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Oral History Interview with William W. Finlator, April 19, 1985. Interview C-0007. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
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  • Abstract
    Longtime civil rights advocate Reverend William W. Finlator speaks powerfully about decades of activism and the future of rights in America. Finlator's activism was wide-ranging: he marched for integration in the 1950s and 1960s, joined vigils protesting capital punishment in North Carolina, and advocated for the rights of migrant workers. During a life of activism, he developed strong opinions about capital punishment, racism, the neglect of the poor, and what he saw as the pernicious influence of religion over politics. His most passionate language, however, is devoted to the defense of working people.
    Excerpts
  • Tracing the roots of his commitment to racial justice
  • Accelerating civil rights activism over a ministerial career
  • Migrant workers lack civil rights
  • Links between oppressed peoples of the world
  • Selective reading of the Bible turns Christians against the ERA
  • Damage done by groups like the Moral Majority
  • Faux patriotic, Christian posture justifies discrimination for Reagan and others
  • Racism beneath progressive veneer in North Carolina
  • Industrialization has not helped the working class in North Carolina
  • Negative and positive responses to preaching progress from the pulpit
  • North Carolina's right-to-work law
  • 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
  • Civil rights movements--North Carolina
  • Baptists--Clergy--North Carolina--History--20th century
  • 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.