James Baldwin Debates William F. Buckley (1965)

Published 2012-10-27
Historic debate between James Baldwin v. William F. Buckley Jr. at Cambridge University on the question: "Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro?"

All Comments (21)
  • @dcbandnerd
    The depth of Baldwin's humanity, eloquence, and empathy is astounding.
  • @jsingh106
    Thank you for uploading this film. In my opinion it is a truly important recording of the evolution of our thinking in our country. It's a shame it is not a part of our required knowledge.
  • @picassomicasso1
    Baldwin was a Brilliant man. Cambridge Union has my respect for allowing this sort of debate in that era.
  • @numchucklee4279
    wow, this Baldwins analysis still mostly applies today - 50 years after this debate...
  • @EscherSketcher
    After listening to Baldwin's amazing debate, the standing ovation at the end gave me chills!
  • @DenEColt
    Buckley observes that Jewish and Italian communities were more energetic in getting ahead than were Black Americans, but he doesn't acknowledge the obvious difference: despite severe discrimination, Jews and Italians were never slaves or grew up with that knowledge and experience hanging over them for generations or had to contend with their former and bitter owners and those owners' descendants living side by side with them and who acted to deliberately deny black participation in the system.
  • @deeliciousplum
    I really think that there is a need for such igniting, challenging, and enlightening debates. Yes and presently, there are scores of debates on an equally as numerous topics. Within my little thoughts, few debaters are as rich in experience and few are hosts to such well formed arguments as these two gentlemen. Thanks for sharing this.
  • @1awareness
    Does anyone know more about the background of this debate? Could anyone suggest a book to read about this debate?
  • I was born the year of this debate, but seeing it for the first time today! I am wowed! Thank you for sharing it. Had people listened to us then, we wouldn't have this decimated middle class problem now.
  • @islezeus
    Buckley did not really address the theme of the debate...
  • @musjam2
    Did you notice when James Baldwin finished speaking the entire audience stood and applauded, mind you there was a FULL house! When Mr. Buckley finished with his speech, during the applause, the cameras panned the room and I noticed a good portion of the audience had left!
  • @sultanavasilisa
    “True art awakens the
    Extraordinary
    Ovation” Hafiz, The Gift .... Baldwin then and now
  • @uknowwho97
    Thank you so much for putting this up, it's helped me make sense of a nonsensical justice that fails to value the life of an African - American child over the past few days.
  • @ricelaker
    Was this held in the UK becasue there is no way in 1965 America could this be held? Just asking.