Otis Brown Jr. of Indianola, Mississippi
- Transcript
I would disappear and join you one I believe in children born in all of Mississippi born August 3rd 19 for the 10 Genter has school and 18 64 65. I got involved in a move in 1965 in June. The FOID me now teen went on to a street here and there are no limits have been laid on me at the freedom she was on jobs and street at the time. Destro 1964 at the Freedom School at 4 you got involved in breeding classes later I became a freedom school teacher teaching Negro history and other donors time you had to prove yourself at the time you had to prove yourself being a poison to no Negro history and from Negro history. You're proud be able to go on to the field on the road with a straight voter registration with a big thing in one thousand six or six. And also hold true someplace today.
Now the Freedom teacher I learned a great deal myself. Want to get involved in the great challenge voter registration because this time Jhalak associate and you can kill so many interviews it is easy great so we get malapit upon it that it's been a voter registration work if you can get a poison become ready to vote. He was also a great soldier in the FREEDOM ARMY laid only a year. I think that voter registration won and now we need do more about registration. What about the young people who could not vote. I think at the end of those that are playing that we should test public conversation points red taken played here in the state of Illinois and then Team 6 to 4 on September the 6th. We went to test the data downtown which is called The one at the there. We all approached the
ticket box which at the time we had created was a test at night. The chief of police and other officials of the town. What they're waiting for us and we were told that we would throw the blacks to go to the black hole which to me looks they are white to go to the white box mean you would fail but not a word. We opted what they told us. So we left. Out of they would not let us into the theater and went back down on Cherry Street where we also had met together. We met there again to sad to go back to the date again and so in about five minutes later the policeman came down and arrest the chief of police. Which of them at the time. We are what the rest and we will play from $100 to $500. The outside I will have to pay $500 bail and the local want to have to pay out of our bail. I want John Harry Jim then to
charge got to do it. I also wanted local fella mate Dana Wimbley and Ramos has grown. No I'm sorry. Now we all pay you $100. There was another and did have some flowers. We was arrested. I begin to feel that it's no call. Freedom minute free must be free in the system it did not exist which I know I'm all of that time bowing out as of today. I know very little about because I thought it wiped it out I met him remember because I begin to feel they just were only meant to some people when away with the rest it. And this why begin the BMA spirit that should do more for my race and for my people. So after death threats are taken at that hour and taken place to begin to encourage me to actually do more. Along with McCann the Mac and the feel of them. So you really begin to get involved.
So. Every month every week up so we are with the rents on some that show as a test in a public accommodation and some restaurant to some limits I mean a matter of discriminating manna. At the time I was a man of myself on the substance some Lao stature because I would not point to what you ate. So in a way we kept on kept on get involved. And they don't foist part and make sure the Freedom School will bomb or destroy unknown. Which taken place in this county I don't know if found evidence have never come up with evidence showed who did it a lot of town would be buying on a stand that we describe on proper property or in a way. That kind of free to screw what destroyed damaged will put on a lot of for a couple months. I begin to become an outspoken one the most outspoken for the community. Even our young at the time.
So that they don't came up. I decided that since we were going to publish a coup we were not going to saying. E-books equipment that the why were receiving I think it's time to put a lot of thing into one petition. Because I had learned that in a time you won't some of you must ask the mold of what you won't if you know it to receive a three fold. Whatever percent you hoping to reach the. So we ask but history to be paid. Walt and stuff like this and that also teaches there are books and chemical labs and stuff like this and it is occluded not hey are we in a way to for you to me with something like this. We went before that city. We had street lights and street and stuff like this and there it was for US led by a group and at the but when it does get the forty white body
state official. They eat chicken down. A water. You might say and be good if they begin to agree. In an 18. Own a team that we had on our application. I them that we were you know asking for I begin to stand up to take the floor. And I begin to to debate but the why is in there and I saw in a sense you know just about you know my way around and so to cheat Polies say well a mare you cannot get him he won the profession agitated. And so we begin from there. What was the agitator. I thought agitated was something that to clean do it out of clothes and so long you know all the freedom around we had at the time and we were to pay off the ranch and so they put us out put us all out. And so a couple weeks later I call a ballcock on a public school call the ballcock saved for four books
better teachers more pay sarod and so on thing that were necessary at the same time college bought a car. Well in a way so unfair were the 1965 act we call it boycott on the public school whose taken place. I say about 80 percent of Cierra who attend elementary school was about 13 at that time. Participated maybe 20 to 30 percent of tootin high school participate in the box. Well in a way we grow a lot fishes and. Top it off with attention they were ran around to screw the mayor the. Sheriff and super tens and their principal and all because a great percentage student was out of school and in the search didn't think a law is now will participate did so. So in a way. I. Came to the scene right around the ship too you know because a
lot of people before tonight we call the book before the night a to call the book a lot of people to guess a bar car and begin to want to say in it you know a lot of people just want to ask you to be out a screw and they didn't know it in school because they don't want to go and they're just like those you know begin to hit me and say people say about a negro we'll agent's own isn't it. You're going to hit me saying that you know all can a thing be in a curve. So I decided to make that they were not only hit the screw but let the public live here call it that 65 out of a thousand people who were there at the school saying OK we're going to test the purple lab or this lab or it's public tax money at school and at the library be open and we all can use you know we have Travis open and I this had taken place. Sad sad that make they want to kill two birds with one shot. So we went to the public library and we picket awhile at a couple when he asked why the police came and put him out. And I laid
on we was arrested hours for you to sack and want to rest it and so on so on a LAN so all the topics that you might say whether read that day. And the next day others came in and got a good education you know came back in Washington D.C. where he had been home for break to renew his Safa to pull itself together whatever you might prefer it to assume what he went home for and others without it mean so they came in on the stay at NSA and it was a big they outflow. So I bought a couple home grown well to elaborate role play out there. And they were the rest also there were at that one who was a leader and they arrest a few of these people who wouldn't need another word to get out of Cuba making go back home. In a way it was it was a big blame a great deal of which had been arrested. Even took out all of the world the rent and the organization in order to get us out of DIA call about a hundred dollars. Plus
there were other people pay their own bail so I wouldn't say we asked me about step on in order for us all to get out of jail. The case to have the man known I'm sure as you know in a way because the appeal back in court. Haven't. Taken place I haven't come up yet. So out of the day. From 1964 to 1966 I have the records of all this. We have about 30 to 35 thousand dollars in bail from cases and I know that a lot of people Manet one of what it can amount to come from where different people have contribute money but something like this. No churches in California or New York weigh in and allow a way in other places you know or they all contribute money and a lot of individual money deal that they allowed money to be a would never be receive again. Just be there. Because there are millions and millions of dollar land across the country and the civil right cases. Emotive case in Green Bay SA
land of the minority. It happened in a way back in 1960 66 to want somewhere along in there. So in a way so much for their so atthis. Our ref not to worry about a jail a couple days later. Maybe just about a week to school blowed up one night. They say blow it up but I believe we're playin. Put it sad Tony I don't really know what really occurred but all of note at the top. Begin the bar and they have found you know no can come up with no solution yet the same as before a crowd of blame it on us but they can find no evidence you know they work along with them because they are they so than jabber who himself so them and all the time of the. Day had you a dictionary or committed you know stone to eat them. The chairman to a dictionary Committee and he has some sample our county and they go too far with too good evidence in our favor. He will step on a
toe you know me definite you know dirt and step long before he died and you know what happened you know I worked the whole game of politics. So in a way that who are they. We begin to dissipate. We begin to do less participation and to test as a public accommodation at our main base. Just like you kill hit qual you spit on me. You got that straw. And so we don't buy it a stage of defeat because of the horror to try to find a place to have meat so long Eric Church with a free. And you know so on and so in a way that Olive had a career. We cried to repeal the freedoms to go back and the city went to court taking the tie in the corps trying to clain where they needed an elementary school school when they go to the choice properly. This land which already belong to the BAFTA churches of this county most about churches can they build a school.
This screw was a screw the freedom to do what was and who wants you. When negro didn't have public schools in this county and other were some that church got together in a town to set up a school for those people who thought people who were less fortunate of where to contribute educate to was negro. Shouldn't we have const on well-known to have a long history. Who wants what and you might say all black town. We had the boys post massive but they had a misstep in the voice. We also had several black bankers who wants one of them. We have some great lawyers doctors have came out and I'm no lawyer but I own a couple doctor practically Who have you know a reason from here they leave and go other places. It's also the place where the boys of the silver Council who have a name for the call. What a nice shady here and it's something I would count it cold out. You know we have a new code how thousand now
so so much for that. So dish like I just did it went to court to try to you know to the Baptist Churches and it is there should be useless school you wrote to the land from the city. Really they need another public school here now. Yet instead they still haven't caused a crowd negroes on top of one another. But if you will go and go look at the Y school at the time when there were no blacks in the Weiss you ass today you might say there are no black and white school oppa dumb to black because the whites out in private schools churches and so on. That might be 13 private schools which you may call academicians to what they call academicians who here are in a symptom no because there are no blacks to attend the white not blacks and whites attend a white school and the blacks attend a white school. So in a way if you feel guided and the white key it back in 1965
66 they had. Tempest kinda want more space for a poison than a black school. Another word then why do we just bought big at the black school. Bonehead for on a key it's a ten Why should focus the five on it and the black who had 13 and 10 and they had less room left they were a team I say yes did they figure out where by getting the small just about fabrics to land close to land that they would have enough rule I would say they need an out of school and to be able to school in a neutral zone that when Alba is playing ball around at the poor man will have to come back the White man White man because he will not be the credit flowing to the private school system we have seen across the country. They laugh Oh so you're a tan. The pharma can keep their kids in the private schools in my state. Because they have so in a way that tax deduction. And so may not apply.
So in a way we also went to court to try to prove where we should have this really. But it's needed when I get a permit. And if it is they came out with different kind of theory you know that we came to a blueprint it's way they let it be that we change it this way and the DEA comes another can or should do and then say if you do this we'll let you be the only excuse we spent gobs of money and blueprint. And we see it and I get to school you know we have to go to Memphis Tennessee to get a black architect to grow the blueprint because there were no white boys in Mississippi who would do it at the time. So John Herron trad and he gave up he got tapped for a wink rather he gave it up. So they're not taking no for it. Given up. Well I work at a low wire that's been in about $700 mass there was a blueprint I decide to give it up and try to find a new location and to bill a bill and here in the city that we can meet in ourself a building be owned by the people. Maybe one day between notice
and the city. I've been all the way Iraq aeration facility for the tour and at the same time. So I bought some property on Oklahoma street. And we bought it. And we begin to feel this Freedom Center Freedom House where you might say. We begin to built a new headquarters for it and now we have just got to hey we have that ability. And instead it came along saying that we cannot be met with the middle ball but our own street and so on this and that. Some of the pit miss Ameena plane we all look. They condemn the whole things that we have had hope better now. And so the law it came in a crack at it by not a total want that we'd get some land for parking lot. They let that be a lead to the land from a lady read it from a parking lot for 2011. This city they came with some other excuse same it'd be if the Baptist school
building which we want you the freedom school and you have some street here minimal. So I decide to give up and you know open the bill and there are no no. So I decided to just give up completely. So in a way I moved to know in a way that Brooks from some flower who I'm in show with. She offered to give me some money to be sent and some flowers to let nobody broke it cannot give me the lady. Because you have cheer at its own but we released only and written for me but she would take no money. So we got to play it. John would drop a play and the CBC SPDC is not a healthy thing. You not only get served committed to present committed in Jackson. The lawyer wrote a play and a lawyer a bad name a return
with the president I mean I think he was a Richard from California. Try to help us to you know get this law and know another place and work so he crawled up at least a permit to lead to land from illegal may broke up some Mississippi Street 20 years to pay a dollar a year and so in a way. We begin to be all they are that way as fat I don't you know that. You young military all the power structure the people in power look at you with what you're going to do. So I sent my books down at the least Midland you know to send a book down to get a permit to build on a house and if I meet the bill in the house I designed to build it myself and I. How about 20 years of age at the time. You're about sated I wouldn't. I was too young to do that job and songwriter My whole intention along with bill the bill and I had moved some plows around from a if I have to go to mass there I estimated that the
weight thing worked that. You know the toll and court Abby Oh not to run for mayor. And I'll be 21 years of age but election come and push it will it happen so out to you about it they don't. So in a way I think it broke down to push a permit the bill on how I would call Sagrada planned it and how often people again to show how big gonna be and all you can do they will get a count of money from that home are going to do it you know. So in a way this is the way out planet by Toby my dean. You know in your house you can do anything you want to do except you know stay up ever just us always want to have meetings so I consider this my idea and I just have means all the time. You know somehow people who do have a lot of meat and comfort you might say playboy how she might want to put a call out. Be a Freedom House of Freedom Center whatever you might call it. So the bill I'm up at the back tipped it so in a way we got a bill and be out. It
is amazing what a bill this bill into. That bill had an auto and 30 by 30 feet. Loan 28 28 foot wide. It also had an office lobby or it had three bedrooms living room kitchen one bath room into a restroom. Now which I really will fix up like a house a big house a big bill and so when I begin to lay the bill now the wife now if they were to found all he not going to be in the same he too young here oh no he don't want to anyway the mate and got the bill now about how to get the bill up just a little phony election came out so in a way Paul election came outta town sunflower the renin intellection taken played with it about think between 68 black who went out to vote and sunflower election and 1960 sixty six. Well I wouldn't say
Black went out to vote in elections and they turned away would not let them vote it out because you know black we want you to vote. It just began to become red bowtie had its so-called literacy test whether the district test have been sold out. 60. 60 and 65. So in a way I see it. He began to become maybe 20 to 30 maybe but what if it's a week when it might be. So he lay were not allowed to vote and. Could know and stay with them they got together. BP decided to appeal this to the federal court and the fifth call in a way it is sad to go to Lex not let it be him. Yes home because six eight people of one of applying. And I hope people who know our grandpa Mavity and leave you two young and all this and that. Then away I hear a thing I thought Do I thought to push my way I know that nobody asked me I sort of pushed my way in. So nobody will
rock me you know I look at I don't know you or are they going to pick any so called people who want to rant so that they maybe to make night up to the white would come an image get them out. They wouldn't know how. That's like then. Then away they went out with me you know a lot of it won't. Because they figure they can control me out of the police I have my way you know a lot of big figures and civil rights movement you know a lot of what they want to put our own image and you know give them a set up an air of time but I want to do it and feel it to show them what I could do and what really could be done. By you know it really don't take ages to make a point who determine. You know now we you don't you know that you know people if they you know they always go to the bar. At times I would say no change in the night. So sorry to have played their political game like everybody a play I got into the church in the there that I know the cat to please the people. You know I had a lot of playing against me I think there was a big thing against me and a
lot of fine people look at what you hay out when I was young that time I did not have and I you know I might have had a little money here and there. So bad no but in a way look at what you had it's own. So in a way it is a race. Biomass the Iranian Oh another were our with the you might say out the correct it but other people who would run it for bored of all that you might say because I have lived them up you know why people always attack them with stuff like this. Now it's not you know news with the fish you know saying what I would do and the only ground that you know what you have an hour to be don't to ground attack me any uno. So in a way out loud it was a close race. I'll spot go to one vote. Same year I decide to run. Count of six of us begin to get the feel of politics. Well after a while I watch a matter of a
countersuit you know the same people who are big leaders the right it won't be offered counseling so I throw mud on Iran in a way that isn't or we always take some bad. So our we had nae who had done one thing that our way you know they think about me at the end of to speak you know. That they were you know I would have called in a flame to say you know great famous leaders ahead of me that I'm the phony take appeared and I have. And I'll add to this is what Ali is saying and saying they would meet him and then lie about an airplane so learn from this if you ever have an enemy. Now let you in a misspeak if you ever speak and you speak away. From there you know I got my We're in a in a way so it isn't that you know I came out. And the fellow they have put up with that he sat because you know we hold competition even though our young and when I had my way so Iran Africana six of them.
This race also was a very close race. The reason that we allowed this raise I would say because WE WON WE WON WE WAS SOLD OUT. The night before the election. People got together and the wife bought him out. To the people who agreed to pick people up in the cars you know who bring people to the poll. Eight of the call to say they would help did not shoot it they know it is an opportunist a paid by the why. Three the other two town they did not campaign on the day of the election. They both were I think to be around for a public office being black. You have so much against you that you have to give up your job for a while in order to get out and work and have credit when the people on your side. And it's something that they did not do so in a way. What happened with that. I want up you know friendlier things and this will happen I campaigned in my ear and I think I thought to pick up both of them. I'll buy
16 both in the town of sunflower and there was about 200 black which we know who did not get to the Pro Bowl. So we can really go people in a way that we can reach the people we love allow the election close margin vote 8 0 6 vote and the whole thing broke town. I think we could've did a better job than what we did so that year at dinner that year I got involved so them project I begin to fall out of the movement because I begin to see that. You know people always talk to criticize the internet about the white man. I begin to see that they went into the flame into white man they criticized he got a color TV and stuff like this and that and the sooner they get that power to get him a cup of tea in a big car and they forget about the people saying wait a white man. You know nothing in the mayors and the people not like this.
But I'm saying that I break a way that I don't I won't do a bill or wait myself but some people like this because I've figured it out I wasn't feeling it. I want to run for the people that are going to spend time in school something you know I was suspended from school in 1965 and I had it taken equipment to and pay at the equipment to hope to attend college. One day soon Well I did that to get involved. She now live in Canada. But she live in Burma and she had this other project. So the box below where project PR OGTT southern box project is a project designed to help people to help them as they are. It's a project of similar care but a lot different care because care is always the project project is a project right here in about the United States and certain states in south Mississippi Alabama Louisiana Arkansas all staff to Kota and Montana.
Maybe a few of them might have made it well in a way I begin to want women they think and they asked me would I help her to plant one famine in the South who need help maybe shoe clothing or to keep their kids in school. So she started a war. They expanded into the nation I think three she could ask. Yes saw that man and saying Do this do that. So I demand you know I need something new to appeal to in a way to help my elbow in a way when they die and they. She moved to Canada because she did not agree to war in Vietnam she had a son at the time who. So what the aged are going to die so they moved to Canada. Also thought here help us in bad conditions so long so in a way she turned back. Rajo would remember the playing Pat All those few others so pair don't you know I'm to reason that I would say that they are both run to steal the fold run. Padded
I want to ask an assassin who really dedicated care in a box. Roger own album now because I'm not involved as I used to be. The back probably had it I'm in a want of playing for Mississippi and so all I like to tell you more about the project what the way I went back selected for the project. I cried if I know people here key isn't she who are peoples who had. So many kids in school but I know people who bought the crap out of people that get out of school who want to cry to keep the kids in school because education was very very important. So in a way that's all is it kind of hard to screen people that so many people in need. It's been this holiday crowd a family I explain is that the in my clothes and I'm just this part this out. So in a way. As I begin to use Mel rattle a card and I begin to come solution you know that he was flown
to Lytton family but I know the thing that probably need somebody to go around and speak for them. The elderly that cannot no longer do this you know chair because you know I believe in our chair at a time I build this community center and some flowers but 6000 hours say and all this money received a contribution contribution which we send out. Well we were not receiving enough contributions to care oen thing like this. So a no cry. My brother had given me my brother which is next to me. I wanted you know rather than a dusty road because it was for you know American a car they take in a lot of dirt it just can't take it. So I started going fundraising went to Pan races to try to encourage more Pamela to participate in the north and to crowd to solicit money to pay down both work and made to receive a few constitutionally don't do so in a way
that my voice speaking out were successful. Ego and. Ready to money for the bus and ideas to get more people to participate in a bar. Prior to this I made a great deal of people. When in a way I did it to pay it all because she was a pusher. So in a way I raise the money but if both were going home to Pape I love hundred dollars on a farm equipment a lot like that for this fun race and I brought it back. We were hoping to input at the time I had a play and it belongs to mark the date. I have given up on no reason so in a way I do. Taking a plane to me and I got it and I had taken a bus to the straight to the Greyhound to the old wagon plate and green and I went there and I asked what it would call people who
called Oh focused. But only one both wagon bus. It was a six and that and I haven't 68 left. And it had very few seats and both were going away. One both about. So he told me well. And I don't know Aggy 500 make notes a few pinna cheaper. So you say OK the Winnie and I made one mistake. I give him. A rough and up hill know who deal with and there I contact the bank you know the bank this to the bank you know it's rough in the bank to check you out. For his national bank for the bank. Now down to get somebody else coach me I think you know go ahead to and people close but him low enough I think it means they don't won't shock an airtight.
So in a way not to you discriminate all this stuff you know. So in a way you are paid be thousand dollars down on the tie in and and. Also they put in show and it's all taking place at the Greenville bowed wagon below because they wanted to go in and doubled in the delta on the Greenville and Greenwood. And what I mean that the mistake that I made right there you know about being a civil rights era and stuff like this you know all this go against you. And yes whoa you know you remember if you're not a white man black boy or whatever you might words in my further use. So in a way I was stopped on a robot of the chrome and they had a roadblock set up near a.. They checked me out so I just go get my tag. Even though they think they are too good to take so I went on that attack today I borrowed the money got paid for an improved relations. So I want I would not have a supermarket you know as you can see where why even in Connecticut and Massachusetts in New York we did look at the data.
That they don't we found a continent where brain boxes from one destination of destination and we can say the people who contribute to peace in the South you know say the money to the brainy box free. So all they had to take the box. Seymour Connecticut saw a machine where it might be a closer to where we wanted them. And if the plane were praying to some Mississippi where it's communal somewhere I would stand it. Do you stay in that particular time. And from there I would deliver the stuff to the point where it might be CRU could choose a side and saw green wood anywhere whatever that might be you know whatever happened to the hip people say all the way you know in a way you say the money sometimes I mean a couple dollars again $2 never received a moon $3 for me the most when I missed a good message about send they send they have me hoot round trip 106 miles out of the school on their own credit make a living out you know to work I think it's always something dedicated to the cause for
black people. Well if my son you know my no we're me one person our power but I mean the better chance would be also I have children coming up and and that you know you got a credit coming up on the mast Now if you don't clean it now go be more against them. More back to you my say. In a way out of the box to begin to come in so the walk confident people in some cloud begin to get jealous. Well you know we can get jealous because some of them would receive a box like this you know some who were getting very paranoid I think paranoid time has been oh you have to you know there are no two people are black some people are able to give more than the explosion and some just have less to deal so if you want to find something that could happen some have poor help so people begin to feel that I was discriminated out of you people who I want to have stuff you know saying all this plain and clear the box will wrap the people at the point and they want that the address at which you receive email and there they want to box you stay just plain unclear when away conflict me
Brooke and I had begin to develop. Glad to go back on the peace and joy started way back in 1960 at 6. You know most Nick I used to happily going to work with my police arrest sneak create a DP He might if he peed a species of snake steel snake. So in a way not to work in you know a six to six they sat to get all wiped out the state I was against it so what did it mean you know all of these so-called leaders account of what they're now at Obama and all white with what's on the ME and counted at a time where in that sense I don't want to really deal with white people when they come in a lot of white without a doubt America white girl because I'd be so mean and why you know this and that but it really is and one thing and one guy they mess up mess up on. So in a way all these top leaders this county and all on account I don't care who they are they own about 6 people in the state that I know I'm not recall
that name so well I don't want to discount I would donate Borda out account you have the EPA that I became the county chairmen ATP at 18 19 20 which what they legally allowed to get in like that you know was so I don't have to push my way around like everybody so in a way. Probably if they want to get rid of white workers at stake I mean you know you have a vote you know here I vote to get rid of me have voted I go along with you all you want to you know I want to limit but I'd also create a group which before I begin to break away from them so in 86 take the brick away from them. I begin to see what happened on the big group at the hour. But I'm staff and offer to people maybe maybe to a group of work but of people they don't have no power they were people who were not known when people had less influence or people who have very little like myself that some plow accounting zation than one thing. Sixty six
through that period out of stories and I think six to six. So in a way I found this group so. It took up months later one of the big pieces if you can't see me is I'm not going to you know get rid of white people they will see me as your life break them I make they go for Rana one who came here and given given our lives and put their life for a risk to get some of that with some luck today hey they help our cause and now we just bottom foot. We feel we have a baby just trying to walk you know the basic ground I walk through to follow today right along the wall where so I think we will miss you and I think we've been crazy to watch you that account when he was the one who really given our protection just to go back and think it had been done about black people. They just think killed that have been in there the holiday is not about. So it was a forerunner and I think we're too early and too late to get rid of them and I think they were still is not the America they want to resign or want to continue working as if their freedom
of choice to do so it was up to me to decide who would be the power base. True that either black people should be the unspoken or the leaders and their home point of view that I don't feel like most people they come into to work and where they lead you have nothing to look at. That's why I got involved. What I mean when you know about it that they were before I give enough protection and in a way you know were they could do thing that we can do right facing all our plate a black face cannot go. It really means so much. Just just one thing that I would just cannot go along with you know people have coming given our lives and blah blah. A year black and white together and here we don't say it a Southern white man I have did in the past you know how about you know we don't need to have integration always always we don't support the Southern white man cause and so on so you know so I just you know I had a moment of the day when they could do it so in
1968 when Tampa knew that but you have the chairman you know I sat up dissipated Oh I didn't Ron so we don't have a county chairman now as if BP no longer exists it's just people running around using the name of Mr. Breen Democrat party the PRI Democrat Party just a word you know you like a lot of these are the we're just a few people saying that they had a poet they had spoken for the people he looked behind him I bet you can get together all our relations Think you can muster up 5000 people in almost all of the right of the state 5000 people who risk grown harvest so hard to support them. It's you know it just it just it just talk you know. It's difficult for to you know to go into it so in a way I support the wife that the wife stayed here keep it she's doing today even though she wasn't a legal civil rule legal subcommittee in Greenwood Mississippi. So in a way you
begin to bar women Brooke from a sad time when she began to see things that she wanted. They have the right if I had my hand if the amount is they get it but you know that big fish you know in every poll you got yo comedians in out it they always have big fish that who control who can do play with who. You might say Who are we Dolly. One point when they are mobile at Indian Point and you can change Manna who can sway them do otherwise. So in a way this is what happens. So begin to push the some plow can improve as a nation. So many groups in this forum a bad time. The conflict with it began to come up the queen is approximate sales point already between her boyfriend because porphyria and her step I thought was a point a matter where she and her boyfriend fell out you know nasty of them so they would have boyfriends. She
began to see I was our enemy because she quit when her boyfriend she thought I was equipped with it. That's on the board for that matter. I haven't attained to that and they are less than about the one they were graining and I wouldn't get up and take a look girlie school you know. Two blocks to walk to the bus stop. My longer walk to the bus stop you know take her made a big time out it so small and then to begin a career you know the box they begin to come in for the stone box and begin to say well we're only taking it all for himself and this and that you know. So in a way it happened last year 1916 that I think in June June 19 or June somewhere in somewhere in June so in a way that box it came in from Seymour Connecticut and came up some omit books. Nephew and stuff like this and some people who she hadn't spotted a thing like this
came up want to take this stuff to the bill and I moved up one room to the other room and they went out made out that she John would have rice to make up a crowd of fans that are way to frame me up to get me out some flour when I'm out of some plowed am glad I'm out of some plow. When we were happen a frame up the united predicate. I had a gun threatened in a room at a trendy key and I had a gun aimed to kill. You might say you were in a way you wouldn't prove a Nikki so I went. Yes the Peace Corps to date on account of bomb in a $200 finance appeal to the circuit court and the circuit court in that they believe in October. I went there. A lousy Kate I'm so worried because I did put up a witness up saying that you know we're the one nobody there to test a thing that you know say that they see me but what bra they now cannot improved enough to say that I'm going to try to kill him.
Some say to back up a bomb. Lawyer really carried him over carefully always stay the same but in the AP quote was a different story. They all had different story. They were upper farm and other winners that I had it would not let me use my witness so our Found get is so cool. And same thing that happened there stood up in a spectacle so now I have my case in the midst of a state Supreme Court hoping that they will accept a case through a list of the Kate a lot of ground that they mysteriously points out a problem that some kind of station and the perps elite Atlanta the Sunflower County Association and I have appointed to be the trustee for the lane for some kind of Improvement Association. I also live in a bill and I also have been given the authority to live in it. Bill and I did some kind of a home because some plow counted so they should not pay me a salary. You know could not pay me a ferry so they said I'll be at the bill and they were saying.
I just back out of my way. There's nothing approaching not like you know she will not you know she's not you know the display board member that she once was a board member but she resigned because she was sick and she you know she would you know she credit the team like somebody like this and this and I you know you know if I would hold to this summer I really don't like to get into it because I don't like to evaluate you know whenever you tell a story. Something happened you some tell you exactly cry put it on your face I have been talking about this Kate. So in a way I'm out of some plow today I'm not in all of Mississippi I'm Banna House feel 1000 to Balla street. I would put John X in community service and cooperation a group out of Washington. I've now surmount a temporary error manager I was a job counselor and we had dinner with six projects. I see like a program to deal with deal with him people. People who have left the
mission have taken a plate of haying So the people are out of jobs so the attending church the program what they are going to school hope to receive some kind of deal a tree plumbing electricity sewing machine whatever seems them and some schools poor lack status you might say and there's a couple which and the shape. And so my job didn't eat a crowded phantom job into the induction site to try to keep my way offa the crack to put him in to be in it to the death screen didn't become a class citizen and so that's where we stand today as of now they have proof as Asians do very low. I do Aaron I mean but improves with ation. We hope to put out a new South Africa for his temper this year hoping to have it put out for his time at this year also. I would say we we have we have we do not have a program out there now
we want to have a program to open up to you close doe. But I think we already know enough trouble and it may one day we might decide you want some part of program we have a state income tax state charter and we crank it out better a chart of income taxed for the Internal Revenue You might say. Probably one can become affect organizations. As I say before I would like to go to screw in helping people. That it would all pay to get people to pay to give people pay to give people in the red. No way to get to a point. Only when they are in need only not only we don't need it best to craft a bad data point it can work for him. They have to credit the bad job at the end of it to encourage the person to assist to push the limits I mean I'm out to get the places that I'm playing too. To you know to do it when it really I want to help the person to try to fit into the stream of the American system. I say to the tier exactly I
have worked and this is something kind of hard difficult to do. Tell them how it works. But the crowd let him to to get involved to to do more push cheer or not as you know we are open to say you know it's useful to work. Parent response but I try to teach your child. But don't make your child become adult before we really become adults you know that you try to give your child a good education a lot you know dealing with work with people that are you know good have occasion education but sometimes you get too much education to cripple you even to things for yourself so that's why I have been with people. So now I think it's time to go to school for at least two years to four years of schooling. I think I can do more better effective job in helping my fellow man can lead is all I have to say I hope that this helps you. Thing is you do not understand. You can contact me you can phone me my telephone now with Eric Oh it's 6 0 1. The phone number 8 8 7
4 7 1 7. And you mostly care for me at night because they time out you'll be out sometime I don't be in for a couple days. I didn't go home on the weekend but. So I hope that you can use this and can accomplish something from it and can do a job problem able to help me start some other kind of project. I mean another thing I need to be going to intro project. Maybe daycare asked them and you got here but you don't have daycare center you know for their mother was she working to keep up babies and so on. A lot of the program would immediately start it and at some program they have to be abolished because they and I would have done it just something set aside to give substance such that people suffer that and well-fed to me the saying you know I'm a start against welfare and something that I'm against them but I'm only I think that should be for those who cannot do no better. Now if ya job we should be way up and you can get a job but if you can't work
and can't get a job you know you can reach me way up there but you know what the problem is if it can't it's funny it's kind of screwed up you know kind of washed out who need a weapon who don't have it. They have just made a people who are where friendship should be receiving welfare and I think mothers should stay home and take care that Key is so so. Thank you and thank you for being in a recession. Good luck.
- Producing Organization
- KPFA (Radio station : Berkeley, Calif.)
- Contributing Organization
- Pacifica Radio Archives (North Hollywood, California)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/28-g73707x27x
If you have more information about this item than what is given here, or if you have concerns about this record, we want to know! Contact us, indicating the AAPB ID (cpb-aacip/28-g73707x27x).
- Description
- Episode Description
- This is an autobiographical statement from a young Southern Black organizer on his experiences in the Civil Rights movement. Otis Brown, Jr. was one of eleven children born in Indianola, Mississippi. Brown was born August 3, 1945, and he got involved in the civil rights movement in 1965, attending and then teaching at the Freedom School. Brown was a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party when he ran for Mayor of Sunflower, Mississippi in 1967 at the age of 21. Brown was also head of the Sunflower Improvement Association and Community Center.
- Broadcast Date
- 1970-08-29
- Subjects
- Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (U.S.); Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party; African Americans--Civil rights--History
- Media type
- Sound
- Duration
- 00:54:00
- Credits
-
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Producing Organization: KPFA (Radio station : Berkeley, Calif.)
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
Pacifica Radio Archives
Identifier: 3293_D01 (Pacifica Radio Archives)
Format: 1/4 inch audio tape
-
Pacifica Radio Archives
Identifier: PRA_AAPP_BB2508_Otis_Brown_Jr (Filename)
Format: audio/vnd.wave
Generation: Master
Duration: 0:53:55
If you have a copy of this asset and would like us to add it to our catalog, please contact us.
- Citations
- Chicago: “Otis Brown Jr. of Indianola, Mississippi,” 1970-08-29, Pacifica Radio Archives, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed April 4, 2026, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-28-g73707x27x.
- MLA: “Otis Brown Jr. of Indianola, Mississippi.” 1970-08-29. Pacifica Radio Archives, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. April 4, 2026. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-28-g73707x27x>.
- APA: Otis Brown Jr. of Indianola, Mississippi. Boston, MA: Pacifica Radio Archives, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-28-g73707x27x