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Who Speaks for the Negro: Clarie Collins Harvey
From the Freedom Riders to Freedom Now
Unless you grew up in Mississippi, you may not have heard of Clarie Collins Harvey. She was a Black businesswoman, religious leader, and prominent activist during the civil rights movement in Mississippi. Her organization, Womanpower Unlimited, has been recognized by many for its role in sustaining the Freedom Riders during their imprisonment at Parchman Penitentiary.
In 1964, Harvey sat for an interview with Robert Penn Warren in which they discussed how she became active in the civil rights movement, the role of religion, and the slogan “Freedom Now!” The link below includes the audio of their discussion. The full transcript follows.
Clarie Collins Harvey | Who Speaks for the Negro?
Harvey discusses her educational and family background and describes the influences that led her to civil rights work. She considers the influence of religion on the civil rights movement and non-violence as a tactic of civil rights agitation. Harvey also discusses African Americans’ opinions of Martin Luther King, Jr., and she suggests that the slow pace of civil rights change may lead to violence. Harvey discusses the imprisonment of Freedom Riders in Mississippi in 1961 and describes how she organized local women to help provide for their…
