Interview with Milton A. Galamison, June 17, 1964

Interview Summary

Reverend Milton Galamison (1923-1988) was a clergyman and civil rights leader in New York City. Born in Philadelphia, Galamison later received his bachelors from Lincoln University in Montana and his masters in Theology from Princeton University. At the age of 25, Galamison became pastor of the Siloam Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, New York from 1948 until his death in 1988. In 1955, Galamison was elected chair of the NAACP Schools Workshop. Later, after serving one term as President of the Brooklyn chapter of the NAACP, Galamison resigned in order to devote more time to addressing school integration. He founded the Parent's Workshop for Equality in New York City Schools and the Citywide Coalition for Community Control. In his work to integrate schools within the New York City system, Galamison organized boycotts of New York City Schools. In 1968, Galamison was appointed to the New York City Schools Board of Education. In this interview, Reverend Milton Galamison discusses the issues of integration and segregation of the New York City school system at length. Galamison describes his standards for integration and discusses what integration means to the larger community of African Americans. Galamison discusses the current state of the New York City school system, its progress toward desegregation, and his own participation working toward desegregation of these schools. In addition, Galamison discusses African American culture and describes what he calls an "affinity" toward African cultures.

Interview Keyword

Congress of Racial Equality Gunnar Myrdal Support White society Attitudes Who Speaks for the Negro? (Book)

Interview LC Subject

African American clergy African Americans--Civil rights African Americans--Education African Americans--Race identity African Americans--Relations with Africans Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)--Race relations Busing for school integration Civil rights demonstrations Civil rights movements--United States Clark, Kenneth Bancroft, 1914-2005 Educational equalization--United States Galamison, Milton A. (Milton Arthur), 1923-1988 Galamison, Milton A. (Milton Arthur), 1923-1988--Interviews King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968 Race relations School integration--New York (State) School integration--United States Segregation Segregation in education--United States

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.