIRAL this Jah mon hipster talk walk the walk post up on your socials share like you care Wave yor hands in the AIR Party UP the truth may prevail
I did. I hope people really do LISTEN
I am Caucasian, and grew up in a small Midwest town. I remember the racism, and could never understand how people could be so ignorant and cruel, simply because the color of ones skin. Thank God I was able to move away from that hatred and ignorance.
If anyone suggest that this video be shown in Schools today, they would condemned and said they were indoctrinating the kids & BANNED from the schools!! Shameful. The far right political party & their followers would be ready to fire any teacher or administrator who would allow it to be viewed in their school! They would deny that these things Ever happened; and certainly isn't happening now! SMH!!!
It's very unfortunate possibly your family and other's like them didn't follow the teachings of Jesus and love one another as he had loved us. Thankfully the younger generations have moved past those eras of racism which occured 70+ years ago and millions of people who've come to this Country have better lives than they could have imagined anywhere else.
Good for you! Moving away from racists. How nice.
Amen, my God bless your soul.
Where did you move to, to get away from vile racist people, the moon??? How is the air up there???
He was one of the greatest treasure's that I have seen in my lifetime. RIP Mr Wilkins
Thank you Mike for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Roy Wilkins wasn't nothing but an elitist uppity negro doing the yte man's bidding. When Fannie Lou Hamer the mother of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party was gearing up to speak at the 1964 Democratic convention he was heard saying, "that old big woman needs to sit down somewhere " because she was from the lower class sharecropping communities. He had the nerve and audacity to look down on this angel of a woman. That's all I needed to witness. He was an uppity bougie arse negro so we need to stop crowning these fallible elitist.
“Black people were always super Americans. We had to believe in America more than other people did. In order to have any hope, in order to live, in order not to get crazy.”
Roger Wilkins
@j a .....Please shut up. Please.
@Sunamer Z You expect to have a serious conversation with that kind of sentence structure??
@Sunamer Z How do you know what I'm oblivious to? We've not had any conversation or communication of any kind, so where do you derive your opinion from?
On second thought, I don't care what you think, what language you_(attempt!)_ to speak, or what message you're trying to convey. My bad for giving you even this much time.
@Sunamer Z Damn! Sounds like you couldn't _wait_ to say that shit! Do you feel better now that you have? Your entire statement is so dated, overused, and basically just a bad rerun. Get some new, original material, something authentic, you know, something that _you_ actually thought up. By the way, I speak one language, English-the only one that counts, for me anyway. Sounds like you need a refresher course. Just sayin'.....
ps. Just a tip-you should probably leave the comic book references out of your little speil. It's not helping at all.....
When he said, “we had a profound faith in the “decency of white Americans” that when they saw the effects of racism things would change and change quickly across the nation. I no longer have that faith.” That was too real.
That was so real. As a black mother with a son I worry so much about him. And my girls also . You always want to try and give people the benefit of the doubt but it’s sad that it still hasn’t changed.
He said that a long time ago. If you do not have faith of the ''decenty of white Americans'' is that mean that whites have reasons to be afraid of black people because of the lack of trust and then be called racist for it?
@@francinel8154 He wasn't pointing to individual white people, but there is an aggregate of whites who have shown their colors today. Do YOU think they will change or just be accepting tomorrow? Where do you think Blacks feeling of the racists around them have come from? What have Blacks been trusted with? Some whites keep businesses, unions, groups all to themselves. Many businesses without a Black in them in a predominately Black area! Not blackballed, just kept out. Then the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" CRAP comes out. What say you?
@@DaveSParty I hope he did not pointing to individual, or put all the white in the same basket I should say. The rest of your comment, I agree with you.
I'm "white," but there has been a message of mind your business for decades, whites are told that it's not our business, to stay out of it, so a lot of us just go on trying to make a living and survive like everyone else and stay in our lane. On the other hand, people seem to yell at white people to do something, I don't have magic white people powers, I'm the same as everyone else, I can vote, that's about it. We have to stop voting for the same dinosaurs that been sitting in office for decades upon decades not doing a damn thing. Don't think because we're quiet we aren't supportive, we just don't know if we're supposed to say anything.
My dad tells a story sometimes of when he was a street cop in B-more. One of the only black cops in his precinct. It was the 80s and he chased down a runaway suspect and caught him. The guy gave up and didn’t resist arrest. When a white cop came by in a paddy wagon, he goes up to the suspect and kicks him in the face. My dad stepped in and defended the suspect. My dad was never treated right by his fellow cops because he stood up for his fellow man. Now he works in internal affairs.
It hurts so bad watching this, I'm crying. My Daddy never raised me to act like those people. I'm 62.My only girlfriend I Loved, was black. (RIP) I miss you Shirley.
Sue Stone: The key part of your comment (IMO) is that you weren't raised to be racist. I've always believed that hatred and racism is oftentimes taught in the home. This is why parenthood is the most important job that any mother and father can do.
That snappy-nappy will always make you comeback.
@@aarondigby5054 🤣😅
Indeed, racism is learned behavior.
@@aarondigby5054 what does that mean?
"The worst thing you can do to a human being is to make them believe they don't count"
Actually, it gets worse: telling their descendants it never happened. This is how places like Southlake, Texas "educate" the descendants of racist, genocidal eras.
Absolutely
Have you heard of torture?
@@driveronehundrednine3225 Would you torture someone you valued? Torture is what you do to people who don't count.
@@Scott-vc8oi I mean you're spouting facts. So I agree with you. What's your point
This needs to be played in American history classes
I concur.
For what? So that nothing continues to happen?
You mean it isn’t?
Why so you can have more excuses why you're not getting head in life
This has no "need." It's a video.
To know that this amazing, intelligent,eloquent, articulate human being died of dementia is absolutely tragic.
I’ve lived in this country my whole life, and it’s still hard to understsand how racism exists… we’re all people trying to get through the day. How the hell can anyone actually believe that skin color says anything about us?
The Left doesnt accept Blacks who are not their "Negro"
@@bjn3536 would you mind elaborating your point? Also, I find it interesting that you choose to capitalize certain words, like left, and blacks, etc. What is your reasoning?
@@nocomment2468 Many Blacks have SAME Leftist Idealogy=Im victim,give me,give me,give me
@@bjn3536 wow. It’s more like give me peace and give me equality under the law
@@penny8579 Blacks are FAR AND AWAY the most racist group in USA
Why is history not a focus in highschool. More and more I'm realizing I learned next to nothing in those classes. The majority of what I've learned about history is from interviews and lectures here online.
And we know that those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.
Academic history text is written to be objective, with the objectivity often from the perspective of the victor or the government of the day. This leaves little room for perspectives from both sides of the times.
Thats we grow up passing into adulthood believing we are the good guys. This is very important if the state is to produce docile, comforming and blindly patriotic citizens.
History that happened yesterday is not being recorded accurately or responsibly today.
MrPhil360 this is willful to hide what was done to the minoritys groups like indians and blacks. It's results of the estrutural racism.
And you are right to educate yourself reading diferent books, and seeing interviews in the internet.
"The worst thing you can do to another human being is make them feel they don't count" those were POWERFUL words
So much of society acts to make a person feel invisible!
Yes , it is .
Unfortunately, there will be no end to this .
Human beings are just that , hatred and prejudice are inculcated since birth.
Do I feel hurt , oh yes , at 7 yrs old .
It still sting up to this day 50+ yrs later ,
So fresh deep fried, it still burn .
I pray to high heavens that karma do strike them back ,
And my karma God always responded , just not in my desired timeline.
and what you must believe about yourself in order to find it necessary to do that to another
On the strength.
What Blacks need to realize is that it doesn't matter about feeling like you don't matter aquire some power and it wouldn't matter if they like you or not with power they can't harm you....whites can hate you and harm you and do it EVERY DAY you know why because they have ALL the power.
I grew up in a country town in Pennsylvania. I was taught to fear black people. My father was extremely racist. I was in 10th grade and sat behind a guy that was black. I noticed no one spoke to him. He didn't seem scary and I felt ignorant and ashamed because I had never spoken to him either. I finally tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he had a pencil I could borrow. I had to chase him down to try to give it back. I continued to speak to him and we became friends. I would seek him out at the school dances and have to talk him into dancing with me though it would be away from the dance floor. Two years later a boy I had known since kindergarten warned me (people are talking) ! I am proud I did not care what anyone thought and we remained friends. Wherever he is I hope he is doing well 💕 My friend Arthur (Art) proved he was just like anyone else and opened my eyes and my heart! That was 1972
This interview should be a standardized viewing of the American high school history class curriculum. The ignorance on the internet is very telling of how uneducated in the matter the current population is.
Disgusting past that needs to be learned from, not ignored. Lest we repeat the cycle again.
Well said. I thought the same as I watched this emotional journey of this powerful man. His words should be a historical account in his words and film as a teaching tool to enlighten students on the horrific affect racism can have on an individual and a society. We must be better and fo better for all. Preserving life is dependent on all our efforts to survive and secure a better future. Practice being humble and embrace the rewards of it's fruits for a much brighter future for our kids for generations to come. Prayers to all.
Lest we repeat?? It’s being repeated daily all over the country…..
It really should but in Florida and other states they have banned our books and studies of African American history . He says it has no educational value . It’s our history and it should be told as to not repeat
There's no repeating since It has never left...
"Man fears what he does not understand, and what man does not understand, he will seek to destroy"
(Native American saying)
💯💯💯💯💯
So smart peoples!
Eli Sianez Yeah ur right THE WHITE MAN...
True statement. What I can't comprehend, though, is how some people can look at another human being and clearly see how similar we all are, but yet think anyone is less than or doesn't measure up, or is somehow not worthy of basic dignity and respect....how do we not understand we're all the same?? It would be different if we were talking about someone with 5 heads and hooves instead of feet, wings on their backs and 8 arms.....but we're talking about humans with one head, two eyes, two ears, one nose, one mouth, two arms, two hands, two legs, two feet, 10 fingers, 10 toes, equal intelligence, equal abilities, and we're stupid enough to focus on superficial qualities like level of melanin in the skin, difference in hair texture, and very slight facial charachter differences??? Come on, human race....I KNOW we're smarter than THAT.
Eli Sianez Without W.U.K (wisdom understanding Knowledge) its ALL FUTILE! U can lead people 2 Knowledge but u CANT make them think🤔
They say ignorance is bliss.Ignorance is also dangerous and makes it easy to feed people dangerous lies.
To be racist is not to be ignorant to be racist is to
be arrogant.
How can ignorance be bliss??
WELL SAID
@@Past-worldloves they say ignorance is bliss because what you don't know does not hold you accountable for it.
Ignorance is a blister! Waiting to pop!
When truth arrives, it bursts and burns, a lot!
My grandmother was the daughter of European immigrants living in the North. At home she spoke to her parents in their native language. At school she spoke English. Her closest friend, at age 8, was an African-American girl the same age.
Racists burned that little girl's family's home.
My grandmother tried to teach her children to oppose racism.
Did the little girl and her family survive?
@@annabelgrace1267Yes, the family survived the fire. For their safety, they had to leave the town. This occurred around 1926 in Connecticut.
@@mongoharry How evil. Many of those would have identified as Christian, but nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say, "Hate the person of a different race." They had nothing to do with Jesus.
@@mongoharry in Connecticut, dayum. And plenty of times Black's moved to the northeast looking for a promised land.
@@mongoharry oh 1926, shysh that was a 100 years ago and not much has changed. The Deep South, stop talking about the South, "anything south of the Canadian border is down south " quote Malcolm X.
This should be shown in every school and talked about, so children now can understand.
The white man will call it CRT
He died of dementia. That's just heartbreaking for any person or family. 😢
@Fuert Neigt what year was this filmed
This was in 1989 - he was in his late 50s then. He died three years ago at age 85.
That is really sad
The stress of systemic hatred
Sofia M HE WAS 74 WHEN HE DIED OF DEMENTIA😢
Racism is a vile disease. That man had a good soul. Breaks my heart
People can say what they want but drugs in black communities are the new slavery agent the 80s introduced coke like never before our government was in on it .
I Wish that today's revolutionaries understood that. BLM maintains that white people are born racist. Imagine ! Blood guilt! No one is guilty of having a particular skin color.
Very DEEP and moving. I'm 51 years old as of this year. I was born in 1971 which means I was born ONLY 6 years AFTER the law making segregation unconstitutional passed.
Well as I grew up during the 70's, 80's and 90's (New York City) it was clear to me through experience or observation; that not all White's changed their hearts and minds when the law did.
A Black coworker of mind told me a White person this year in 2022 told him to "STAY IN HIS PLACE NIGGER."...and NO it wasn't an "oldman."
Its 2022 and we get to listen to him speak. Astonishing,he doesn't know but his words are and will move into the future and that is a heck of an accomplishment. Thank u for this
When I first moved to south LA, July, 1976 for a job for my late husband, being 8 mos. pregnant I had to use the bathroom, again. He waited in the car as the kids slept, in the parking lot. I walked up to a Union 76 gas station/restaurant & as I approached the door about the same time as an elderly black lady she stepped back as I opened the door. She waited for me to go thru, I said, "mam, you go 1st, you're my elder." She hesitated, looked @ me surprised & it dawned on me I was now in the deep South. "Please", as I motioned & stepped back a step to allow her thru. I went off to the counter to ask where the restroom was. As I opened the bathroom door I heard the elder lady telling her black friends, as if amazed, that a pregnant white woman opened the door for her. That broke my heart 💔 as she was my elder & should of expected to have a door opened for her from a younger person. Color should of never been an issue. Wake up people...nobody should feel inferior due to just how they were born that they had NO control over. "It's not the tone of a (wo)man's skin that counts....it's the tune of their heart that is best measured." HUGS2U all 💓.
Benjie Benjamin This made me cry! Things need to change now 2020!
This is what Malcolm X touched on, “who taught u to hate the colour of your...”
As an African American woman, this brought tears to my eyes for two reasons: the story you shared of the encounter with the elderly woman and that the experience brought tears to your eyes. Thank you for sharing🙏🏽 continued blessings on you and yours ❤️
@@DaisyAnnabelle6 It rips @ my soul, regardless the prejudice, to see people treated crudely. I'm a survivor of various abuses (my father & others were pedophiles) & I'm still living with the repercussions @ 73. I am alone tho I've 4 children & 9 grandchildren...because of lies/gossips by the perps. I would literally be punished if I associated with anyone of color, as a child. My late ex, mentioned in my comment, was Filipino hence my fair skinned baby, who 'passed' as white, my relatives taught her that I slept with a white man tho married to 'the Filipino', (they stole them twice & would call them 'tween after school & me home from work to berate/belittle me & they shattered my mother/child bond....that's the worst crime of all) to tell them gossip so I wouldn't be believed about them (didn't want my children abused). Point: No matter what I survived & it was horrible, I still knew it was wrong to hate...especially for something a person couldn't help, like their genes. I know what it's like to be hated just because I existed (should of died 7 times) so being white was a horrendous suffering for me..., how bad was it for people of color? That boggles my mind, it has shattered my soul. 💔❤
I love you for your empathy and concern. Thx u
That’s so crazy, how sad. I was in high school in the 70’s and dated a great guy. He happened to be black. My grandparents wouldn’t allow us to stay together. Broke my heart, they didn’t even give him a chance. I’ve never been treated with as much respect & care as that young man treated me. Racism is so ignorant.
Very sad indeed. I bet he was an awesome and sweet guy. 💜
@Chakra #5 what are you talking about?
My girl was black, her father liked me, but her mom and sister hated all whites We were even told before we went, "no zebras here" She cried like a baby in the car, and the father told me not to mind, he'd welcome me.
@Chakra #5 troll!
@Chakra #5 Do you just make things up just to get a reaction?
I sat for about 30min trying to express the emotions I felt listening to this interview. This is truly one of the greatest interviews I’ve ever heard-so deep and profound and so relatable. This is one that just resonates with me and I know my mind will be occupied for the next couple of days just pondering and mulling over some of the content in the video. Thank you, really enjoyed
I am European and white. I never thought too much about racism until I had a relationship with a black man. My eyes really started to see the hate then. It was chilling. And once you see it, you cannot unsee it. People (white people) would look at us with hate. And me being naive at the time, was wondering, how can you have this hate when you don't even know us? I will never forget this incredible injustice. I remember once saying in a bar "it is so freezing cold" (it was). And the other people said "go back to Africa". My friend had said nothing. He was Carribean by the way.
Which decade you are talking about?
Nineties
@@sofie1065 it was difficult, and especially too difficult for black also being the target with several enemies. and it still exists, and personally I think the human world should be aware that all men are created as MLK said. I think it's true that now people are just mean, because black people are everywhere and people still continue with this same racist behavior, it should end. but I don't understand so far? . thank you for your testimonial, it's not at all easy
@@guiltowner4605 every freaking decade since this republic was founded and a couple of hundred years before that to be honest.
@@sofie1065 we love you Sofie, live your best life, treat others the way you would want to be treated. It works better for me, smile when you greet people, be kind, open the door for women and children. My great grandmother taught me at an early age that manners will take you further than money will.
"We had to believe in America more than other people did, in order to have any hope, in order to live, in order to not go crazy.." this... is amazing 👏
Totally agree
Nikkun Haklali
This is true
💯
No we had to belive in Christ. Christ was always the center of our lives because only He knew what it was to be rejected, tortured, persecuted and murdered just for being who you are; because your God given identity. No one knows this more than Black people.
“I have right to breathe!” Powerful!
20:45 had me in tears.
Horrifying, shameful, embarrassing to our country. I’m so sorry. It makes my heart ache to see this and know how often this happened and still does everyday.
Same. So ashamed.
What have you done too change the supremacy and oppression of black people 🤔 all over this world.🌎 it benefits oppressors to continue to be oppressive. This is the only reason you do nothing but speak of been friends with black people. Its a classic feature, that is stated when you continue to do to others of colour you would never be able to live through yourselves.
What is horrifying is the behavior of most blacks...If you hate the country go back to Africa...No you won't because its ten time worse
Why in God's name has this not gotten more views?! Thank you so much, David Hoffman, for posting this.
Jon Trott...This is VIEWED everyday in the NEWS, on PEOPLE'S IPhone, and really All-around you, the PROBLEM is: YOU REFUSE TO SEE, or LISTEN!
@@Virus-xm7qc wow lol
Have more respect for God's name.
you know why dont act like you don't know
It’s the thing that Ron DeSantis of Florida does not want white kids to know . He banned books that tells these stories or make any reference .
" Black people were always super Americans. We had to believe in America more than other people did. .. in order to have hope and not go crazy" Roger WIlkins
@Harry Hatesu awww...your comment enforces our point. 👀🤦♀️😂
Erica Windear 🤣🤣🤣
@Harry Hatesu geez you're an idiot 🤦🏻♂️
@Harry Hatesu ppl are not blaming anyone for the past, but for what is going on now, that mirrors the past!.
One of the points that hit straight into my heart! 🥺
This is Professor Roger Wilkins, one of my favorite freshman and then senior year college professors. You taught me invaluable lessons that I continue to apply to my life today. Thank you for changing my life. RIP Prof Wilkins.
Condolences to you and all who knew him.
What an amazing fortune it must have been for you to have had Prof Wilkins as a teacher. ❤️
Thank you Professor Roger Wilkins for sharing your brilliance with the world . God Bless You 🙏 💕🙏💕
True about making those trips to the south…I now understood what all my father’s tension was about in the car all the way down to Roanoke Virginia from NYC with (at the time) four young daughters and a pregnant wife. And why we never stopped at any restaurants or rest stops and why my mother fried so much chicken and had two loaves of bread and oranges and apples and the trusty cooler with kool aid and paper cups.
this video is about racism and then you are racist towards others, you are part of the problem. What happened to him was beyond atrocious but to sit there and turn around and call others racist as a blanket statement, just because where they live, is just as wrong. I'm from the south and they don't act like you are implying, maybe in the past but the north was just as guilty. please educate yourself they aren't like that anymore.
@@keikaider They are absolutely still like that. Redlining still exists. Sundown towns still exist. In Tulsa, they don't even educate the locals there about the Tulsa Race Riots. They whitewash history books in school and minimize the harm and damage that slavery and jim crow does today. Listen to the fuss people make about Critical Race Theory being taught in schools. Look at how angry Black Lives Matter made people, I mean the Charleston riot where alt-righters and neo-nazis carried tiki torches shouting "Jews Will Not Replace Us" and "Blood and Soil" was just a few years ago. I live in the South. My husband is a person of color and he still gets treated as lesser because of it.
So I think you need to pause and take a breath before you tell another person that they're "uneducated" because "the south isn't like that anymore". Only a very privileged person who doesn't experience racism thinks racism is dead, because it's very much still a problem in the South. The Truthlady spoke about the honest experience that she had, and you have absolutely no right to sit here and tell her that what she experienced and what her life was really like "didn't happen". I mean you're basically sitting up here accusing her of being a Liar!
Southern people are a mix of races, so you can't be "Racist" towards "southern people" anyway, so you accusing her of that makes me think you actually have no working knowledge of what Racism REALLY is. I mean c'mon, you actually said "this video is about racism and then you are racist towards others, you are part of the problem." She never pointed out anyone's race, she said SOUTHERNERS, but you're so ready to typecast yourself as a victim that you're outing yourself as truly ignorant of the very definition of what you're accusing her of. It's ridiculous!
You weren't there, you didn't experience what she did. YOU need to sit down and shut up and listen instead of revealing how ignorant you are about the realities of living as a person of color in the South.
@@keikaider You know, I’m not feeling so nice today. Fk you. th-cam.com/video/F123HpzXGX8/w-d-xo.html
@@keikaider What about the Georgia peach oyster bar?? Educate yourself, just because the area YOURE in doesn’t practice that belief doesn’t mean all of it is good
@@alotofhoopla7624 an isolated incident isn’t guilt enough to warrant what you’re defending. I’m well educated in these things and what they did was wrong and that place got what came to it. If we play by your game, Muslims are all extremists to you, because a group of bad Muslims attacked us. You too are part of the problem. You can’t beat racism with more racism. Seems you too need to educate yourself
I Am A Latina who loves Caregiving with the elderly! Breaks my heart that I TOOOOOO STILL GET DIRTY LOOKS AND UGLY THINGS SAID ...I DO MY BEST TO IGNORE IT....BUT IT DOES HURT TO THE DEEPEST PART OF MY EVERYBEING
Margaritas, may you find it in your heart to continue to nurse and give care to the elderly. I have been in your position more times than I can speak of, now retired. I pray God guides you. Guard your heart ♥
This should be preserved in our national archives and taught/shown in schools.
Excellent idea!!!!
MarshieFire X Agreed. I myself can break down everything he says and teach a class!!! So can Dr Jane Elliott 👍🏾
Why? We’re already taught about racism in the 50’s and 60’s. We’re taught that Democrats instituted Jim Crow and fought against abolition. We already know there was discrimination. What has this video revealed that hasn’t already been taught in schools?
Erroneous Monk context and attachment to a subject that text cant give
Erroneous Monk Sometimes we need to hear the stories of others and listen. When we listen we may hear that the issues didn’t end in the 50’s and 60’s.
Please know that this is not political. It’s not a Democrat nor Republican problem. It’s a human problem. It’s an issue of power and the desire to retain power.
His honesty is beautifully brutal and crystal clear, every american should be required to watch this from age 6 to 100. Speak the truth and the light will heal us. Thank you
Elizabeth Papadopoulos Yeah, he’s a hell of a good speaker!
agreed
Metro Gartley was their existence. The overwhelming majority of white people don’t care if you are black, brown or what ever.
I'm sharing this as much as I can!
Truth be told we are in a better place but not by much. Now the racism is subtle. The flying of the Confederate Flag, police brutality toward the Blacks, the stand your ground laws, growing numbers of Nazi sympathizers all indicate strong support for Race hatred toward Blacks. The good news is the youth standing strong and taking risks to make us a better country.
i agree... it is important to know history accurately... thank you for doing this interview🧡
Rise In Power Mr. Roger Wilkins I salute you! This was a great interview
I sat here and tried my best to write out a good, heartfelt response. I have no better words than these. Thank you for sharing this with us.
The end kills me...where he goes back and it's worse than before. Hope he watching what's happening now and keeping his fingers crossed.
It is very painful.
I’m with you, and all I can say, is ditto. ✌️💜🎵🙏🏻
Watched a lecture from Marcus Rediker (look him up) and I immediately felt like I live in a nightmare! This only perpetuates that feeling. God PLEASE!
@@Ifelovv May I please ask which lecture?
"For the record, prejudices can kill... and suspicion can destroy...and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all of it's own - for the children and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is that these things cannot be confined to The Twilight Zone."
Rod Serling
I sent this video to my two white grandsons in Arkansas. They are sharp, aware people who may be able to pass this on to other white maturing kids for their growth and enlightenment. Thank you. Lu
🙏🏼 thank you for sharing that truth
@@louisadigrazia1285 Thank you for doing what you can where you can! God bless you! 💜
TheLeen61 ~ I remember that episode.
@@CreoleLadyBug A true classic that rings so true even today.
When He said “The whole South was like a Rotten Fruit that Everybody could smell “ … I had to stop the vid .
This is descriptive , startling & incredible . Phew
How he defined black power is absolutely beautiful
I remember in 1962 sitting in my catholic school math class, this nun snatched my pristine math book and gave it to the Puerto Rican girl who lied and said I stole her book. I told the nun it was not hers, but she wouldn’t listen to me because the girl was crying and as soon as she got my book and the nun grimaced at me, the girl stopped her fake crying and laughed at me. I’m 64 years old now and I just started thinking about that because it hurt me so badly. I was only 6 and the nun was so mean to us black kids. A few years later, in 4th grade, I had a crush on a white boy and told him and he told me, “you’re too black for me”. That was another crushing blow. But, I’m not looking for pity because I believe in the laws of Karma. Turns out, I don’t think the book stealer amounted to much in life and the “crush” turned out to be a wife beater.
Krazie Genius ur heart is as hard as a rock
I’m so sorry that happened too in the afterlife these memories will not haunt u I promise that when u did it will be like waking up from a deep sleep and u will be at peace and god will get u justic
@Linda Love, forgive all and God bless you and much love to you
Linda Love what a great story. Amazing the things we remember as children and how we felt and the needless pain it caused. Thank you for sharing
@Krazie Genius my arse more like krazie idiot!
As a black American myself, the fact that racism still exists here is ridiculous. This testimony is a gem
Ajie What??? The fact that racism exists here is ridiculous, educate yourself, you sound ridiculous.
We gon be alright ✊🏽🥺
Carol Newman this racism practice existed as late as 1990s in America, when I tried to purchase my home, I got an appointment on the phone, but when I arrived there from work it was no longer available when she saw my brown skin, but I did not take it lying down.
It's insane that because of a color we choose to hate.
@@carolnewman8590 - You missed a word "still"
Now this is a man. To believe in the decency of all men/people in light of such vicious reality is what makes humanity human. I love this man. This should be shown in school as mandatory.
This is a very moving interview. Thank you for sharing this man’s powerful words.
He spoke at 72y/o and died at 74y/o of Dementia, these are priceless memories that you captured. Blessings to you and thank you for sharing this amazing human being’s recollections. Hopefully we all learn something.
Chris Page Phew! I kept computing his age in 1989 and kept thinking there's no way he was 72 years old then when he appears to be in his 50s in this video.
@@iuaislamf I was calculating too. It wasn't making much sense.
@Chris Page yes in deed.
@@richardmullins44 that’s what wiki is showing also.
@@iuaislamf That's why we "as Afrikan Black People need to tell our story and not his-story (the European white people)
The opening story about jogging brought back my worst memory. I’m not American, I live in Canada and back in the 90’s I believed Canada didn’t have the issues I saw south of the border. I was wrong. I was in my late teens, and wanted to get in shape and foolishly decided to go for a jog around a park. I jogged less than 40 metres when a policeman threw m to the ground. He stood on me and accused me of dealing drugs. I tried to explain I was only going for a jog. He looked down on me and told me I don’t jog. Being overweight, I was humiliated. Another officer soon after showed up and they let me go.
It was a full decade later when I retold the story that someone pointed out the racism (I thought my treatment was due to being overweight). I mean it’s Canada and my whole life to that point I was shielded from racism from friends and neighbours. 25 years later I’m still overweight and I’m still afraid to go for a run.
Please don’t be afraid to go for a run!!
Well, try walking - you take care of you. Do not someone else who is ignorant interpose themselves into your life...
running, swimming, eating ....it doesnt matter what you are doing because racists see your presence as the problem itself
Well you and I can go for that walk, or run whenever you want. I hate that you had that experience. My Father was a good cop BTW for 30 years plus. And he would hate reading this as well...
I am surprised too! If Canada had slavery I'd bet it was outlawed long before America's & they certainly didn't have a civil war over it. But as we saw from the way white people in the North reacted when former slaves moved up in waves, you can be racist even if you were against slavery.
More Roger Wilkins, please. He is the embodiment of what it means to be American.
Search his name on my TH-cam channel. You may find other clips.
David Hoffman filmmaker
" Freedom from FEAR " 🦅 Rest In Power, Rest In Peace !! Roger Wilkins. 🗽
We weren't taught about the prosperous black communities that were destroyed in Tulsa, OK, (Black Wall St) Rosewood, FL, Wilmington, NC, Seneca Village, NYC or the seven black representatives in Congress at the turn of the century. All people can prosper if given economic access.
Add to that, "The opposite of poverty is not wealth. It's justice"--Bryan Stevenson
So what exactly changed from that time. Can you please provide more references about this issue?
Correction: All people can prosper if they take advantage of their opportunities.
@@davidpatton906 ahh but the opportunities available are not always equal. There lies the problem.
History is told by the victor. When history is white washed, what do people of color have to aspired to become?
I am a white man from a middle class family outside of DC and I lived in NYC for 14 years, most of it during the height of stop & frisk. I grew up heavily involved in the DC punk scene and into my young adulthood would still often wear outwardly "punk" clothing...both as a statement and as what I was most comfortable in. I lived all over NYC, from Bushwick to Forest Hills, Lower Manhattan to Astoria.
It was in Astoria, usually at night, in winter, while walking with my black Carhartt jacket with the hood pulled up covered in punk rock patches, that I would be stopped by plainclothes NYPD officers on three separate occasions, the most terrifying of which was when I had my headphones in and the music turned up loud so I didn't see them coming until they piled out of an unmarked car and had thrown me up against a brick wall. Each encounter was roughly the same...they would pat me down, shout at me, and then inform me I had "matched the description" of someone involved in a crime.
However every single time, as well, there was the moment they pulled down my hood. The moment they saw my skin color. And you could see it in their eyes...the brief disappointment that melted almost immediately into rage. Rage that I had wasted their time. Rage that the facade of stop & frisk being a "fair" practice about "safety" had been exposed. Of course, they had to complete their script. How I "matched the description" of a suspect. But you could tell they were going through the motions. I didn't match the description at all. I was always let go immediately, unceremoniously. They were just a bunch of ignorant thugs with no uniforms, no patrol car, who couldn't tell the difference between two very distinct "urban" styles of clothing.
I believed stop & frisk was an assault on liberty before these experiences happened to me, but after experiencing this I acutely understood for the first time the panic and fear...the dehumanization that accompanied each incident. And what I couldn't get over was exactly what Mr. Wilkins says here... If it hadn't been for my get-out-of-jail-free card...my skin...any one of those three incidents could have ended very differently for me.
Wow!
Interesting 🧐 Punk in late 70’s early 80’s in London has a close affinity with black culture, and were despised by the establishment!
Glad you highlighted your experience. Should be more comments, but as usual it will go mostly ignored. In one eyeball and shut out of the mind. It usually takes one to actually feel one dose of someone else pain or discomfort, before one can give it's credence. It's rarely mentioned that lots of people live the "long as it's not me" thinking. Appreciate your post let's hope more come across it..
Thank you for sharing your story. Well told
You lived to tell it would've been different with someone who was black.
I am black and I would never ever would live in a country like america in those times. Black people then were so brave.
Things have only changed on a superficial level. Ppl don't always act the same, but they still think the same.
@@Don.tKillTheMessanger Yes, becouse laws and nobody is talking about being open racist again. Now with Donald Trump laws are still there but racist open opinion have came out again.
I'm so grateful I wasn't born in America...just such a dreadful mindset in the past.. I wouldn't want to be there now either..😢
‘Faces distorted by anger’ really got me :(
Amazing video though
I am listening to him with tears in my eyes. As a 39 year old black American woman I see my fathers and my grandfathers hurt and frustrations in him. I see my own hurt and frustrations in this man's words. May he and my forefathers continue to rest in peace.
Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
🥰❤️
It was the forefathers who suffered most. They had no escape. The fight is up to us Americans to educate ourselves and families. No one can take that away from you. This man is someone anyone would want to have as a dad, a brother, uncle, etc, so absolutely proud of him, may he rest in God's Peace.
THANK YOU Mr Hoffman for interviewing a man with such prestige. As 55+yr old African American woman, this interview is still ever so real today, on another level, against my African American men (husband, sons, brothers, nephew, etc). We have keep praying and making a change.💔🙏🏼🙏🏼
We fought and always will fight these terrible unjust ed.PERIOD.
When I went got to first grade my best friend was black we were friends till he died 3 years ago. We had no Idea we were one of the first integrated classes. I will cherish his friendship forever.
❤❤❤
🍪
So sorry for your loss
Condolences 🌹🕊🌹
Bless you both
KM Hemmans The TH-camr
Very interesting interview. I have a black friend that was born in the 40's. I was born in 1972. I always ask him about his life and how it was. He focuses on the good times, but he also tells me about the racism that was prevalent in the 60's.
Such an incredible interview. His passing is such a great loss. His children are so fortunate to have had him as a father. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
His ability to express himself passionately in such controlled anger is amazing
Age relaxes the heart.
He has bitterness but he also does not realize how many - significant - areas where black & white did very well in building a good community with much interaction & acceptance of each other. This man’s victim hood is palpable. Actually sad to watch. I wish he could see the statistics today - tells a different story.🤷🏽♂
Yes. Excellent communication.
@@davisholman8149 you see individual whites may be well-intentioned and work with richly melanated persons but as the White Nation and laws it was and still is segregative and oppressive-minded towards other races esp the richly melanated. Straight facts.
He's a decent actor.
Good on the interviewer for letting the man express himself without interruption....
This is needed in all public schools ASAP!
great Interview, sometimes when people decide to open up and say whats in their heart, you get an amazing raw and honest interview like this, I am sure millions can relate.
Im a Hispanic who serve my country I’ve deployed to the Middle East I’ve always considered myself a patriot to my country i love my country,
Well out in town i was stoped by a teenage girl who asked me in a very disrespectful obnoxious tone “excuse me do you speak English” i was angry with this kid but I wasn’t going to yell at a kid so I sighed out of anger and walked away and i could hear her say to her friends “that’s what i thought Pedro” then i looked back ready to yell at her and i seen her friend hit her on her shoulder, she then said “what?, they’re not supposed to be here in the first place” she said “they’re” meaning Hispanic, brown skin, not white,
It doesn’t matter what i do for this country in the eyes of some white people, not all, but some, i know they will never except me as American and in their eyes I’m just Mexican despite the fact that ive never been to Mexico I’m a 4th generation America most my family today cant speak Spanish including me,
I know not all white people think the same way but it really hits your gut when you have to experience racism
thank you for sharing your experience and your service to our country.
David Hoffman-filmmaker
You are American. You are more American than they ever will be because you understand what being American actually means. We are a land of immigrants. We are a built by the blood, sweat and tears of people of color. There would be no America without people of color. Whether it be the natives whose land we stand on, Africans & others who worked the labor that powered the first economies or the Asians, Hispanics and others who built the railroad. The idea that these patriots put so much work in for a country that treated them so poorly, just shows you they are the absolute top Americans. Every war America has fought in, has had people of color. To fight for a country that treats you unfairly is the ultimate act of loyalty. People of color will be the majority in America in 2041. It is time to stop caring what whites think. They are products of European immigration and many are from poor European families. The greatness of America is that it is ever-evolving. We can start taking power back by demanding equal and fair representation on media & Hollywood. Soft power as in popular culture is extremely important into changing how people view Americans of color. We absolutely have the power to force this through our dollars.
@@culture04dc DID YOU SAY FORCE??? Thats not American!! Thats communism!! You better pray to God that dont happen
I agree as a fellow Hispanic citizen! We are actually the real Americans here, we were always here and we have built this country with our bare hands and didn’t take anything from anyone! We are the best people, but we have been discriminated against, oppressed and repressed by the land grabbers, liars, thieves, criminals who took anything and everything they wanted to, REAL HISTORY NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT!
@@goldsmithstudent But ironically the next sentence was "through our dollars" that sounds like capitalism and free market principles. Like boycotting Nike products. 😊
The North was just as racist back then. Believe me, I lived in NY and Boston in the 70s and 80s and was attacked by whites in Boston and harrassed by white police regularly in NYC. Northern racist were just quiet, until they weren't.
Just as?
The North was more racist back then.
Your statement just proved racists and racism was where ever racist white people lived, and still going on today.
The most segregated school districts are apparently in liberal cities. Pretty unfathomable.
The north was just as racist and oppressive. Black Americans were “pushed” by Jim Crow law, rampant discrimination, segregation, and disenfranchisement, and lack of employment in the South and “pulled” by growing employment rates, industrialism and relative tolerance in the North. Black Americans migrated north for better financial, housing and educational opportunities. In Minnesota black people were lynched, redlined, terrorized in their homes just like in the south but housing was one of the key factors, systematic use of property deeds to enforce racial segregation in the Minneapolis area. White didn't want black Americans in their communities, housing, schools and business. Today it's called "Minnesota Nice". Smile your face, stab you in your back!
This is one of the most heart felt beautiful story of black history that made me cry. Thank you for sharing.
I appreciate you and him for this. Its humbling know the life and thoughts of our Americans, in that time of discuss. I apologize for the past Americans and hope we ALL can be the new America we should have been.
This is one of those uncomfortable bits of film that people need to watch and hear. What an eloquent man. I live in the UK so no idea you could not try on clothes - never crossed my mind. Interestingly same here but not so blatant they would pretend they did not have your size when you could see it or just hassle/follow
you so you left and did not buy in their shops. A famous black brit singer recently shared how she went to a shop in SW London and a woman told her she could not touch the things in there, when she could see everyone else touching it. Oppression on a daily basis has a massive impact on mental health.
My grandmother told me about how she had to know her shoe size as she was growing because you cant try on or return the shoes. You could fight in the military but you could not be equal.
Grew up in the deep south til I was 10, in the mid-sixties ... never ever "knew" a white person until we moved north, only interacted briefly with the clerks in the stores... in my city, we could only go to the county fair on 2 designated days out of the week... we couldn't try on any clothes in the store, never used a water fountain, rode the back of the bus... we had to go in the back door of a lot of businesses (including the [white] doctor's office, which had two waiting rooms...) one in the front for whites and one in the back for us. White people could wait in the back, but we couldn't wait up front.... never did see that front room, ha ha... Even though the law was previously passed to desegregate schools, none were... I went to a nice elementary school, all black. Matter of fact, at one point when I was pre-school, we lived directly across the street from a school, but my sister (of school age) could not attend, ha ha. It was all we knew, until we moved north and suddenly I was one of only 3 black students in an all white school. As children do, you adjust, but never ever "really." My parents were both college-educated professionals, and my father was a U.S. veteran. So what.
@@lblair2 do you think integration helped black people?
@@teamanthony6557 I think it helped us as black people access and achieve things that would've been denied, or difficult to attain otherwise, meaning opportunities, jobs, some aspirational things in life... I also think that it's very important to really know a variety of kinds of people in order to see the world more clearly, not just our own "ideas" of them... good or bad. I am grateful for those things, yet I always feel somewhat "other," and guess I always will, unless I'm in a black "atmosphere." Racism changes who you are, or could or could've been, even if you don't know it at the time. I feel more comfortable around "fam" even though my closest friends are varied in race. I believe that black people could not've been forced to stay separate and be AS successful in America (as much as we've been allowed to be) without integration... it wouldn't have been allowed... remember Tulsa...we have to be a part of the WHOLE package to fully take advantage of what our ancestors helped build...
@@lblair2 Same story as yours. My older sister told me about my father who wanted his daughters to have patent leather shoes for Easter. She told us that the white clerk refused to sale my father the shoes. My sister being 8yrs old couldn't understand why my father began to tear up. As the tears fell from his eyes she tried to comfort him. People who haven't lived like this have no clue how demoralizing this is. I'm 61yrs young and I was a child of 4 or 5yrs old at the time. Our father shielded us as much as he could....fast forward now I see just how hard it was for us.
"No matter how much respect and recognition whites show towards me, as far as I am concerned, as long as that same respect and recognition is not shown towards every one of our people in this country, It doesn't exist for me - Malcolm X
Now that is true leadership
💎🙏🏽
In his voice ✊🏾
Facts
The landscape has changed completely. Pretending thos is still the 1950's or even the 1970's, is very damaging. It creates dispair and ensures that there will always be a steady income stream from the predators that live off of. Black misery and poverty.
Magnificent. Rest in power, Mr Wilkins. Your words will last forever in my heart and hearts of others.🙏🏽💕
Oh my stars David, you tugged on a heart string with this one! Just reading your description, I could feel emotions welling up. You asked Roger to be straightforward with you, and I believe he was. You mentioned the need to not forget about this part of our country's history, which is key, because it is woven into the fabric that is America, and still prevails, only differently. And yes, I have no doubt that you have met and interviewed people who have had positive experiences, in this country, and were able to grow and thrive, in spite of circumstances that hinder others from doing the same. So salute to you for replaying this extremely timely interview. Happy Juneteenth ✌🏾💕
"...I have a right to be a human being. I have a right to take a deep breath." Hearing him say that, not long after he listed riot after riot that started because a black person was killed by a white cop, just sent chills up my spine, considering what's going on right now, and why.
You want to see a more comprehensive list of these "Riots?" Really they were massacres. See link below:
Racial Violence in the United States Since 1660 •
www.blackpast.org/special-features/racial-violence-united-states-1660/
@@tachyontee3877 Thank you for the link.
Information at our fingertips. Volumes of pain.😔
@@disarray3714 You're welcome.
@@tachyontee3877 Thank you so much for sharing this.
When you don't understand what is going on in our country today, all you have to do is go back to our history. Amen, Roger Wilkins
Those who control the present, control the past and those who control the past control the future.
George Orwell, 1984
Memories.......
@@anthonykindle9377 this is 2020 not 1955
@@curtispittman2870 Could have fooled me. If thats true, I would imagine biblical scriptures are irrelevant as well, or any other lessons in life. So to you sir, I say ,"have many seats".
Curtis Pittman I don’t know you, your ethnicity, your experiences etc but it’s obvious that you are consciously out of touch with “Life”! It’s obvious that you do not have any friends outside of your ethnicity and if you do they are just as lost!
This conversation is so valuable and needed right now. My heart & eyes are opened. Thank you.
It's really sickening how us blacks have been done this whole time, and how these bigoted/racist or just choose not to see people say it's somehow our fault that our situation is the way it is. I hate it for us!!! It's not over tho family, drill education into the youths head and try to occupy as much time as you can with our babies, sports, chess club, take them to work with you. We just need to keep them out of the streets and away from the no do goods. I love y'all. Keep building
I believe his story because my brother is sergeant major Tyrone adderley special forces green berets the police harrassed him it wasn't until they seen his identification that the police began to lie oh sorry you fit the description...personally iam sick of the police very very very tired
Les I don’t understand why a black person would join the forces in America.
Alright. Let's ask nicely that they stay out of our neighbourhoods no matter what and see how that goes for a year. There's no reason we can't patrol our own streets. There's no reason why we can't face thugs, rapists, robbers, druggies , all probably armed and dangerous ourselves in the muddle of the night with no one around. I'll just best them up with my walker or drive over them with my wheelchair.
@@ao1084 Firstly, we are not asking that the police be done away with. However, *reform* is a must
We as black people have a RIGHT to not fucking die at the hands of people who are supposed to uphold laws not bend them to their own wills and agendas! The phrase "defund the police" does not mean get rid of them. It means we would like to see some of these astronomical budgets for police officers to be allocated to other areas in the community as a deterrent to over interaction with the police and crime. You are so ignorant. I am SO sick of this sort of stupidity that people like you continue to hold onto with bloody nails. This person spoke of an experience with an officer that should not have happened and THIS BS is your response? That is the problem ...some whites and other non blacks utterly *refuse* to get it. Because you don't want to. You choose to only view things through the rose colored lensea lf your priviledge and NOT admit the problem.
I have had the same happen to me more than a handful of times (that I fit a BS description) even more though was the random pull overs for some traffic violations I never committed like: that a taillight was out, rear lights on my license plate were out, my tint was too dark, I made an erratic turn (when I made no turn at all) and most of the time they ‘smelled marijuana’ and each and every time they would either see a uniform/ my ID or I would say “call my commanding officer and tell him that bull$#¡+”. In two months he (or the staff duty officer) was called at least 6 times. I think what happened and had been happening to black Marines under his charge,was finally revealed to him.
Ricardo because as he said in this video - Black Americans believe in America more than white Americans
The stories that my parents and my grandparents told me still hurt my soul to this day. Let alone, my own experiences.
Would you mind sharing the stories
Right
I’m sorry you and your family had to suffer with those experiences. Many blessings to you :)
Stop letting it hurt your soul. Ask yourself, why do people hate? They hate you because they hate themselves.
Same. I live in a neighborhood now that my relatives couldn't even walk through. My uncle told me a story about when he was young coming to cut a ladies yard over here and was confronted and treated horribly by the police.
It's such a privilege to be a subscriber. This is what QUALITY means..
This film should be mandatory viewing in every high school classroom everywhere.
This is exactly what certain people are fighting to keep out of our school!!
“I am a firm believer in the view that the riots are not the real problem,” Mr. Wilkins said, calling for more jobs, housing and help for the poor. “The real threat to American life is our inattention to the really depressed and anguished conditions of the minority group people who live in the ghettos of this country.” NYT, 2017
@Jo Smotherman Stick to your convictions. trump will show you better than he can tell you.
I feel for every child who has to believe that her or his wide nose, kinky hair, or thick lips makes them any less beautiful. Sighs. You are beautiful. I don’t know who we change, but my god. Child, you are beautiful
I wish I could like this one million times.
Black women need to take off those eyelashes, fake hair and all that makeup. Especially if the thought is that it is needed in order to be viewed as beautiful. IJS....
@@stockbrokermikel Hi Mike. Listen I know what you are trying to say (at least I hope I do)... but instead of saying "black women need to..." just say black women yall are already beautiful. Yall dont need any enhancers like eyelashes etc. Just my opinion as a young black woman. Take care.
@@stockbrokermikel Women in general enjoy wearing these things, not because we think we're ugly, but because it's a form of artistic expression. From a photography perspective, I love capturing that transformation on film. I also love capturing the natural beauty that all women have. To me, the expression of beauty in all of its forms is a divine thing.
Black is beautiful not just on the outside, but they have beautiful souls as well.
This is so appalling, and such unimaginable cruelty. Such crass, vile and vulgar behavior that these people endured is just unimaginable. I am embarrassed and humiliated to be white because of how they became who came before me behaved. I am not very proud of being an American because of this. If I were black, I don't think I could make it today in our world. I would be killed or put in prison. The "N" word is such an ugly, painful, and profanely hurtful word. It should never be said. The courage, bravery, and strength are just so profound and prolific to me. I was not raised to see color. I see people. Everyone has a 100% chance with me when I first meet them. And their actions and words, take away or add to that number thereof. So very sad and unimaginable. Very well stated. What a wonderful man he is. I have so much respect for him.
This should be a mandatory watch for all high school students...
Roger Wilkins was a great human being, civil rights leader, history professor and journalist. He was born in 1937 which would make him 57 at the time of this video - not 72. Mr. Wilkins died in 2017 at the age of 85.
Born in 1932
We need more black human beings like him. Education is everything
He probably couldn't have bore to see what has happened during this administration.
Wikipedia says Mr. Wilkins was born in 1932, btw. 57yo. Anyway, deep respect & I’m glad to have this interview available.
Blam8o I can actually go into Wikipedia and change that if I chose to.
anyone else tear up when he talked about his daughter's beautiful hair and skin? What a privilege to watch this man and hear him speak
Hi. I stumbled upon this interview. His talk about our curly hair and dark skin make me think about the fact that today we are still emulating with the lashes, nails, and weaves.
No
@@Blando7887 You're JEALOUS obviously. That's what your hated is really about, your JEALOUSY
This is real
Mr. Roger Wilkins, thank you so much for your insight. And thank you Mr. David H. for sharing this video with us. Mr. Wilkins perfectly explains the black experience and plight in America. It is a long and arduous one. It's hard to articulate the mental (and sometimes physical) toll that comes with being black. I wish more young people can see interviews like this one; just so they can understand. I'll definitely as this video to a list of ones to show future generations!
WOW! I am at a loss for words. Powerful. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I see a constant theme here like family guy did it as well is whenever a officer says boy it’s usually never good
Yes, starting with "Boy" is the first sign of disrespect. Had he not have credentials on him they would have kept up their make-up story about someone that was reported to them.
Beverly Beverly except when you’re young
Joyce Jameson well it can be used in s good way like me and the boys 😁
Joyce Jameson it’s definitely gotten better right I mean definitely after the 60s
@@gmg9010 you think that 💩is FUNNY?
I feel his rage. Yet he is so composed with his tongue...
This is an empty man with an infinite chip on his shoulder. Despite his "achievements," he chooses to focus on only his negative experiences. I feel sorry for him. He has lived a seemingly amazing successful life, blessed with children and good fortune, yet he has so much hate in his heart. Over what? A cop called him boy, and Hollywood casted white women with straight hair? This is what animates him? We're talking 1940s, 50s, 60s. The whole world had racial issues. Still do, albeit better than then. To hold on to this vindictive pain for so long is not the act of a wise man. He lacks gratitude, therefore he lacks wisdom.
@Drew Yazbeck Did you watch the video? Hoffman says that Roger was describing his time in America during the 40s, 50s and 60s. Of course this would be a focus of the conversation; even more so because he was a Civil Rights Activist. It would be a huge part of anyone's life if you were told you weren't equal. Denied experiences, denied service, denied the ability to vote, segregated simply because of the pigment of their skin, etc. If anyone lacks any sort of wisdom would be you.
@@drew7155 your an idiot the interview topic is the times back then not his whole life
@@drew7155 Yet another worthless bigot attempting to obfuscate and mislead. A confident black man tells his story and it's just too much for your uppity, pasty ass to hear. The only thing you made clear in your comment is that you're the one with the chip on their shoulder. Be a better person, you pathetic prick.
We should segregate entirely. Let whites police and regulate themselves, and let blacks police and regulate themselves. Its 2021, and any attempt to get along apparently has failed. I don't hate blacks, I'm just done pretending we should be in the same society.
Bloody hell. This was incredibly moving. I am grateful to have watched this. The way he was able to describe his experience in a way that can make me, a very privileged person, feel like I was fucking there. What an amazing speaker, David Hoffman thank you!
I just wanna say thank you for thus interview and me listening to him just brought up so many memories of what my grandmother use to tell me about how she grew up and it still saddens me because we are still going thru this I'm 2022 this interview is astonishing I'm from California my grandmother grew up in Virginia and the things she would say still breaks my heart today R.I.P to this wonderful man 🙏🏽and thank you