In this WALB newsfilm clip probably from 1964, WALB reporter Jim Knight questions white residents from Albany, Georgia, near a grocery store and later in front of Midtown Drugs about their reaction to a proposed civil rights bill. The clip begins with Mrs. J. D. Miles, who expresses her disbelief at the bill and declares to stand up for her rights; she feels that African Americans already possess the same freedoms to work and build their neighborhoods as white people. Next, Knight stops two women and a girl; one of the women expresses her concerns about possible violence and her preference that demonstrations remain peaceful. Another unidentified woman interviewed by Knight hopes there will not be any "trouble," and adds, "of course, being a Southerner, I'm not for it at all." A woman who does not have time to be interviewed interjects that she thinks African Americans already have equal rights. A man and a woman walking together decline to comment when they are stopped, as does an older gentleman, who says "What I have to say wouldn't be fit to go on the air." Another man and woman enter the store with a boy and a girl; they feel the bill should be voted upon as part of a national election, rather than forcing an "unwanted" decision upon the nation to accept. Finally, the last woman interviewed attests that she, too, is against the proposed legislation, and admits her concern about living in a neighborhood with African Americans.

The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for digital conversion and description of the WALB News Film collection.

Title provided by cataloger.

1 clip (ca. 1 min. 50 sec.) : b&w, sd. ; 16 mm.

Cite as: WALB newsfilm clip of reporter Jim Knight interviewing white citizens about their opinion of a proposed civil rights bill in Albany, Georgia, 1964, Albany Movement compilation, WALB News Film collection, Albany Movement Compilation Roll 6 [Tape 2], Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Award Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga., as presented in the Digital Library of Georgia.

Forms part of: Civil Rights Digital Library.