Lez Edmond

Lez Edmond is an American philosopher, social activist, civil rights journalist, public intellectual author and academic primarily concerning the Civil rights movement (1865–1896).

Early life

Edmonds was a Seventh-day Adventist who initially attended Adelphi University for his BA and MA degree.[1] He later earned his PHD from Union Institute.[1] Edmonds stated in an interview that he was forced into Civil Rights while working for an electronic store.[2] It was here that a German co-worker called him a "god-damn black nigger."[2] When Edmonds reported this to HR, they stated he misheard this.[2]

Politics

Edmons believed that "Democrats and Dixiecrats" are the same thing.[2] Edmonds was a proponent of the use of the Schomburg Center in Harlem.[3] He was a proponent of the Freedom Now Party.[2] He was not a major fan of outside Civil Right leaders in his quote from 1964, he stated "to employ outside agitator rhetoric "is to imply that the [local] black community is neither capable nor has the desire to do anything like this"." [4] Edmonds was a Civil Rights activist in Harlem.[1] According to the book, Democracy with a Gun: America and the Policy of Force, Lez Edmond was an intellectual and friend of Malcolm X.[5] He urged Malcolm X to stay in the background for a while to avoid danger but his efforts failed.[6] He appeared in the Autobiography of Malcolm X and was an associate of Stokely Carmichael whom he set up interviews with.[5] Following the death of Malcolm X, Edmonds kept in touch with Betty Shabazz.[7] Edmond was a member and braintrust of the Organization of Afro-American Unity [8]

Journalism

He was the author of the book, African History: An Illustrated Handbook, along with Earl Sweeting.[1] Edmonds covered the Harlem riot of 1964 via the Edmonds covered under the title "Harlem Diary:The Untold Story of the American Nightmare"[9][10] for Ramparts (magazine).[11] Edmonds covered the riots in great detail including police shootings.[2] Edmonds had access to many areas and held a United Nations press credential.[5] He appeared in the book "American Journalism, 1963-1973"[12] He also appeared as a subject in "Rampart Magazine."[13] Edmonds wrote "A Source Book of Karl Marx's Letters About Abraham Lincoln and His Strategic Goal in the Civil War: The Destratification of American Society" with Louis Gesualdi in 2014.[14]

Influence

The book "Do Not Hold Doors" by Jeffrey Dessources was written by the influences of Ishmael Reed, Cornel West, Jean Michel Basquiat, Eddie Glaude, Lez Edmond, and John Lowney.[15] He was also an influence in the making of The Souls of Black Girls, produced by Daphne S. Valerius.[16]

Academia

Edmonds serves on the St. John's University (New York City) faculty.[17] At St. John's he was a part of the Multicultural Advisory Committee.[18] He engaged with many basketball players including Ron Artest.[19] He expressed disappointment when Artest left early for the NBA.[20] He was a professor of the African American Studies and was a proponent of its Black Solidarity Day.[21] He was also an avid art collector.[22]

References

1. "Lez Edmond - The HistoryMakers".
2. ""Conversation with Lez Edmond", Ramparts Magazine, October 1964".
3. "Exhibition on Marcus Garvey to Open in Harlem". The New York Times. 7 August 1987.
4. Walmsley, Mark. "Ferguson does carry echoes of the 60s – but they're coming from the right".
5. Matsuo, Fumio; Basho, Matsuo (7 September 2010). Democracy with a Gun: America and the Policy of Force. ReadHowYouWant.com. ISBN 9781458761804 – via Google Books.
6. Standard-Examiner. "Years after his death, Malcolm X is still asserting his influence".
7. "Selected Work on Malcolm X by Abdul Alkalimat".
8. "Dr. Edmond at the 50th Anniversary of OAAU - Organization of Afro-American Unity".
9. Education in America, 1960-1969: The Educational Supplement of the Saturday Review. Arno Press. 1 January 1971. ISBN 9780405012365 – via Google Books.
10. "Lez Edmond's Biography".
11. Foner, Eric (9 March 2003). "Reporting from the revolution" – via LA Times.
12. American Journalism 1963-1973. Literary Classics of the United States. 1 January 2003. ISBN 9781931082297 – via Google Books.
13. "Ramparts". Noah's Ark. 1 January 1965 – via Google Books.
14. "Amazon.com: Lez Edmond: Books".
15. Dessources, Jeffrey (1 February 2007). Do Not Hold Doors. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780615135090 – via Google Books.
16. ""The Souls of Black Girls:" Producer Screening with Daphne S. Valerius".
17. "Reporting Civil Rights: Reporters and Writers: Lez Edmond".
18. "PAE-6: Diversity and Equity Coordination - St. John's University - Scorecard - Institutions - AASHE STARS".
19. "JOHNNIES HIT THE BOOKS A CLASS ACT AFTER BIG WIN".
20. "Rookie Puts Family, Friends 1st".
21. Writer, Risa Dixon, Staff. "Unity or Division?".
22. "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. 1968-11-28.

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