Charles Nabors, 1971

File — Box: 2, Folder: 9

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Nabors begins his interview by saying that teachers need to be reoriented in terms of minority students, especially those who have graduated from BYU. He discusses the difference between the institutionalized racism here and the bigoted racism in the South, citing an instance that occurred at West High School. He is reluctant to discuss his troubles with housing because he is a middle-class professor, but he does mention the substandard housing for African Americans in Central City. He notes that fewer African Americans are leaving Utah after college now, however, probably due to the Equal Employment Opportunity restrictions. There had apparently been a one thousand percent increase in African American faculty members at the University of Utah at the time of the interview. He calls the current school administration racist and says they are making few changes to help African American students. He says that discrimination is particularly obvious in terms of punishment for educational professionals (he cites a few examples of White teachers not being fired for extreme discrimination and totally unacceptable behavior).

Most of Nabors’ interview is related to discussion of the school system and its failings for minorities. Primarily, he is frustrated with the school board because he feels that they have no interest in fixing the problems related to racism in public schools. He believes it is important for minorities to get due process. He says the election of an African American student body president at South High School is progress, but also talks about the division of Central City into four districts as a prime example of political manipulation in order to destroy solidarity and voting power among minorities and those in poverty.

Nabors discusses how the political districts in Utah are set up, as well as his opinions about Eldridge Cleaver and the Panther movement. He thinks that seeking political change is a slow process but an important one. He says that the NAACP’s main contribution has been their legal victories. He says that minorities have no say in how money is spent in the state. He believes that the police do not do enough to help African Americans, and are failing their duties to protect people. Audio CD A0038_B-11_01.

Dates

1971

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.