A Lifetime of Social Action

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Conversations with Cy and Carolyn King, February 28, 2010.

The primary focus of these conversations is on civil rights activities of the 1950s and 1960s. Other topics include the Institute of Religion at Community UCC, Cy's work at NCSU Libraries, and the Martin Luther King march held annually in Raleigh on the MLK Holiday.

These conversations took place in Cy and Carolyn's living room at Whitaker Glen. Robert Parrish is directing the conversation, and Lavon Page is filming and joining in occasionally. These videos should play on any computer with a recent version of Adobe Flash installed, or on any computer or other device (including iPhone and iPad and Android phones) which supports HTML5.

In the Beginning (download)

• Carolyn reflects on growing up in Kentucky and working for the YWCA in Youngstown, OH
• Influence of the YMCA and Blue Ridge Assembly on Cy's youth, and Cy's years at UNC
• Cy takes a job at the NCSU Bookstore and Carolyn at the YWCA in Raleigh
• Squabbles involving the Institute of Religion at the United Church in Raleigh

Integration Comes to the South (download)

• Integrating interstate transportation
• Marching with students from Shaw University
• Early relations with First Congregational
• Carolyn helps start an integrated day camp, which in turn helps integrate state parks
• The Institute of Religion plays a central role
• Student Interracial Ministry

The 1960s (download)

• Testing the public accommodations civil rights legislation
• Carolyn works with United Church Women, Rich Park, Method Day Care, and the Total Life Center
• Cy remembers local politics of the 1960s, the recent MLK Planning Committee award, and the tragic loss of relations with local black churches in the 1990s

The Martin Luther King March and NCSU Library (download)

• Cy gets a job at NCSU Libraries and forms a long term friendship with Harlan Brown and I.T. Littleton
• Cy becomes Affirmative Action Officer for NCSU Libraries and integrates the library staff
• Good Neighbor Council and DARE
• Martin Luther King Day March and induction into Raleigh Hall of Fame