Bob Law
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
Radio personality and community activist Bob Law was born and raised in Bed-Stuy. He joined CORE in 1962 when he was a student at Pratt University. He and his friends were impressed with CORE’s innovative tactics during their housing integration campaign. Law was a critical player in CORE’s major campaigns including Clean Sweep, Ebinger’s, and Downstate. In this recording, Law talks about growing up in Bed-Stuy, race and community in 1950s Brooklyn projects, Operation Clean Sweep, and protesting racial discrimination at White Castle and at the Board of Education. He also talks in depth about the outcome of Downstate Medical Center, tensions between black power and non violence within the group, and Malcolm X’s participation in CORE’s work.
Purnell, Brian
Cassette 42
Brooklyn Public Library
2005-03-29
Law, Bob
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.
audio/MPA
Side A 44 min, Side B 19 min
en-US
Sound
42_B_Law
Brooklyn (borough)
1940-2005
Milton Galamison
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
Rev. Milton A. Galamison was an early supporter of Brooklyn CORE. He is well known as a Brooklyn pastor and activist who led Siloam Presbyterian Church for four decades and acted as the chairman of the NAACP from 1956-1959. He often collaborated with CORE, participating in negotiations with companies like Ebinger’s and city government. He allowed CORE members to use Siloam as a meeting space and speak at his congregation. Galamison often encouraged his congregation to support CORE boycotts and joined their direct actions. He played a major role in campaigns against the Board of Education, partnering with CORE as the president of the Parents Workshop, a city wide group of parents formed to address segregation in public schools. He was leader in the Minister’s Council which co-organized demonstrations at Downstate.
This clip is from his interview with Clarence Taylor in the late 1980s. In it Rev. Galamison discusses the goals of demonstrations at Downstate Medical Center and role of the Minister’s Council in that action.
Taylor, Clarence
Cassette 23
Brooklyn Public Library
1987-10-21
Galamison, Milton
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.
audio/MPA
Side A 41 min, Side B 5 min
en-US
Sound
23_M_Galamison
Brooklyn (borough)
1948-1987
Oliver and Marjorie Leeds
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
In the first recording clip, Oliver Leeds recalls how he and his wife Marjorie were introduced to Brooklyn CORE in the summer of 1960 when she was recruited by National CORE to lead sympathy strikes in local Woolworth’s in support of the lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, NC. In 1960, National CORE experienced a revival and created new CORE chapters by capitalizing on a nationwide wave of sympathy strikes against F.W. Woolworth and other five & dime chains whose restaurants racially segregated African Americans. The Woolworth protests played an important role in recruiting a handful of locals who eventually became members of Brooklyn CORE. Marjorie Leeds, a former communist, and Robert Palmer, a reform-minded community activist, led an interracial group of reform-minded activists with varying religious and political affiliations.
In the second recording clip, Oliver Leeds discusses how the the housing discrimination case at Lefrak Organization caused the downfall of Robert Palmer. "In 1961, Brooklyn CORE took a new approach to the housing issue. They decided to investigate a large real estate firm for racial discrimination. Lefrak Organization was the perfect target, as it was the largest housing developer on Long Island, Queens and Brooklyn. During negotiations between Brooklyn CORE and Lefrak, CORE members began to dislike the tactics of Robert Palmer. Oliver Leeds a member at the time describes Palmer as “an NAACP type. He didn’t mind negotiating, but he certainly looked at direct action with an jaundiced eye.” Palmer refused to participate in direct action such as sit-ins and picketing. After the third unsuccessful attempt of negotiations with Lefrak, Palmer was removed as chairman. In January of 1962, Oliver Leeds was appointed chairman of Brooklyn CORE. His leadership gained success with Lefrak. CORE became a more organized and well developed organization because of Leeds.
Taylor, Clarence
Cassette 25
Brooklyn Public Library
1988-08-11
Leeds, Oliver
Leeds, Marjorie
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.
audio/MPA
Side A 45 min, Side B 45 min
en-US
Sound
25_O_Leeds_M_Leeds
Brooklyn (borough)
1920-1988