Oral history interview with James Farme, 1979

Biographical Note

Civil rights leader

Scope and Contents

Family background; childhood; education: Howard University, 1941 (theology); secretary to Fellowship of Reconciliation, 1941; foundation and development of CORE (Congress on Racial Equality); League for Industrial Democracy, 1950-1955; AFSCME (American Federation of State, City and Municipal Employers); NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), 1959-1961; impact of Black Southern College Students in 1960s; Core as national organization: Farmer as National Director, 1960; Freedom Rides, 1961; March on Washington, 1964; contributions of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, Robert Kennedy; Civil Rights Act, 1964; Affirmative Action; Black Muslim Movement unrest; Black Panthers; 1968 campaign for House of Representatives as Liberal and Republican Parties; Assistant Secretary for Administration, HEW (Health, Education, and Welfare), 1969-1971; Director of Coalition of American Public Employees, 1976; Civil Rights Organizations in the 1970s; colleague reminiscences

Subjects

• African Americans--Civil rights.
• Civil rights workers--Interviews.
• Edwin, Ed, interviewer.
• Farmer, James, 1920-1999--Interviews.
• Interviews.
• Oral histories.
• United States--Race relations.

Access Conditions

Copyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 1980