With the force of 1968 — Martin Luther King Jr. ’sandRobert F. Kennedy’sassassinations , a riotousDemocratic National Convention , countlesscivil rightsprotests , and so on — still very fresh in the public cognizance , James Baldwin appeared onThe Dick Cavett Showon May 16 , 1969 , and offer his position on the land of wash relation in America .
Thesegmentbegins with Dick Cavett cite the optimistic folks who betoken to the uprise number of Black Americans in sports , politics , and amusement , and inquire his guest if this is a sign that thing are getting better . After explain to Cavett that the Black community isn’t — and , in fact , never has been — affirmative , Baldwin articulates that the “ progress ” is only progress as delineate by ashen people of privilege .
“ Insofar as the American public want to call back there has been progress , they overlook one very round-eyed affair : I do n’t want to be given anything by you . I just want you to allow for me alone so I can do it myself , ” he says . “ And it also overlooks another very authoritative thing : Perhaps I do n’t think that this republic is the top of human civilization . Perhaps I do n’t want to become like Ronald Reagan or like the president of General Motors . Perhaps I have another sense of life … Perhaps I do n’t want what you believe I want . ”
Cavett goes on to enquire Baldwin for his opinion on the shape of the civil rights movement “ who scare us the most”—leaders like H. Rap Brown and Stokely Carmichael — because they study violence a necessary component of overturningsystemicinjustice . Baldwin respond that such political theory is only an way out when it ’s coming from dark citizenry .
“ [ When ] any white gentleman’s gentleman in the world read ‘ Give me familiarity , or give me decease , ’ the entire white humanity applauds . When a pitch-dark piece read exactly the same thing , word for word , he is judged a criminal and treated like one … ” Baldwin explains .
Throughout the interview , Baldwin illustrates each point with a lyrical clearness that referee will recognize from books likeGiovanni ’s RoomandGo enjoin It on the Mountain , and it ’s well deserving watching the full 17 - second clip below .
