Where Is "The Movement" Now? An Interview with James Farmer
Plastrik, Stanley
James Farmer, former head of CORE, now concentrates his energies on pushing forward his program for teaching reading and writing to the millions of "functional illiterates" among the poor...
...In these terms, the discussion over "black power" represents a transition to a new and more complex phase of the Movement...
...To questions about CORE having been "taken over" by so-called black nationalists, Farmer answered with an indignant "no...
...These include further polarization between American blacks and whites, the splitting-off of the Negro middle class from the lowerclass Negroes, the breaching of ties between various civil rights organizations, and a sharp drop in fund-raising...
...Our discussion began with a question on the "state of the Movement...
...He favors the "integration of equals, based upon the acceptance of group identification as such...
...The direction of the Movement, its leadership, questions of racial and ethnic pride (not necessarily connected with racial chauvinism), and tactics for taking the Movement closer to its "grass roots...
...He acknowledges that this is a difficult debate, often distorted and led astray by the temptations of the mass media...
...That "black power" and the arguments surrounding this slogan have negative features is likewise undeniable...
...have primarily benefited the Southern Negro but have left the Northern Negro "just about where he was"—poor and weak...
...Third, new jobs must be created for unemployed Negro youth and lower-class Negroes...
...While indicating substantial agreement with the general views of Bayard Rustin, Farmer feels that Rustin's concept of a "grand alliance" with labor is now impractical...
...Take, for example, the hous ing issue...
...Farmer added that he remains a member of CORE and on good terms with its present leadership...
...But, as a recent talk with him indicated, his involvement in all phases of the Negro Revolution remains unchanged...
...Over the years the Negro Revolution has centered around the struggle for desegregation in education, housing, etc...
...Clearly, the slogan of "black power" means different things to different people...
...He considers this a legitimate political activity on the part of such candidates, but separate and apart from the civil rights movement...
...At the same time, of course, school desegregation must be pursued by such means as bussing, the development of large-scale educational parks, and the continuation of the openschool enrollment policies...
...The fundamental philosophic debate now going on in the civil rights movement centers around a seeming paradox: namely, that meaningful integration can be brought about only through the enhancement of Nselfpride...
...But this group represents an insignificant number of the 20 million American Negroes...
...It is the environment, atmosphere, and condition of life within the ghetto that must be changed...
...Because the federal government has shown reluctance to back such a program, he is for the time developing a statewide program in New Jersey, where he acts as consultant to the governor...
...What of the debate over "black power...
...The concept of the nation-wide "grand alliance" has been shaken to its roots by the new tendency among Negroes to struggle for their own self-identification...
...These victories (some school desegregation, registration and voting rights, equal accommodations, etc...
...Farmer replied that it has had a mixed effect, but essentially he feels that it has launched a healthy discussion...
...Of all the Negro groups, the middle-class Negroes have gained the most thus far in terms of salaried jobs, showcase positions, education, housing, and recognition...
...James Farmer, former head of CORE, now concentrates his energies on pushing forward his program for teaching reading and writing to the millions of "functional illiterates" among the poor white and black masses of the country...
...Farmer does not consider CORE ever to have been basically a "pacifist organization...
...Finally, "black power" means the political organization of the Negro in those areas where he constitutes a majority and where the exercise of his political weight will bring advantage to him...
...As yet, the Negro poor have had no part in decision-making or in the formulation of policy...
...The real housing issue lies in the slums...
...There are professional "black nationalists" who make a fetish out of color, Africa, racism, etc., but Farmer denies that such elements have any influence in CORE today...
...Despite some existing dispersal, basically, the answer lies in a massive program of federal- and state-sponsored housing within the ghetto...
...If by "nationalists" we mean those who favor the development of Negro self-pride, then that factor in CORE leadership has certainly been strengthened and is reflected in the belief that the active leadership should be in the hands of Negroes...
...Our efforts must be concentrated in improving the ghetto, there where it is...
...the Harlems, realistically speaking, will continue to exist indefinitely...
...Second, it means overcoming the present powerlessness through economic and political means...
...But Farmer is convinced that such negative aspects will be overcome by the need for Negro organizations to hang together in the face of increasing obstacles...
...Whether we like it or not, the fact is that the white and black poor are not joining together in concerted action...
...Farmer readily acknowledged that it faces several major crises...
...Finally, the Movement will benefit from the debate, despite its frequent demagogy and sensationalism...
...The leaders of CORE attach different shades of meaning to the slogan...
...Things are decided for them, not by them...
...Many find this intellectually contradictory and confusing in terns of action, but Farmer does not...
...CORE was and remains committed, however, to the technique of nonviolence...
...Farmer considers him worse off now in the sense that his relative economic position has worsened and his heightened expectations remain unfulfilled...
...Farmer points out that thus far we have witnessed a "revolt of the powerless," operating not with the weapons of real power and organization but rather through the use of power substitutes— the press, television, etc...
...It grew out of the Fellowship for Reconciliation, but pacifism was not its basic doctrine...
...He asked what is meant by the term "black nationalist...
...Farmer does not feel the Movement ought to become involved in the support of peace candidates campaigning largely on the Vietnam issue...
...Has this emphasis lost its significance...
...What are these issues...
...Black power" also embraces the notion of a guaranteed annual income for Negro families on welfare, as well as a concentrated effort to transform the economic structure of the ghetto through the financing of Negro-owned businesses and cooperatives...
...To the reactionary white, determined to resist desegregation, it is a red flag implying a reversal of positions in American society...
...Certainly the struggle for school desegregation must be continued, but there must be immediate stress on improving schools within the slums...
...only (and this ought not to be underestimated) ad hoc alliances on the local, state, and regional levels for specific purposes...
...There cannot be any "grand alliances" now...
...The Movement, in Farmer's word,, is now going through "an agonizing phase of redefinition" concerning goals, assumptions, strategy and tactics...
...The struggle for open housing goes on, but it has become a secondary issue for the Movement...
...These can best take shape in the form of campaigns—for example, the recent grape pickers' strike in California which achieved wide union support up to the level of a nationwide boycott, or the formation of local political voting alliances against segregationist congressmen and senators...
...First and most important: the recent realization that the victories won during the past five years (victories Farmer has no wish to downgrade)) has not basically changed the "life situation" of the Negro masses, especially in the urban ghettos of the North...
...By the same token, Farmer favors a more realistic attitude toward the education issue...
...Farmer answers this question in the negative, but he immediately adds that desegregation must now be put in the framework of a new perspective...
...They all agree that it implies a tremendous growth in pride and self-identity among the Negro masses...
Vol. 13 • November 1966 • No. 6
