my name is leslie leslie kavasch i m here to introduce our guest, cyde ford, a former assistant engineer with ibm. he graduated from the university of western states in portland as a doctor of chiropractic and the era pissed. he s also the award-winning author of 12 works of fiction and nonfiction. clyde is the recipient of the richard ray award, in african-american literature. he has been a guest on the oprah show, in pr, radio and tv programs across the nation. clyde is here to speak about his latest book, think black: a memoir of sacrifice, which was just released, shortlisted for the book prize in social justice. please join me in welcoming to the kendall planetarium at the oregon museum of science and industry, cyde ford. [applause] thank you all for being here, i can t tell you how special it is to be here. i was just reliving my first experience over 40 years ago up at washington park and i was a volunteer. i was working with a group, i had come from ibm to go to c
forum on genesis and persistence in advocacy for peace. faith organizations. my name is john roth. i am editor of the mennonite orderly review and professor of history at goshen college in northern indiana. i am delighted to serve as moderator of this conversation. anyone who has taken a tour of the museum here or seen footage of the flag waving parades of enthusiastic young conscripts as they departed for military training camp in the summer of 1917 might have the impression that support for the war and the united states entry into the conflict was universal. yet those of us gathered here for this conference are keenly aware that there were many voices of caution, of dissent, of objection, and even open resistance to the war fever that seemed to grip the nation in the spring and summer of 1917. as we will hear in the days that followed, that dissent originated from many different sources and took many expressions. but one of the lead edges of resistance to the war came from
i am thrilled to see so many people eager to join in dialogue about where we as a nation find ourselves in this drive towards freedom. seems particularly fitting that we would have this conversation today, the day after our nation caused its daily business to pay tribute to reverend martin luther king jr. s life and his legacy and it seems fitting that we would have this conversation the day after our nation s first black president was sworn in for his second term. now i know much of the nation has already moved on and president obama s soaring rhetoric about the promise of america life, liberty, justice and equality for all has already been forgotten by many and i know that many, many people in america will not think of dr. king again until his holiday rolls around again next year. but i would like for us to pause tonight and think more deeply about the meaning of dr. king s life and his legacy and what it has to teach us about our nations president. i think particularly imp
and end of economic injustice, starts right now. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. exactly one year before dr. king was assassinated in memphis, he gave one of his most powerful and yet overlooked speeches from the pulpit of riverside church. he called into question this country s involvement in vietnam and the economic disparity tearing up america. over the next two nights, mlk, a call to conscience, we look at a speech that would result in controversy and eventual betrayal. i come to this magnificent house of worship tonight because my conscience leaves me no other choice. a time comes when silence is betrayal. and that time has come for us in relation to vietnam. martin luther king knew when he gave that speech that it would set off a firestorm. it s a speech that challenges us, and in that sense, it s most important that we are uncomfortable with that speech tells us something. why are you speaking about the war,
and end of economic injustice, starts right now. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. exactly one year before dr. king was assassinated in memphis, he gave one of his most powerful and yet overlooked speeches from the pulpit of riverside church. he called into question this country s involvement in vietnam and the economic disparity tearing up america. over the next two nights, mlk, a call to conscience, we look at a speech that would result in controversy and eventual betrayal. i come to this magnificent house of worship tonight because my conscience leaves me no other choice. a time comes when silence is betrayal. and that time has come for us in relation to vietnam. martin luther king knew when he gave that speech that it would set off a firestorm. it s a speech that challenges us, and in that sense, it s most important that we are uncomfortable with that speech tells us something. why are you speaking about the war,