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:
Interview with Walter "Buddy" Williams
Speaker(s): Walter "Buddy" Williams, John Coleman (interviewer)
Description: Buddy Williams, former Negro League pitcher, is a longtime member of Good Hope Union United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, Md. He grew up working on the North Carolina farm his father inherited from his grandfather, a freed slave. He played in the racially segregated Negro Leagues from 1937 to 1941, mostly for the Newark (N.J.) Eagles, but also for the Birmingham (Ala.) Black Barons and Atlanta Black Crackers. With an unyielding love for God, family and church, Buddy Williams's faith story is filled with nuggets of wisdom and life lessons that are more relevant today than they were years ago. Williams, age 89 at the time of this recording, is interviewed by John Coleman. This is the original interview from which audio was pulled for UMC.org profiles. The first 4-1/2 minutes was prior to the formal interview.
Length: 56:04
Recording Date: 12/29/2003
Recorded at: NPR Studio, Washington, DC