Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition

Robert F. Williams and the Roots of Black Power

By Timothy B. Tyson | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

This classic book tells the remarkable story of Robert F. Williams (1925-1996), one of the most influential black activists of the generation that toppled Jim Crow and forever altered the arc of American history. In the late 1950s, Williams, as president of the Monroe, North Carolina, branch of the NAACP, and his followers used machine guns, dynamite, and Molotov cocktails to confront Klan terrorists. Advocating “armed self-reliance,” Williams challenged not only white supremacists but also Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights establishment. Forced to flee during the 1960s to Cuba — where he broadcast “Radio Free Dixie,” a program of black politics and music that could be heard as far away as Los Angeles and New York City — and then to China, Williams remained a controversial figure for the rest of his life.

Radio Free Dixie reveals that nonviolent civil rights protest and armed resistance movements grew out of the same soil, confronted the same predicaments, and reflected the same quest for African American freedom. As Robert Williams’s story demonstrates, independent black political action, black cultural pride, and armed self-reliance operated in the South in tension and in tandem with legal efforts and nonviolent protest.

Editions of Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition

Paperback
ISBN 9781469651873
EBook
ISBN 9781469652047
PDF
ISBN 9798890856951

Read an Excerpt

This classic book tells the remarkable story of Robert F. Williams (1925-1996), one of the most influential black activists of the generation that toppled Jim Crow and forever altered the arc of American history. In the late 1950s, Williams, as president of the Monroe, North Carolina, branch of the NAACP, and his followers used machine guns, dynamite, and Molotov cocktails to confront Klan terrorists. Advocating “armed self-reliance,” Williams challenged not only white supremacists but also Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights establishment. Forced to flee during the 1960s to Cuba — where he broadcast “Radio Free Dixie,” a program of black politics and music that could be heard as far away as Los Angeles and New York City — and then to China, Williams remained a controversial figure for the rest of his life.

Radio Free Dixie reveals that nonviolent civil rights protest and armed resistance movements grew out of the same soil, confronted the same predicaments, and reflected the same quest for African American freedom. As Robert Williams’s story demonstrates, independent black political action, black cultural pride, and armed self-reliance operated in the South in tension and in tandem with legal efforts and nonviolent protest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition about?

This classic book tells the remarkable story of Robert F. Williams (1925-1996), one of the most influential black activists of the generation that toppled Jim Crow and forever altered the arc of American history. In the late 1950s, Williams, as president of the Monroe, North Carolina, branch of the NAACP, and his followers used machine guns, dynamite, and Molotov cocktails to confront Klan terrorists. Advocating “armed self-reliance,” Williams challenged not only white supremacists but also Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights establishment. Forced to flee during the 1960s to Cuba — where he broadcast “Radio Free Dixie,” a program of black politics and music that could be heard as far away as Los Angeles and New York City — and then to China, Williams remained a controversial figure for the rest of his life.

Radio Free Dixie reveals that nonviolent civil rights protest and armed resistance movements grew out of the same soil, confronted the same predicaments, and reflected the same quest for African American freedom. As Robert Williams’s story demonstrates, independent black political action, black cultural pride, and armed self-reliance operated in the South in tension and in tandem with legal efforts and nonviolent protest.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general

Where can I read a sample of Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469651873

How long is Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition and how many pages does it have?

Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition has 424 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition?

Timothy B. Tyson

Who is the Publisher of the book Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition is available as paperback(ISBN 9781469651873) and ebook(ISBN 9781469652047) and pdf(ISBN 9798890856951)

Where can I buy Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition from below

Where can I buy Radio Free Dixie, Second Edition?