"The Force of Ethics in Civil Rights" Oral History Project

Our oral history project, “The Force of Ethics in Civil Rights,” was begun in 2005, and in early 2014 includes over 200 video interviews and scores of audio interviews conducted by journalist and Aesthetic Realism Associate Alice Bernstein with unsung pioneers nationwide — men and women of all races who deserve our nation's acknowledgment and gratitude. The purpose of this project is to preserve little  known history of the fight for civil rights—in the voices, words, and images of those who helped to make that history, and to meet the urgent need in America to understand the cause and answer to racism, explained by Aesthetic Realism, the education founded by the great philosopher Eli Siegel.
         These interviews were videotaped by photographer and cameraman, David M. Bernstein. Some interviews took place via email from foreign countries. In time, we hope to have them all represented on AEA's website—and with your support, we can! 

This portrait of Private John Chavis, a free man of color who served in the American Revolution, was commissioned from artist Michelle Nicholeby by the North Carolina Museum of History. It was unveiled at the 10th Annual African American Cultural Celebration in January 2011. (l-r), Son of the American Revolution Glenn Sappie; Dr. Helen Chavis Othow; and Earl Ijames. More about Dr. Othow and Mr. Ijames can be found in the Index. Photo credit: David M. Bernstein.