I was moved when I listened to this interview from 1979. As always, Baldwin was unapologetically direct about racism in this country then, and his words still apply today. But, unfortunately, his conversations, much like other black leaders, were hushed and removed from public display to hide the truth about the behaviors of whites in general who seem to fear the truth regarding racism in this country. In this interview, Baldwin alluded to not knowing the interviewer personally but knowing her historically, and that short phrase struck a chord. Even more impressive is that whites need to hide this truth about being racist, yet their actions speak louder than words.
The footprint of racism coupled with the DNA of generational passage is a strong indicator of how far-reaching racism against blacks has penetrated the moral fabric within this society. Since this interview and long before that, blacks have been waiting for justice to be treated as equals. Yet, racism is an avoided topic of discussion and a blatant denial that racism even exists from that day to this day. The history of racism and the concept of slavery is systematically profiled, but no one is responsible for ending it. The question is, will it ever end?
This Article was Last Updated On: September 10, 2025