Interview with Alan Anderson, June 15, 2015

Interview Summary

Dr. Alan Anderson discusses his involvement in the civil rights movement, including his arrest in Albany, Georgia as part of a civil rights demonstration headed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He begins by discussing his first realization of racial issues as a child growing up in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He talks about his college experiences, including learning about discrimination within Greek organizations. He talks about how his involvement in the issue of public schools led to his involvement in the civil rights movement.

Anderson discusses the differences between de facto and de jure segregation, and the policies that maintain segregation. He talks about how he became involved in a civil rights demonstration in Albany, Georgia in response to a call Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sent to ministers, clergy, and others from the northern states. He talks about fasting while in jail, and being asked by King to remain in jail a few extra days.

Anderson talks about a school boycott that was organized in Chicago in protest of inequality in the school system. He talks about the power of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley in opposition to the civil rights movement. Anderson wrote a book on the movement in Chicago and gives a brief analysis of the book's argument here. Anderson talks about being the main contact point for Martin Luther King, Jr. when he went to Chicago, and talks about the speeches King gave in fourteen Chicago neighborhoods.

Anderson talks about current social issues and movements, including the Black Lives Matter movement. He says that movements of the past had a clear issue to focus on, but today's problems are a larger systemic issue which makes them more difficult to solve. Anderson talks about his career after leaving the University of Chicago, and mentions ways in which his involvement in the civil rights movement has affected his career.

Interview Keyword

Albany, Georgia arrest Black Lives Matter boycott Chicago de facto segregation de jure segregation discrimination Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fasting Greek organizations Ponca City, Oklahoma University of Chicago

Interview LC Subject

Civil rights movements--United States Race discrimination Segregation

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Interview Usage

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