Black heritage radio interviews continue

WJCT’s First Coast Connect host Melissa Ross updated Historic City News on the progress of the joint Civil Rights interview project between the Jacksonville Public Radio station and its producer, Flagler College Sociology Assistant Professor Dr. Casey Welch.

The 30-month series, called “Black Heritage, Civil Rights Movement and Contemporary Race Issues in St. Augustine,” is a collection of live interviews covering issues of importance to black heritage and civil rights in St. Augustine.

The First Coast Connect interview series, which airs on 89.9 FM during the 9:00 a.m. hour on the first Wednesday of each month, began in July with a joint interview featuring Christopher and Walter Eugene White; the sons of late civil rights icon Hattie White.

The White’s brother, Samuel White, was one of the original “St. Augustine Four” who were arrested for trying to eat at the “whites-only” lunch counter of the local Woolworth’s.

An August interview featured Ambassador Andrew Young who had worked under the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and had been highly involved in civil rights protests in St. Augustine. The series continued on September 7th with an interview of State Senator Tony Hill; who in late 2010 led efforts to clear the arrest records of St. Augustine Civil Rights pioneers.

Three additional black heritage programs remain this year;

– Oct. 5 – St. Augustine Mayor Joe Boles
– Nov. 2 – Dr. David Colburn, University of Florida Historian of Race and Politics in Florida
– Dec. 7 – Hank Thompson, St. Augustine Freedom Rider

Ross says the program is intended to help raise awareness of black heritage throughout the community prior to 2014 — the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

Welch says he hopes the partnership will “bring some organization to the information that’s out there”. Interviews are slated to run for 30 months — culminating in January 2014.

“Black heritage is a significant part of our history here in St. Augustine,” Welch said in an interview with Flagler College spokesman Brian Thompson. “Through the WJCT radio interviews, we are working to build cognitive clarity about black heritage prior to 2014 so that, when we get to that point, people will be more engaged and will better understand the significance of the events.”

The WJCT First Coast Connect series heard on 89.9 FM, kicks off its second year on January 4th with a special interview of Dr. Robert Hayling — widely regarded as the father of the civil rights movement in St. Augustine.