James Baldwin/William F. Buckley Debate– 1965 Cambridge Union Society, Cambridge University

In 1965, James Baldwin debated William F. Buckley at the Cambridge Union Society, Cambridge University. The topic of the debate was, “The American Dream is at the expense of the American negro.”

The viewing of this series of videos should be required material in every high school and college curriculum. In addition to discussing our most foundational unresolved national issue, we as a westernized nation, at times, actually conduct civilized debate. The process itself seems to be against our nature. As noted in the Continental Congress itself, degrading monologues have always dominated the pulpits of our public conversations. Either due to intent or fatigue, there are times when people actually listen. This is the place where learning and understanding occurs. This historic debate is a case in point. Its value is not only the subject matter but the process itself.

Part 1