Brooklyn Core Oral History

A digital project from Pratt's School of Information

This archive presents the oral history of the Brooklyn chapter of CORE through recordings with key members recounting the major campaigns from 1960-1966.

Sonny Carson

34_S_Carson.JPG

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.

Creator

Kim, Claire Jean

Source

Cassette 34

Publisher

Brooklyn Public Library

Date

1995-11-12

Contributor

Carson, Sonny

Rights

The material on this website is protected by copyright and/or related rights. All audio and photographic material is reproduced from the Brooklyn Public Library Civil Rights in Brooklyn Oral History Collection, and other collections. While access to many items in these collections is unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Items may be used in any way that is permitted by the copyright and other rights related legislation that applies to the specific use. The user assumes all responsibility for rights related questions.

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

Citation

Kim, Claire Jean, “Sonny Carson,” Brooklyn Core Oral History, accessed June 8, 2023, http://brklyncore.prattsi.org/items/show/146.