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Oral History Interview with Robert Lee Mangum, November 18, 2003. Interview U-0008. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
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  • Abstract
    Robert Lee Mangum offers his relatively measured, diplomatically delivered take on events in Robeson County, North Carolina, in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. While Mangum sometimes seems to choose his words carefully, he clearly feels passionately about the causes he participated in over decades of activism motivated by his Christian faith: opposing double voting, registering voters, and working against poverty. He registers a number of successes in this interview, but remains committed to continuing his fight against the effects of racism as well as other social problems such as drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and poverty.
    Excerpts
  • Community group works to register voters
  • Pursuing legal remedies for discrimination
  • Frustration leads to successful march
  • Christianity motivates social action
  • Supporting school merger
  • Mission accomplished, an activist moves on
  • Progressive spirit in Prospect community
  • Tuscaroras break off from Lumbees
  • Tuscaroras break off from Lumbees
  • Successful activism unifies different racial groups
  • Oppressed can become oppressors when they gain power
  • Need for churches to act in their communities
  • Need for churches to act in their communities
  • Fear of reprisals for activism
  • Learn More
  • Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
  • Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
  • Subjects
  • North Carolina--Race relations--20th century
  • Robeson County (N.C.)--Race relations
  • Robeson County (N.C.)--Social conditions
  • Civil rights--North Carolina
  • Methodist Church--Clergy--North Carolina
  • Political activists--North Carolina
  • Civil rights movements--North Carolina--History--20th century
  • Civil rights movements--North Carolina--Robeson County
  • Indians of North America--North Carolina--Robeson County
  • Indians of North America--Civil rights--North Carolina--History--20th century
  • Robeson County (N.C.)--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.