Sonny Carson
Subject
Congress of Racial Equality. Brooklyn Chapter
Civil rights movements—New York (State)—New York
Race relations—New York (State)—New York
Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)—History
Description
Sonny Carson was drawn to the chapter’s militant and dramatic tactics during the Downstate protest. Carson became a regular at meetings in 1964-1965 and recruited new members who were young, black, radical and influenced by black nationalism. He was elected chairman of the chapter in 1966 infusing Brooklyn CORE with new vitality. Under Carson there was a shift away from interracial membership, action-oriented culture and protest strategies. Instead the chapter began to focus on community organizing in Brooklyn’s black communities and embraced ideas and organizational methods of the Black Power Movement.
In this recording, Carson recounts his childhood in Bed-Stuy, CORE at Downstate, cultures within the NYC civil rights movement, the exit of white members from the chapter, and tensions between black power ideology and non-violence in the chapter.
In this recording, Carson recounts his childhood in Bed-Stuy, CORE at Downstate, cultures within the NYC civil rights movement, the exit of white members from the chapter, and tensions between black power ideology and non-violence in the chapter.
Creator
Kim, Claire Jean
Source
Cassette 34
Publisher
Brooklyn Public Library
Date
1995-11-12
Contributor
Carson, Sonny
Rights
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Format
audio/MPA
Side A 45 min, Side B 8 min
Language
en-US
Type
Sound
Identifier
34_S_Carson
Coverage
Brooklyn (borough)
1936-1995
Collection
Citation
Kim, Claire Jean, “Sonny Carson,” Brooklyn Core Oral History, accessed June 8, 2023, http://brklyncore.prattsi.org/items/show/146.