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Perry Robinson talked about his involvement with the youth concert with Shepp et al in his autobiography

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Interesting--I never read Perry's book, although I know about it. THANKS

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It’s on Scribd if you want to check it out.

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Good to know--THANKS!

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Amazing work as usual Mr. Porter-- you and your colleagues are allowing us to see these luminaries work through daily life, bringing greater richness to their music!

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Thanks Much Vinnie—I appreciate your own Substack writing, and your music too!

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founding

Those of us who lived through the Red Scare remember it well. Over the winter, I read Beverly Gage's well received "G-Man," a serious biography of J. Edgar Hoover. D.C. was a southern city when he grew up in it; in college, he joined a fraternity that might be described as an educated branch of the Klan. As he formed the FBI, he recruited from its members -- indeed, membership seemed have been a requirement of the job. Gage reveals some scary details of Hoover's actions against anything that the Black community and/or its leadership did to move the ball forward; the Red Scare, also a major pursuit, gave him cover for that.

When finished work in Cairo, IL with the United Front in 1970 (I ran out of money), I was visited by the FBI, hoping I would spill some dirt. The movement there was organized by an ecumenical group of preachers, working out of the rectory and parish hall of a Roman Catholic church.

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Wow--fascinating stories Jim! I might ask you to say more at our next Founders meeting, if that's OK (in addition to your other topic). I personally think that letting Hoover remain in charge as essentially a "lifetime" appointment, unchallenged, was one of the stupidest and most destructive things our government ever did. THANKS!

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founding

The Gage book, which is extensively researched, is a must read. It reveals Hoover as a closeted gay who had a long term relationship with another FBI agent, and Hoover as politically sensitive, playing up to each newly elected President. It's not an expose, but rather a study of the man, his strengths and weaknesses, to which it is sensitive. Among those strong points are his vision for the Bureau, which he created as a young man, his ability to create a productive and efficient organization, including some things that were innovative and quite beneficial.

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Very interesting--I will put it on my reading list. THANKS JIM!

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