Buckley and Baldwin would clash again some weeks later in America on David Susskind’s Open End TV show, but the Cambridge debate remains the historical landmark. My step-father was my father, David Susskind. I was always proud of his determination to advance intellectual and real argument and break through difficult and intense topics. I so admired his 25 year committment to his talk show, actually a secondary labor of love for him, after his film and television producttions. He greatly admired Baldwin and for years invited his more conservative friends on his Sunday talk show. William Buckley continued to be a guest almost yearly until the show ended. There are countless programs from that long talk show's production, many sustained by my step-father's incredible and curious staff and its Director for years, Jean Kennedy. Still, this was one of my favorite shows. Baldwin and his writing were astonding and extraordinarily for their power and truth. Thank you for posting this article. I was moved reading it.
At 82, graduate of Florida State University in benighted Tallahassee in 1961, and having been arrested on the campus of Florida A&M, the Negro University for the crime of being white (so spoken in code:"You don't belong here, boy!", and being a Navy child from all over, I can attest to the bone-chilling reality of James Baldwin's life. Shortly before I left FSU, the local Unitarian church was burned down for having hosted Philip Wylie, who stated "We'll all be tea-colored soon..."
Posted this on my FB. PAge, remembering when recently graduated a group of black students came to my Amer lit class and I encouraged them to read Black writers
Buckley and Baldwin would clash again some weeks later in America on David Susskind’s Open End TV show, but the Cambridge debate remains the historical landmark. My step-father was my father, David Susskind. I was always proud of his determination to advance intellectual and real argument and break through difficult and intense topics. I so admired his 25 year committment to his talk show, actually a secondary labor of love for him, after his film and television producttions. He greatly admired Baldwin and for years invited his more conservative friends on his Sunday talk show. William Buckley continued to be a guest almost yearly until the show ended. There are countless programs from that long talk show's production, many sustained by my step-father's incredible and curious staff and its Director for years, Jean Kennedy. Still, this was one of my favorite shows. Baldwin and his writing were astonding and extraordinarily for their power and truth. Thank you for posting this article. I was moved reading it.
At 82, graduate of Florida State University in benighted Tallahassee in 1961, and having been arrested on the campus of Florida A&M, the Negro University for the crime of being white (so spoken in code:"You don't belong here, boy!", and being a Navy child from all over, I can attest to the bone-chilling reality of James Baldwin's life. Shortly before I left FSU, the local Unitarian church was burned down for having hosted Philip Wylie, who stated "We'll all be tea-colored soon..."
Baldwin is a powerful writer and speaker. Wonder what truths Buckley had to say...
If you're interested, a video of the debate is posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tek9h3a5wQ. Buckley spoke last, following Baldwin.
Posted this on my FB. PAge, remembering when recently graduated a group of black students came to my Amer lit class and I encouraged them to read Black writers