Oral history interview with Matteo "Flukie" Suarez, 1999

Biographical Note

Matteo "Flukie" Suarez was born in 1938 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in a close-knit Creole family with three sisters and a brother. Suarez joined the Navy and was stationed in California. After returning to Louisiana, he was introduced to the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) by his friend Ronald Ferrier. Oretha Castle Haley inspired him to become involved, despite his initial skepticism of CORE's nonviolent stance. Suarez worked as a CORE Field Worker throughout the South including in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Suarez was married in 1968. He and his wife have four children. After his service with CORE, Suarez became involved in electoral politics, and he spent ten years running an organization to support candidates. He ran for the House of Representatives and State Senate without success. He then worked for the Interracial Council for Business Opportunity in New York. Later, he worked as a consultant for Humanix and Urban Research, two organizations that managed consulting and training contracts for the Head Start program in the Southeast and Southwest. Starting in 1973, Suarez and his wife ran the Rainbow Academy and Preschool

Scope and Contents

In this interview with Sheila Michaels, Matteo "Flukie" Suarez discusses his activities with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). He starts by describing his family and community life growing up in life New Orleans, Louisiana's Seventh Ward, including an analysis of the relationship between Blacks, whites, and Creoles in the city. Suarez discusses the impact segregation had on his adolescence, and how this led him to enlist in the Navy. Suarez relates his introduction to the CORE and overcoming his skepticism about its nonviolent tactics. Suarez details his involvement in campaigns and projects in several cities including: Atlanta, Montgomery, Birmingham, Greenwood, Tougaloo, Canton, and Greenville. He recounts the trip to Meridian, Mississippi, and speaks about the murders of James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Suarez gives his thoughts on CORE's stance on the Vietnam War and James (Jim) Farmer's statement on it. He also discusses his resignation from CORE, and subsequent efforts to revive the New Orleans Chapter of CORE. Last, Suarez discusses his work after CORE, which includes consulting, political activity, and the creation and ongoing operation of the Rainbow Academy and Preschool from 1973 onwards.

Subjects

• Civil rights demonstrations--United States.
• Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century.
• Civil rights workers--United States--History--20th century.
• Congress of Racial Equality.
• Interviews.
• Michaels, Sheila, 1939-2017, interviewer.
• New Orleans (La.)--History.
• Oral histories.
• Suarez, Matteo--Interviews.
• United States--Race relations--History--20th century.