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Mamie ClarkMamie Clark
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Session:         Page of 100

some good in that. I think that in spite of what happened to him in the end, he provided a certain kind of image for many black people, for many years, and that was an image of blacks in government, blacks with power, and blacks who really could be very articulate and could compete with people on the highest level of government. I think he made a contribution in that way. I really do. In spite of the fact that I just don't like him at all, personally.

Q:

In other words, you personally disliked the man, but you have respect at heast for these accomplishments that you mention.

Clark:

Yes, and for the kind of impact that he's had on people.

Q:

Could you sense that to any extent among your children too, or were they a little too young?

Clark:

My children?

Q:

I mean the children at the Center here. Or your own, for that matter.

Clark:

Yeah. No, you could sense it more among the parents. We've always had a lot of parents who went to that church, or we did at that time that he was here, because he (Powell) had a tremendous congregation. So many people that you knew, even, went to that church, and they all had great respect for him. Really. Of course, he was a marvelous minister. A really truly great minister. But I think people in general tended to like him.

Q:

Do you feel personally, in the end, he betrayed his race?





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