Clarence B. Jones

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In this interview with Clarence B. Jones, he describes how his participation in the civil rights movement, as Martin Luther King, Jr.’s attorney, affected his life. He states that Martin Luther King, Jr. “. . . changed my life. He showed me that no matter how skillful you are, no matter how talented you are, we have choices.”  In this interview, Mr. Jones makes meaningful connections to the history of racial bias in the United States and South Africa, including the different ways each country has sought to redress past wrongs and heal. He explains, “The institution of slavery defined America. Regrettably, the institution of Apartheid defined South Africa. . . You cannot understand America unless you understand the institution of slavery and the consequences of that institution on subsequent generations. You cannot understand South Africa unless you understand Apartheid . . . no matter what color you are.”

Interviewers:  Jesse Harber (South Africa) and Eric Slessarev (United States)