Lez Edmond

Lez Edmond is an American philosopher, social activist, civil rights journalist, public intellectual author and academic primarily concerning the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1865–95).

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:" Producer Screening with 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. 1 2 3 4 "Lez Edmond - The HistoryMakers".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ""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. 1 2 3 Matsuo, Fumio; Basho, Matsuo (7 September 2010). "Democracy with a Gun: America and the Policy of Force". ReadHowYouWant.com 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. http://lezedmond.com/portfolio/oaau/
  9. "Education in America, 1960-1969: The Educational Supplement of the Saturday Review". Arno Press. 1 January 1971 via Google Books.
  10. http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/lez-edmond-41
  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 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 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. https://books.google.com/books?id=LDkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=lez+edmond+new+york&source=bl&ots=0-bdauvTTc&sig=UOHKTmJI9Xy43KE9wwB97JCsH5k&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-lq6fuePPAhUBdD4KHRvFBOYQ6AEITzAJ#v=onepage&q=lez%20edmond%20new%20york&f=false

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