James Baldwin Speaks at UC Berkeley in 1974

Part II Here: • James Baldwin Speaks a...
James Baldwin, one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century, speaks on race, political struggle, art and the human condition. Wheeler Hall, Berkeley, CA.
The moderator and coordinator of the conference was Colston R. Westbrook, owner of Minority Consultants and Lecturer at UC Berkeley's African American Department.
*I do not claim any ownership or copyright of this video clip. As a product of the public university system of California, this clip is a public artifact.

[@mavisbritwum9772]

On the root of Black language: "It's a technique of survival. And it comes out of the truth, which is that at one point in our history, I'd warn him about something while you were listening. And he had to understand it, and you not understand it." Preach Baldwin!! Telling the whole truth in one sentence, genius.

[@JamesSmith-kt3bi]

I love the way that everyone's question is taken with sincerity and intellectual honesty, a privilege to watch people earnestly struggling to fully articulate their experience and the way forward.

[@aboriginalstraightshooter7967]

I love my people! I love the way we can make comedy out of the harshest situations and conversations... James Baldwin has changed my perspective of life within days!🤗😍

[@elizabethfaraone]

When you analyze Malcolm's speeches and his exposure to the ideas of James Baldwin, you see the direct influence that James Baldwin had in Malcolm's development.

[@Nubian_Traveller]

And vice versa

[@lemostjoyousrenegade]

🎯

[@apex_prowler95]

Min Malcolm was already developed before he met James Baldwin. He had no need of influence from anyone. He influenced James. Revisionist history.

[@sarahgabriella84]

@@apex_prowler95 You do know that Malcolm X didnt even care about what skin color anyone got as long as they were good people, right? Post NOI Malcolm was free from indoctrination and lies.

[@reeree9116]

I love the way Baldwin leans into each question. To say, he's truly interested and shows much concern in what other's have to ask and say. He's teaching and also learning. James Baldwin The Most High gave him a great mind and he used it to help others to see, learn, and so much more.

[@lucki39284]

So glad to be able to view this rare event. Unlike so much of what we see in 2013 in the media, Baldwin has no set taking points. It is as though you are watching him think before your eyes. He is not speaking to arouse applause lines or adulation. As he explained in the video, he humbly described himself as someone who hopefully makes you think, not a leader. Thanks again for uploading the entire two hours.

[@jrshield7793]

You think it was rough in 2013 wait till you see what 2021 is like ! 😁

[@babs22hh]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR UPLOADING THIS FOOTAGE! bravo Baldwin!

[@brknomo]

Education: "Pick up the tools, with your own intentions. that's the trick." Indeed @ J.Baldwin

[@JH-mr8se]

Brilliant! James Baldwin, our treasure is at his best here.. We get a glimpse of his personality and his endearing love for us…

[@TJSol]

I ENJOYED every bit of this! Thank you kindly for uploading.

[@TheWoteke]

This conference was put together by the African American Studies at UC Berkeley in California at Wheeler Hall, author of the Dual Linguistic Heritage of Afro-Americans.

[@kungfoopencileraser]

thank u sooo much for postiing this!!!!

[@mochapella]

This is what is lacking in schools today...like cool, sweet water in a dessert...helping to quench ones soul with intelligence, wisdom and truth...

[@camara309]

Great discussion btw. As well the moderator's laughter is priceless lol

[@Trendsetic]

One of the greatest thinkers of all time. 2022 almost, and we are just now trying to catch up.

[@gcrav]

Part II contains a reference to the Jonestown mass suicide, placing the event in late 1978 or later, not 1974.

[@lliud]

i wrote a heartful comment. this system lost it.i am dissapointed. anyhow, gracias la persona que subió este conmovedor documento.

[@MCPetruk]

Description neglects to mention that the moderator Colson Westbrook was a CIA agent and LAPD informant. Google him.

[@MJ-hg1mk]

Baldwin was VERY good at narrating and reflecting situations and circumstances. He was equally UN-effective at the formulation of solutions... Not mad at him for this. Very few are any good at real solutions THAT COULD WORK. It's hard. That is why we still hear so much about SOCIAL justice and so little about economic justice. I'm tired of hearing about social justice. It is almost useless w/o economic agency.

[@tigermight1409]

I respect your view, but if some one tells you the solution, the WORK that one does to get the Solution is part of the "Soul"ution"...SO the artist job, writer, singer etc....is to set up the moral question and or problem.....and then the individual must first except the challenge and problem as such.... and then each person must - or try to find their Solution.....The Solution is not the miracle. Its the work thats the miracle...the falling and rising and perseverance to finding that solution yourself when you cannot quite see it yet, but can feel it.... and ONE knows the Solution,,,,,its the courage to risk it all and do what YOU know needs to be done in your "part of the river " to bring forth the Kingdom of Love,, As my Math teacher would always say...the answer is easy..." show your work..."

[@kdgood4]

Baldwin ALSO spoke about ECONOMIC justice....in several speeches, he understood the entirety of the dynamic at hand.

[@lazydiamond69]

I was at this.

[@FuzzySpace]

Do you remember the name of the professor moderating the Q&A?

[@bignah139]

FuzzySpace (Jeopardy Music Playin) 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Milan9Zlatangoogle]

@@bignah139 Who is....frederick douglass?

[@calinasantos5290]

As an African American (a fellow descendant of American chattel slavery) the point Baldwin makes @ 9:05 is really important! Too many descendants of slaves romanize Africa, it is not something you can “good back to”. I am also a Pan African who wants to visit Africa and that is an important trip to take, because we are one family. But your most direct ancestors have not been an active part of that particular land for centuries now. Africa is not the solution or the escape that you think it is. The collective civilization of that land lives in ALL OF US but the African civilization you were taken from has long been reimagined in the image of western imperialism. Africa is another home but it is not your one true home for that no longer exists. #WeHaveManyHomesNow

[@Gitohandro]

You'll never be fully recognised as American, stop looking down on Africa and just come home already you only dislike it because you think it's underdeveloped and want the white man's development and technology

[@calinasantos5290]

Joshua Mwaniki Who is looking down on Africa?

[@fungulambuta-ganda2535]

Point well taken, the black american who was stolen from African can no longer really related to Africa due to their present conditioning and adoptability to a new environment. 400 yrs is a long time to reconnect. Our share bonding should only be base on the fact that we are of the same race and the need to return to Africa should be left on an individual level. Haiti, panama, brazil, cuba, usa, belize and many others parts of the world where you find black they have established and adopted new culture to those environment and it is now home to most even thou same still hold long past down memory of a place call Africa. I'll also mention that there were many black indigenous in the Americas before columbus so call "discovery".

[@calinasantos5290]

@@fungulambuta-ganda2535. @@fungulambuta-ganda2535y@@fungulambuta-ganda2535(@@fungulambuta-ganda2535)@@fungulambuta-ganda2535, @@fungulambuta-ganda2535 I’m really saying, we have more homes than simply Africa, and that’s not something that should be embraced/understood. Too often there is this over compensation from AntiBlackness that everyone responds to. But, in the case of Black people, we have to understand our history enough to see there has already been room made for nuance (especially in the way we think about “Black homeland”).

[@larrenwade9535]

This forum was in fact poorly publicized and the moderator dishonest in his answer in admitting he failed. We have long been dishonest and perhaps fearful in confronting the problems we face as a people. We can do better. We have to look into the"smart mirror" and as we work toward our enlightenment modify this image into the individuals that will forge our future in this society. Education, vocation, investment in the arts and sciences that, can continue the moulding of our world and our society.

[@TheWoteke]

The moderator and coordinator of the conference was Colston R. Westbrook, owner of Minority Consultants and Lecturer at UC Berkeley's African American Department.

[@apex_prowler95]

Also PsyOps instructor in the Phoenix Program in Vietnam.

[@Raymint]

That is Philip Seymour Hoffman I hear. I don't see him but I hear him.

[@pavlic43]

This panel occurred in April 1979.

[@joycewilliams1017]

Yes, when time was on our side. We don't have much of it these days. .

[@volta2aire]

6:30 Racism is a * product of the economic system, it has its own rewards. "The only thing we can do about that right now is to live the lives we think we should ... and work toward the world we think we want to have ... and take whatever, pay whatever you have to pay, behind it."

[@volta2aire]

* a desired product of that economic system, now we are not going to be able to dismantle the economic system this afternoon

[@ethiopaalem7771]

pride come through their recognizition of who they are and if ur history teaches u that ur nothing other than slaves what can u expect

[@arricammarques1955]

Don't let history, or others stop your self respect or destiny.

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

I agree 👍

[@nosillaxoc]

We need to get back to black language. We expose way too much on social media of our culture and community intentions. It’s undermined by people who appropriate or dismantle what we need to be doing for ourselves. Nothings sacred

[@morenitascorp9246]

nosillaxoc You are a person after my own heart. We should DM.

[@GoddessY1968]

Agreed some things should be sacred.

[@batgirlp5561]

YESSSSSSSS

[@alfredmendozawoolsey]

Very insightful, and so important in this day and time, 2014. So many young people are committing suicide, having lost all hope for the future. Veterans returning from the Middle-East, Blacks, Hispanics, Whites, and even Bank Associates,...entire families are doing it now!?

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

It's the lions 🦁 Fleece of its Broad shoulders

[@williamdeangellodavis2224]

🐐

[@37Dionysos]

"The land stinks of suicide"----Ralph Waldo Emerson. So what's new, Amerika?

[@acajudi100]

100th born day on August 2nd 2024,

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Flattering is Almond joy

[@cedricliggins7528]

4:35

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

2099- Repeat

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Bartram Garden, Dragons!

[@ethiopaalem7771]

should have taken the offer Haile Selassie gave them which is to come home and regain ur pride instead they choose integration what do they want they will never get

[@DaPaRaDiceAli]

It’s really unfortunate that their seeds whom were not given an opportunity from Emperor Selassie to come back to the land of our Fore Fathers (Kings) were not astute enough to regain our dignity, strength, and freedom from our family, chiefs, elders, and MOTHERS! Once again, we were sold out to political bureaucracy. We are made to feel poorer in the USA in every aspect of life! Most blacks only care about their mental feelings...Emperor Selassie absolutely personally cared about educating and feeding poor folks as his major objective responsibility and priority!

[@snagle09]

nah

[@sexxyshandasexxyshanda8667]

Those black youth back then were never killing their self same thing going on today black youth they don't kill themselves

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Rode, Rhode, road

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Like A Moore is a norse

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Amurry merry Murry merry, Sandra in 2007 septic

[@electrasong]

I've always respected James Baldwin as a great literary figure, but I find his statements about being a black American in Paris and other European cities somewhat bewildering. He states that Europeans didn't know what to think about an American who was black, but how can that be? There had been a steady stream of great black jazz musicians making their fame in Paris from the 1930's onwards. Paris was the place where so many black Americans made their fame. Josephine Baker is one of your first examples. Not only black but a woman they called The Black Venus. From the 1920's to the 1950's black American artists lit up Paris. Miles Davis was revered as were so many others. www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/jazz-greats-in-paris

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

It's yo babel

[@afaircomment]

I wasn't him that I was judging...

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Aspect asparagus approach, A broach, apron

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

A- Murry

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Possible

[@petermorningsnow]

They're both really high, which I like, but the microphone levels are all off. Way too much volume on his filling up the plastic cups. I'd rather hear the genius scratching his arm.

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

4599- Repeat

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Mousa, mustard 😋 tubular" know,no,noe,noah,

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Mint Jalopy

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Use are our on mitte and matte

[@douglasedwards4505]

They Still have the guns, God?

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Repeat,repeat,repeat!

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Sandra L Nick, Mr Baldwin, again " We are not yo negro

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Poly potent, complete redundant

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Gurney, gone, game, shook 😳

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

You put it, like leprosy

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Anno Donna's A.D

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Noire

[@jaysteve8048]

They should've invited Malcolm X.

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Bar, que, Kay case, mmmmm' emerald, left left, rigor, Vista bono,mono

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Appears [ a pare, pair, pear 🍐 paint

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Brake fluid is bre- fisk, breakfast

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Naegars

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Again

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Repeat

[@theartfuldodger935]

"Where all da White wimmin at?"

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Allegro

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Pices

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Dis is no ,know voice over

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Cop that Pretty Brown. A murri

[@fredfarmer5952]

So sad. The commentor (Westbrook) only had an AA Degree ...at best.) He had a very interesting career though... because it appears he was a paid police informant. Such is the experience of Black American politics.

[@batgirlp5561]

The moderator??

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Fish piece, flake, busy bet

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Posse

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Sub bus sub con khan comb chain chant, gypsy, glue , clue, cue, coo coo

[@wrouillie]

Idiot? You're definitely projecting, lol.

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Lie, julee

[@wrouillie]

I hate the homosexuality thing, but I love Baldwins work. I'm also a Muslim (not a bigot - I'm the real thing, not an American contrivance of one). And I don't need a report on his sexuality, that's for the bedroom. Not for me. If I write thought provoking books, should we review my sexual habits first? Outrageous.

[@derwentalia]

FYI, you are nothing BUT a bigot. i could educate as to why and maybe, since its been 4 years since you posted this, youd understand presumably because youd have grown as a person and learned something outside the tiny little box that is your 2014/2015 mentality, but probably not.

[@BettyblackBlack]

Rouillie Wilkerson you have it.all twisted so don't get MR BALDWIN twisted so what he prefers men 2 women this is unimportant to the fact of him speaking what is in his HEART.

[@BettyblackBlack]

you are pitiful the 🌎 is. not flat so you can't jump off of it

[@thenewyorkmimes5753]

Baldwin was a word Smith. But once you get past the beautiful sweeping prose and lyricism, his central claims are a bit cliche, anecdotal and oversimplified (as anecdotes tend to be). But what speaks to his brilliance as orator and writer is how enraptured and spellbound he can have you while he is in fact saying very little and evidencing even less.

[@morenitascorp9246]

@TheNewYorkMimes Disagree. We have to look at the magnitude of the topics Mr. Badwin’s asked to tackle. For instance, the enormity in asking one generationally oppressed man for the ‘solution’ on racism in America is oversimplified and mentally lazy of the asker.

[@adilmohammed3828]

His genius is in saying very little but conveying a lot. If one is enraptured and spellbound, that’s on the listener, not on James Baldwin.

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Chank,ceng,ching,chant,Asante, sian,Sian,, c, ing , sang, psychology, chandelier, simple, cymbals, system, sanka, fillet, cream, bulk, balk, wWILL

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Repeat

[@evilnotintotesticalorlessbein]

Repeat