Created by
National Museum of African American History and Culture, American, founded 2003
Interview of
Young, Andrew Jackson, American, born 1932
Interviewed by
Ellis, Rex M., American
Subject of
Poor People's Campaign, American, 1967 - 1968
Young, Jean Childs, American, 1933 - 1994
Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
King, Coretta Scott, American, 1927 - 2006
Howard University, American, founded 1867
Southern Christian Leadership Conference, American, founded 1957
Date
July 18, 2017
Medium
digital
Dimensions
Duration: 1 hr., 54 min., 29 sec.
File size: 19.92 GB
Description
An oral history consisting of a single digital video recording (2018.78.1.1). It was collected as part of the Poor People’s Campaign Interviews.
In this interview statesman and civil rights icon, Andrew Young, discusses how he came to be involved in the struggle for civil rights; his work with Dr. Martin Luther King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and his career as a politician. The interview begins with a discussion of Rev. Young’s upbringing and family life in New Orleans, LA. Reflecting on his early life, Young relates the lessons he learned from his father, along with his experience in a racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse community, to why he was well-suited to participate in the Movement. Young talks about his time at Howard University and recounts several life experiences that were important to his maturation and led him to enter the ministry. Young also discusses the first time he met Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, and reflects on the influence of his wife, Jean Childs Young, on his life and career.
Beginning with when he and his wife heard about the Nashville sit-ins while living in New York City, Young turns to a discussion of the Civil Rights Movement and his work with the SCLC. In particular, Young discusses the shift in 1966-1967 toward the struggles of urban populations in the North and explains that the growing focus on economic issues gave birth to the Poor People’s Campaign of 1968. Young also discusses the transition from SCLC and working in the movement to becoming a politician and how he carried forward the struggle of the Poor People’s Campaign into the political arena as a congressman and mayor.
Place collected
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
Marion, Perry County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Poor People’s Campaign Oral Histories
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Movement
Civil Rights Movement
African American - Latinx Solidarity
Poor People's Campaign
Type
video recordings
oral histories
digital media - born digital
Topic
Activism
Civil rights
Humanitarianism
Justice
Labor
Politics
Poverty
Race relations
U.S. History, 1961-1969
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2018.78.1.1
Restrictions & Rights
© Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd56612ddaa-772b-466b-b639-d417229f643e

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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