The Meeting between Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, and other Black Leaders and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy
In May 1963, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy famously met with a group of Black leaders, including James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, and others. The meeting was in response to the violence and unrest in Birmingham, Alabama. Much has been written about this meeting. This article is an excerpt from “Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry” by Imani Perry.
Read
Lorraine Hansberry, American Radical, Salon Magazine
Discuss
1. What was your initial reaction to this article?
2. Does this essay differ from other accounts you have read of this meeting? If so, how?
3. Who did Lorraine Hansberry insist RFK listen to? Why?
4. What eventually came out of this meeting?
5. Is there a particular quote or excerpt from this article that stood out to you?
6. Lorraine Hansberry took her frustration with this meeting and galvanized it into the creation of a rally for Southern Freedom that drew over 1,000 people to Croton-on-Hudson, New York on June 16, 1963 and raised thousands of dollars to support grassroots organizing in southern states. Here are some ways you can take action today for voting rights no matter where you live. What are other things you could do together as a Democracy Circle in your own community?
My name is Lily Pazner and I’m originally from Michigan, but currently studying Gender Studies and English at Barnard College. Ever since I’d heard about The Workers Circle while serving as an editor at jGirls+ Magazine, I’ve admired their work to uplift the voices of young people and give them the tools to make necessary and important changes. When I heard about the democracy organizer internship it felt bashert (meant to be), giving me an opportunity to get involved with an organization I’ve admired and to organize around issues that I’m passionate about. As a democracy organizer, it’s been really powerful to engage with my peers and different groups on and off campus to get them involved in fighting for the democracy that we all deserve. Being a part of the college network has been a refreshing and empowering experience as well as a welcome reminder of what can happen when we mobilize young people.
The Workers Circle would like to thank and acknowledge Lamis Idris, our other college democracy organizer. She is also doing wonderful work organizing around issues of democracy and we’ll be featuring her in a future issue!