Civil Rights and Black American History

This website contains at least 73 audio programs that relate directly to the American Civil Rights movement and 34 that relate to Black American History. Mainline churches have often been intentional in working in these fields, and many of their audio programs reflect this work.

These subjects were also a focus of the “Night Call” radio program, which ran from 1965-1969. The nightly show was created by The United Methodist Church, and produced in conjunction with the National Council of Churches, and the Urban League, along with other faith partners.

One of the programs in these areas is selected randomly on the right side of this page. On this site, you’ll find dozens of key figures represented, giving speeches or appearing on a radio program.

To find all the programs, go to our Audio Programs page and use the search system drop-downs:

Subject: look for Civil Rights, African-American, or any other subject you wish.

Selected Speakers: find speakers like Ralph Abernathy, Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichael, Stephen Carter, Shirley Chisholm, Kenneth Clark, Eldridge Cleaver, John Conyers, Bill Cosby, Ruby Dee, Jocelyn Elders, Dick Gregory, Vincent Harding, Reginald Hawkins, Dorothy Height, Roy Innis, Jesse Jackson, A. D. King, James Lawson, Chester Lewis, Joseph Lowery, Ralph McGill, Frank Robinson, Frankie Robinson, Nina Simone, Cecil Williiams, and Andrew Young.

Randomly-chosen Civil Rights and Black American History Program:

Description: Dr. Michael Halberstam was a cardiologist and author in Washington, D.C. Halberstam had just written a New York Times Magazine article titled: "Are You Guilty of Murdering Martin Luther King?" He rejects the concept of "historical guilt" in which people are guilty of the sins of their ancestors. He says people are responsible for their own actions and inactions. Despite widespread prejudice, Halberstam believes a majority of White Americans are in favor of equal treatment for Black Americans. Subjects include White oppression of Black Americans, the limited value of guilt, the significance of acting out of a sense of justice and commitment, and the difference between shame and guilt. Halberstam was murdered during a robbery in his home in 1980. While driving himself to the hospital with bullet wounds, he knocked down the robber (Bernard C. Welch, Jr.) with his car. Halberstam's brother was Pulitzer-Prize winning author David Halberstam.

Length: 58:58
Recording Date: June 13, 1968
Recorded at: WRVR Studio, New York City