Negroes With Guns: Robert F. Williams on Self-Defense

Interview with Robert F. Williams (Feb. 26, 1925-Oct. 15, 1996), president of the Union County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Monroe, N. C., 1959.

Williams, a former Marine, was the first modern African American leader to both call for and practice armed self-defense against white racist attacks, intimidation and threats. His articulation of this right anticipated by five years the more famous call made by his friend Malcolm X after the latter broke with Elijah Muhammad's conservative Nation of Islam (NOI) on March 8, 1964.

"Negroes With Guns" (New York: Marzani and Munsell, 1962; reprinted Detroit: Wayne State UP, 1998), a small book based on interviews with Williams; "The Crusader," a militant newsletter edited by Williams at Monroe and, after he was forced into exile in 1961, Cuba and the People's Republic of China; and Williams's "Radio Free Dixie" radio broadcast from revolutionary Cuba all exerted a powerful challenge to the tactic and philosophy of nonviolent direct resistance that dominated the civil-rights movement.

Williams served as one of the chief models for the self-defense posture of the Lowndes County Freedom Organization (LFCO) of Alabama, better known as the original Black Panther party, which was formed in early 1965 with the assistance of members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), including Stokely Carmichael (later Kwame Ture), to mobilize independent black political power against the exclusion, marginalization and exploitation by the racist local Democratic party.

The LCFO, in turn, inspired the formation of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPP), formed in October 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby G. Seale at Oakland, Calif., which borrowed from Williams's example and Malcolm X's rhetoric on self-defense.

The interview with Williams is excerpted from "Integration: Report I," directed by Madeline Anderson (Andover Productions, 1960), which profiled the modern civil-rights movement from 1957-60, including sit-ins, marches, boycotts and rallies at Montgomery, Ala., Brooklyn, N. Y., and Washington, D. C.

The woman sitting next to Williams in his wife, Mabel, and the bespectacled man is veteran civil-rights attorney Conrad J. Lynn, Williams's lawyer. The narrator is playwright and author Loften Mitchell.

One of the singers is Maya Angelou, then a Calypso singer and dancer, who would later become an accomplished poet, an award-winning writer, journalist, activist, actor, director and a teacher.

(Video courtesy Prelinger Collection)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Malcolm X
• Stokely Carmichael
• Kwame Ture
• SNCC
• Black Panther Party
• NAACP
• Nation of Islam
• Elijah Muhammad
• The Crusader
• Radio Free Dixie
• Huey P. Newton
• Bobby G. Seale
• Madeline Anderson
• Robert F. Williams
• Negroes With Guns

[dal4018]

Spike tried to remain faithful to the book and be accurate to the best of his directing ability.

[pauldarwinlee]

With all due respect, it appears that there's much that you don't know about Malcolm X's history or his ghost-written autobiography. I don't know what you base your claim about Spike Lee on. However, since I was one of his historical consultants, I have nothing more to add, out of respect for him.

If you have something else to say (I don't), it would be best to write to me directly, as I'd like to reserve this space for comments about the Rob Williams video.

Paul

[pauldarwinlee]

If you read my replies to your questions carefully, you'll find your answer.

I have the honor to remain

Brother-Lee yours,

Paul

[dal4018]

Paul what black female director in your opinion could bring this man's life story to the screen??????????

[pauldarwinlee]

Euzhan Palcy, the director of "Sugar Cane Alley," which some people, including myself, consider the best "black"-directed movie ever made. She also directed "Dry White Season." She was the person that I hoped and prayed would direct "Malcolm X" back in 1991.

I have the honor to remain

Brother-Lee yours,

Paul

[pauldarwinlee]

However, it a drama were to be made, I think a "black" woman would do better than any brother that I know because, as in the case of Malcolm X, we tend to be drawn to certain aspects while ignoring others. A talented sister would "get" him more. That's my two cents.

Bro. Paul

[superhentendo]

and ofays always say get over slavery,its deeper than slavery

[dal4018]

@ferrozm You want to know about this man read a book called "RADIO FREE DIXIE" by Timothy Tyson!!!!!!

[ferrozm]

This guy is awesome! I wish I would've learned more about him in history class.

[dal4018]

@True2TheBlueYoViGang THANK YOU SIR

[dal4018]

@True2TheBlueYoViGang Go to Google should be there

[dal4018]

@unserdeutschland Only because the whites didn't want to see blacks with guns its not racist when they have them

[dal4018]

Hey Blue the man I speak of is Julio Ceasar Chavez he started a union for migrant farm workers in California.Go to Google should have the 411 on him.

[True2TheBlueYoViGang]

@dal4018

don't know him@chavez...only chavez i know of is the dictator of venezuela

[dal4018]

@True2TheBlueYoViGang I have been saying that for years sir I know Latino's catch hell here as well.I remember ppl like Julio Ceasar Chavez I think a movie should be made about him what about u?

[True2TheBlueYoViGang]

@dal4018

finally a person who understands we're all the same shit (im not black im hispanic but we're the same shit).