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President Ronald Reagan criticizes civil rights leaders for allegedly exaggerating the degree of racism in America.
1989 (Jan 15)
On the eve of his departure from office, President Ronald Reagan criticized civil rights leaders for allegedly exaggerating the degree of racism in America. The president suggested that Black leaders were striving "to keep their cause alive and to maintain their own prominence.” In an interview with the CBS television network news program "60 Minutes," Reagan specifically said: “Sometimes I wonder if they really want what they say they want... because some of those leaders are doing very well leading organizations based on keeping alive the feeling that they're victims of prejudice." During his eight years in office, Reagan had been constantly attacked by Black leaders for allegedly seeking to thwart progress in civil rights. But in the interview, Reagan defended his position on civil rights. He pointed out that as governor of California he had "appointed more Blacks to executive and policy-making positions in government than all the previous governors of California put together." Reagan regretted that he was seen as being "on the other side" of the struggle for civil rights.
References:
- • Hornsby, Alton. Chronology of African-American History: Significant Events and People from 1619 to the Present. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995.