Cspan. Org sla cspan. Org history. Each week American History tvs real america brings you archival films that provides context for todays Public Affairs issues. Next, the time has gone. A 1977 u. S. Agency film documenting the progress of africanamericans by profiling several newly elected black public officials. Narrated by james earl jones, the film includes interviews with edward brook of massachusetts, pennsylvania secretary of state, delores tucker, john lewis and representative barbara john car, the 1976 Democratic Convention keynote speaker. The 30minute film was originally created for overseas audiences and was recently restored by the national archives. Participation in a new cutting edge of the Civil Rights Movement. And what black hip is trying to do toads is to get black americans who is 10 of the total electorate as zel rouse and committed and active and as sophisticated in politics as they were during the protest movement in the 1960s. We also serve notice here and now that if we have anything to do with it, the days of taking black and poor votes for granted is over. Let it be understood that we syw that not in a spirit of self arrogant but as a natural consequence of our firm belief that the legislative and executive branches of government must be more accountable to the more neglected of our citizens than they have been in the past. I believe that politics is the best available nonviolent means of changing how we live. I just felt that there was some need to correct some of the problems, to solve some of these problems and i thought that the best way to do it was through the political system. By being a part of the Justice System as a judge, i feel that i am making an impact on the social economic a and political life of my community. The registration, the coating and participation of blacks in the democratic process is bringing about a new sense of hope and not just a new sense of hope and a new sense of optimism, but also bringing about a sense of economic parity, where black men and women are being elected. We see people getting decent housing, people Getting Better jobs, streets being paved, roads being paved. Some of the things that black people have designed for many years are being ushered in because of the involvement of the blacks in the political process. Except for a preef period following the civil war, black americans participation in the american political process was minim minimal. With limited political power, the needs and desire often went unmet. But times changed and a new breed of leaders have emerged drawing forth the strength, the courage and the determination to make the political process also a work to the advantage of black people. I think it is fair to say that where black americans are today in terms of using politics and political participation as the new cutting edge of the Civil Rights Movement really takes its begin in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. You recall at that time, that was a time of protests, of seeking to redress certain grievances, trying to get laws changed, laug have to do with patterns of segregation, employment and education in almost every walk of life. And thats where we know the names of those great civil rights leaders, dr. Martin luther king, john lewis and members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and many others. And they led marches, some suffered and some died. But progress came out f that. Congress passed a public accommodations law which said it was unlawful to deny a black american or anyone the opportunity to take part in a public accommodation in a restaurant. One of the more Significant Developments was the passage of the Voting Rights act of 1965. The Voting Rights act finally long overdue said this government put itself on the side of assuring that every citizen had the opportunity to participate in an unfettered way in the political process of this country. There are 18 black elected officials in the United States congress. The highest ranking is republican senator edward brook. Senator brook sits on many important committees, including the powerful appropriations committee. Recommend the committee overturn and make it available. Do you so move. I so move. I certain ly didnt believe would start off my political career. As i said, i ran unsuccessfully for a state legislative position. I ran the second time and was defeated. Boat were very close elections. And then eight years later i ran for secretary of state in massachusetts and again i was defeated. So i was defeated three times before i won an election. And after that i ran for attorney general and won that election and served two terms as attorney general. And when some retired, i then had the trongest Political Organization in the state. I had gained some Public Awareness afor my work and i jut decided i would run for the United States senate. I felt that that was a place that i could do the most good. And being the only black in the senate, my constituency not only includes massachusetts but includes blacks all over this country who look to me for leadership in the United States senate. I would be for it if it applied to low and moderate income people. But now does this apply to all renters, no matter what they pay for rent . Suppose youre paying based on some people. Some people pay as much as 5,000 a month and more for rent. Now would that person be entitled to a tax relief under those circumstances and under this particular piece of legislation . The argument that senator buckley makes which is important, over half of the people who rent earn 5,000 a year or less. Whereas only 13 of those who earn over 25,000 a year rent. To assist the senator in conducting the affairs of his office, his legislative staff briefs him regularly on a wide variety of issues. Dont get the tax treatment. Whereas those who own their own houses significantly, senator brook, a black, was elected in a state 98 white indicating that many whites who once sought to deny blacks could not vote for a black. Its the evolution. It couldnt have lasted as it has forever. Its been coming for a long period of time, just as the end of apartheid and minority rule in Southern Africa is coming to an end because the time has come. It was accepted. It was accepted by africans. Education, intelligence, the drive to achieve his equality. Its something that you cant control. You cant suppress forever. In the state of alabama urg during the early 60s and mid 60s, very few were registered to vote. In the heart of the black belt in selma, small town in alabama that had only about 2. 1 of the black people of voting age registered in 1965. Today in selma more than 70 of the blacks of voting age are registered to vote and five members of a city counsel happen to be black. In green county, alabama, during the early 60s, very few blacks were registered but today the county is controlled by black, the highest elected official of the county, a young man, Thomas Gilmore who is the chair the time was a long time coming. In fact you often wondered if it would ever come to greene county, alabama. When it did come it was startling in its completeness. In 1968 greene countys population was 75 black. Its government so 0 white. By the 1960s, the government was almost 100 black. Sheriff thomas gill more and William Mckinley branch who led the marches to get the vote are now the leading county officials. The sheriff before me tried to operate by putting people in fear of them. When a sheriff came into your community, you had a problem. And somebody was going to jail. Now, thats the only way that i remember the sheriff growing up is that he put people in jail. Ten years ago when we used to march down the street here, plenty days i leave home i wouldnt look to get back alive. Walking down the street you can feel that atmosphere of hostility existing. I got beat up. And at the time i got beat up i was recognized as a leader in my community. And if one would do that to me, think what the Police Officers would have done to people on isolated roads and people in these various communities away from town. As soon as we gain voting, we went to our white constituents and asked them if they would go along with a 50 50 slate of candidates for office. Of course they refused to do that and we had no other choice but to run and elect a complete black slate. Whites felt that i would do to them what the white sheriffs and Police Officers had been doing to blacks. If whites fought hard against the blacks, none fought harder than ralph banks, a member of the richest and most powerful families. I felt the word had just been turned upside down. And then i real losed thized wh liked it or not, it was here. I had to accept it if i wanted to stay here and live here if the rest of my life. I didnt plan to leave. I needed a county attorney. Our present county attorney, the honorable ralph banks was on the other side of the street. What i mean by that, he fought hard against me and of course i went to him and asked him, i said, mr. Banks, what about being our county attorney. He said to me, he said you mean to tell me where ive been fighting you, you know i fought you toe to toe. I said in a county or state or country people who have the politic political, once the election has been decided, they bury the hatchet and come together for the common good. And that pricked ralph to his heart and he consented to come over and be our county attorney. Established a friendship, a trust thats grown over the years. The law says that the sheriff is to protect peoples lives and their property and guest east lives and property. It seemed to me that the sheriff, given the responsibility that he had, ought to be able to help People Better their lot in general. Youre not going to be able to get any aid and assistance from anybody . Well i told them from the beginning that i would not be able to pay the bill, its impossible. And they told me that they would help me file an ssi and see if i could get any aid from that. So that he can get on medicaid. In about two more weeks, if the surgery heals up on his back, theyll place him in a nursing home. Okay. Okay. Well, if i can help you at all, you can call me at home or drive over to the house. Okay. Ill do what i can, hear . And well do what we can for you all right. What kind do you call that in. I call it the army its cotton leaves and stuff . Cotton. But it looks like these things are everything. You got a bundle of them. You need to go up and get some of those folk from the Extension Service here to show you how to treat these guys or how to get rid of them. You dont need that on your farm. And if you have some information, if you have access to an Extension Service, you know, you can take the worms, the problem that mr. Chambers has and take it to the Extension Service in utah and get those people out here to do something about his problem. That aint got nothing to do with law enforcement. But, you know, to me, it does. Hear ye. This court is open. There will be no smoking or talking or disturbances tolerated in the courtroom. You and i as you know have separate functions. You decide the disputed facts and the court provides the instructions of law. It is your sworn duty to accept these instructions and to apply the law as it is given to you. You are not permitted to change the law or to apply your own conception of what you think the law should be. As a cleveland, Ohio Municipal Court judge, sara harper presides over civil and misdemeanor cases although comparatively few in number, blacks serve as judges on every level from the small town justice of the peace to the nations highest judicial body, the Supreme Court of the United States. Will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth as you shall answer to god . Yes. I practiced law for 14 years on my own after going to law school where i was the only black female in the school, the first one in the history of the school and the only girl in my class. After that i always wanted to be independent and not work for anyone. So i decide i would have my own office, practiced law on my own for 14 years. When in our community a black leader was elected, we had been childhood friends, he asked me to come and work for him. When i thought of my deep love for the law and my enjoyment and the pleasure i get out of practicing the law, i had to think before i decided that i really wanted to be a judge. But i feel that in our country with 220,000 judges in the United States, less than 400 black, less than 30 are women, black women, then i had a responsibility and a duty to not only accept the appointment but also to do the very best job that i could possibly do. This first gentleman is charged with assault on his wife, a family situation. Apparently this is not the first fight. They have had previous arguments. This is alcohol involved but the wife states she does not know why they actually started fighting. What about his record . This gentleman does. Yes, primarily some stemming from this family situation. How many children in the family . There are three children, all very young. Based on his record lets give him the maximum sentence allowed under the law. Well suspend the sentence because he has no money to pay the fine any way. And it would be the children would suffer and the family would suffer for the money that he would pay to court. And well make a consider of his probation that well have to seek treatment in his Neighborhood Community alcoholic treatment center. As part of this desire to bring to the administration of justice what some might call the black perspective or a different perspective, the black judges and minority judges in the country have organized. We now have a Judicial Council made up of the majority of minority black judges in the country with three purposes in mind, to eradicate race uchl and sexism in the administration of justice, to increase our number because we have few in number in the Justice System and also to improve the competency and efficiency of all judges by our relationship with them in seminars and educational conferences. Marriage is as old as the family of man. Its the preserver of love, foundation of the home and the bulwark of society. Now patricia, will you have james to be your wedded husband . Cherish him in his development as well as you do your own and seek love, kindness, understanding, to achieve with him the life that you have positioned. Now james e. Fuller and patricia ratford, Robert Mitchell jr. And angela khamal have witnessed the same before god and this company, i do by virtue of the Authority Given to me by law pronounce you husband and wife. I think of myself as a human female black person who happens to be judge, wife, mother, all of these thing in a totality. Not interrelated, but i never think of them asing with separate or this is just me. 1966 brought a crucial test. Could a black become mayor in a major u. S. City . After Richard Hatcher won in gary, indiana, cleveland, detroit, newark, los angeles and 130 other cities elected black mayors, including atlantas maynard jackson. Urge or citizens to join with me to paying tribute to this extraordinary young man. [ applause ] congratulations. Give him a hand. What do you say. What do you say. Now you dont have to be crazy to be mayor, but it helps. And you just, you know, its kind of almost like a form of mass kichl when you run for reelection as mayor. There are different kinds of jobs in politics. The best in the country is to be in the u. S. Senate, in my opinion. The worst job in the politics in terms of how much you really have to sacrifice of yourself, your time, your family and so forth is the position of mayor. Youre up front, on the front line, the firing line. It never stops. Youre on target 24 hours a day, seven day as week. And on the other hand the compensation is if youre in a strong mayor form of City Government, as we are here in atlanta, you can really see changes begin to take place because you can make your imprint. You can see your policies begin to take shape. One of the this thing we found out was the existing facility was running at phenomenal volume. 104,000 cars a day on a fourlane highway that doesnt near meet interstate or highway standards. Part of our challenge was to not only determine how to rebuild the freeway but how to maintain 104,000 cars a day. One of the pry consideration in our studies was to determine how we can rebuild it and maintain the traffic. That led to the design which is prominent now as to connect buford highway to spring west pea peachtree street using the existing freeway. An elected official is, especially a mayor, is a deliverer of the goods. Because in a City Government you are engaged far more in the delivery of basic services than one would be in a legislative position. On the other hand from a black political perspective, i kind of shy away from being viewed strictly as a deliverer because the expectation level of black people in this country is so high when an elected official who is black takes office. That its impossible to satisfy what black people expect and pant within the time frame that one has to serve, a term of four years or even two terms of eight years. However, in my opinion, there is a growing sophistication by black people, they understand this, we understand that we cant change everything overnight. The elected officials job is to be accountable, to be dedicated, to be honest and to try to change the inequities overnight. By the time the 1976 conventions came to nominate the president , black political strength has grown to a force to be reckoned with in both parties. It was strongly evident in the Democratic Party where blacks came strongly committed to the front running candidate, jimmy carter. I think the uncommitted strategy amongst blacks has just not worked. Thats the reason i abandoned it. I think its much more important to commit early, even if you dont all commit to the same person. And then whoever emerges, theres somebody very close to them and you can all rally together to establish an agenda that benefits everybody i think political power means being in there, investing in candidates, having the right people in staff positions and having some real impact on the policy decisions and the implementation of strategies. The session we had this morning, he was open and honest, above board. And he said that he would go further than we expected him to do. And i think he did. He reached out and said we want you. And thats different. He particularly intends to provide the kind of necessary support, financial, moral and otherwise to make certain that we get black votes registered so they can express their concern and with a vote thats the only way we can do it in america. Though they had attended conventions before, blacks were more accustomed to the roles in the background. But in 1797 they stepped forward to play significant roles in one of our countrys most important political processes. There is Something Different about tonight. There is Something Special about tonight. Kbha is differe what is different, what is special, i Barbara Jordan am a keynote speaker. [ cheers applause ] a lot of years passed since 1832 and during that time it would have been most unusual for any National Political party to ask a Barbara Jordan to deliver a keynote address. But tonight here i am. And i feel, i feel that notwithstanding the past the my presence here is one additional bit of evidence that the American Dream need not forever be deferred. And i ask you that as you listen to these words of abraham lincoln, relate them to the concept of a national community. In which every last one of us participat participates as i would not be a sla slave, so i would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this to the extent of the difference is no democracy. Thank you. [ applause ] blacks spoke out and america heard. Gh