Civil Rights in a Northern City: Philadelphia

In spring 2011, Temple University Libraries Special Collections began conducting interviews about both the desegregation of Girard College and the 1964 Columbia Avenue riots, as well as Philadelphia's civil rights movement more generally.  Interviews are ongoing and new materials, including audio and transcripts of each interview, will be added periodically.

Eugene Dawkins (December 16, 1944- ) grew up just outside the walls of Girard College and was not only witness, but an active participant in the protests to end educational segregation there in 1965. Mr. Dawkins also participated in the earlier NAACP led demonstrations at the construction site of the Strawberry Mansion Middle School in 1963. Mr. Dawkins speaks about his involvement in these protests and his relationship with Philadelphia NAACP President, Cecil B. Moore as well as Moore's influence over young men in North Philadelphia in the 1960's. He also recalls the police response and their treatment of the demonstrators at Girard College. This includes Dawkins description of his unique relationship with then deputy-police commissioner Frank Rizzo and his personal encounters with police including his numerous arrests for his participation during the seven month long protests and an incident in which he was the victim of police brutality.

Interview conducted on June 24, 2011 by Dr. Diane Turner, Curator, Charles L. Blockson Collection. 
View transcript for this interview

Bernyce Mills DeVaughn (January 10, 1948- ) grew up in Norfolk, Virginia before moving to Philadelphia in the 1960s.  Ms. Devon participated in the NAACP protests at [[Girard College|1143]] between 1965 and 1968 and shares her memories of the demonstrations and the police response.  Ms. Devon also details her experiences of racial segregation and discrimination in both the North and the South, as well as her recollections of Philadelphia chapter NAACP President [[Cecil B. Moore|1140]], the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Father Paul Washington, and other prominent civil rights leaders.

Interview conducted on June 22, 2011 by Dr. Diane Turner, Curator, Charles L. Blockson Collection. 
View transcript for this interview

Mel Dorn (January 5, 1945- ) grew up in North Philadelphia and participated in the NAACP protests at [[Girard College|1143]] between 1965 and 1968.  Mr. Dorn discusses his experiences at the protests and his memories of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Philadelphia chapter NAACP President [[Cecil B. Moore|1140]].  Mr. Dorn also details the racial discrimination he has faced and his recollections of the 1964 [[Columbia Avenue|1142]] riots.

Interview conducted on May 11, 2011 by Dr. Diane Turner, Curator, Charles L. Blockson Collection. 
View transcript for this interview

Richard "Sonny" Driver is the founder of Scoop magazine and reported on the NAACP protests at [[Girard College|1143]] between 1965 and 1968.  Mr. Driver reflects on race relations in North Philadelphia and shares his recollections of the protests, changes to the neighborhood, Philadelphia chapter NAACP President [[Cecil B. Moore|1140]], and then-deputy police commissioner Frank Rizzo.  Mr. Driver also discusses his memories of the Black Power movement and the 1964 [[Columbia Avenue|1142]] riots.   

Interview conducted on June 21, 2011 by Dr. Diane Turner, Curator, Charles L. Blockson Collection. 
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Karen Jordan (December 19, 1948- ) grew up in North Philadelphia near [[Girard College|1143]] and participated in the NAACP protests at the school between 1965 and 1968.  Ms. Jordan gives her recollections of the demonstrations and the police response, as well as her reflections on the role of women in the modern civil rights movement.  Ms. Jordan also shares her memories of Philadelphia chapter NAACP President [[Cecil B. Moore|1140]], the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other prominent civil rights leaders. 

Interview conducted on June 17, 2011 by Dr. Diane Turner, Curator, Charles L. Blockson Collection. 
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Dr. Kenneth A. Salaam (March 23, 1949- ), also known as "Freedom Smitty," was raised in North Philadelphia and was a member of the NAACP Youth Council under the leadership of [[Cecil B. Moore|1140]].  At sixteen, Dr. Salaam participated in the NAACP demonstrations at [[Girard College|1143]] and shares his recollections of the protests, particularly the interactions between demonstrators and police.  Dr. Salaam also discusses the 1964 [[Columbia Avenue|1142]] riots and changes to the Columbia Avenue neighborhood, as well as his memories of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Cecil B. Moore, Georgie Woods, and other prominent civil rights leaders.

Interview conducted on May 9, 2011 by Dr. Diane Turner, Curator, Charles L. Blockson Collection. 
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Richard Watson (March 24, 1946- ), a North Carolina transplant, spent his formative years in North Philadelphia just a few blocks south of Columbia Avenue. Mr. Watson recalls his experiences living in the city at a time when neighborhood gangs were rampant. He presents his unique perspective as a young, black artist who managed to live within the community without succumbing to such pressures, while maintaining a level of acceptance. Mr. Watson witnessed the looting of stores along Columbia Avenue in the summer of 1964 and was involved with numerous activist organizations supportive of the cause to end segregation at Girard College. Mr. Watson speaks about his impressions of Cecil B. Moore as a civil rights leader and organizer in a community of people who according to Watson, had no "political acumen." He also discusses his interactions with other prominent figures in the civil rights movement in Philadelphia including radio personality Georgie Woods and Reverend Paul Washington.

Interview conducted on October 10, 2011 by Dr. Diane Turner, Curator, Charles L. Blockson Collection. 
View transcript for this interview