Lecturer highlights civil rights leader

Matthew McConkey
Daily Egyptian

Ekwueme Michael Thelwell told a crowd Tuesday night that immigrants in America would not share the freedoms they have today without the suffering of blacks over the past centuries.

In his new book, "Ready for Revolution," Thelwell recounts the stories, notes and recordings of longtime friend and colleague Stokely Carmichael, who died five years ago. Thelwell's presentation launches the University's Black History Month celebration, Generation Black.

Carmichael, who changed his name to Kwame Ture in 1978, was a civil rights leader in the 1960s and was the head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during his time at Howard University. He went on to be an honorary prime minister for the Black Panthers, a black nationalist organization.

Thelwell, a professor of Afro-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, spent the last six years compiling notes and recordings of Carmichael, whom he met while attending Howard University.

The two men spent the last year and a half of Carmichael's life together, in order for Thelwell to save a legacy of stories and impressions that could have been lost forever. When he took a 2,000-page manuscript to be published, the company tried to cut several of the stories, but Thelwell was able to save some of them, including the story of Jesse Harris.

In 1961 in Jackson, Miss., 17-year-old Harris tried to join the Freedom Riders during its tour through the state. When he went to buy a ticket in the white section at a segregated bus stop, he was arrested. When police realized Harris was not protected by the Freedom Riders, police detained him in a work camp.

Thelwell said although there were many influential leaders in the Civil Rights Movement, Carmichael knew it wasn't those leaders who could help the people be free.

"No one man can free the people; only the people can free themselves," Thelwell said, quoting his late friend.

He said the book is dedicated to the generation of today.

Thelwell praised his comrade for the work accomplished and said although he will remain in his heart forever, Carmichael could be immortalized in other ways.

"Maybe he will get his face on a stamp," Thelwell said.

Despite the serious mood of the discussion, the enthusiastic crowd roared in laughter during Thelwell's funny moments and praised him out loud during his righteous moments.

The Rev. Joseph Brown, director of the Black American Studies program, attributed the joyous occasion to Thelwell and Carmichael.

"We are still struggling to be heard," Brown said.

Brown said Black History Month has been challenged and Thelwell will help America understand the toil that blacks have endured. Brown said that of all of today's leaders, there is one person who stands above the rest.

"We have one among us who has done it all," Brown said.