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Oral History Interview with Aaron Henry, April 2, 1974. Interview A-0107. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
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  • Abstract
    Aaron Henry, an officeholder in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, shares his thoughts and recollections on the intersection of race and politics in his home state. Despite racially motivated violence, Henry is determined to use his education and political skills to advance the interest of black Mississippians, a group under assault by racist white politicians committed to reversing the gains of the civil rights movement. This interview will be useful for researchers interested in the insidious role of race in 1970s Mississippi politics.
    Excerpts
  • Decline in fear of racial violence, though fear persists
  • Segregation is a recent phenomenon
  • Politicians use racial code to appeal to white voters
  • Politicians use racial code to appeal to white voters
  • Moderate politics fail to energize voters
  • Black politician energizes black voters
  • Need for black political involvement
  • Districting depletes black political power
  • Persistent work for change despite threat of violence
  • Persistent work for change despite threat of violence
  • Central role of race in Mississippi politics
  • Government will not help register voters
  • Hopes for the future of Mississippi politics
  • Need for interracial cooperation to continue to push for racial justice
  • Southern strategy seeks to reverse gains for blacks
  • Learn More
  • Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
  • Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
  • Resources for Educators
  • Changes in Southern Politics Learning Object
  • Subjects
  • Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1995
  • Civil rights--Mississippi
  • Mississippi--Politics and government
  • Mississippi--Race relations
  • School integration--Mississippi
  • Republican Party (Miss.)
  • African American politicians--Mississippi
  • Democratic Party (Miss.)
  • Thurmond, Strom, 1902-2003
  • The Southern Oral History Program transcripts presented here on Documenting the American South undergo an editorial process to remove transcription errors. Texts may differ from the original transcripts held by the Southern Historical Collection.

    Funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this title.