Reverend Marion Bascom interview

Description

Reverend Marion Bascom (1922-2012) was a civil rights activist, a minister at Douglas Memorial Community Church, and the first Black fire commissioner in Baltimore, Maryland. In this interview, Bascom discusses how he became involved in the civil rights movement and his association with Douglas Memorial Community Church in Baltimore's Bolton Hill neighborhood. Bascom speaks about the evolution of the Republican Party and criticizes its lack of concern for the welfare of Black Americans. He also discusses Baltimore’s designation as a target city by the Congress of Racial Equality, the violent disturbances in the city during the 1960s, and the relationship between local churches and civil rights organizations. Bascom further outlines who he saw as the key participants in the civil rights movement and provides his opinion on the rise of militancy in civil rights activities.