Karl Fleming, Newsweek’s civil rights reporter

New York Times ^ | August 18, 2012 | Dennis Hevesi

[ConservativeStatement]

NEW YORK — Karl Fleming, a former Newsweek reporter who dodged bullets and choked on tear gas while covering some momentous events of the civil rights era, died last Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 84.

The cause was respiratory illness, his son Charles said.

[ConservativeStatement]

Splendid mentality:

But Mr. Fleming was not bitter. ‘‘If I was a young black man growing up on the streets of Watts,’’ he wrote in his book, ‘‘seeing what they had seen and going through what I know . . . they went through to survive, I might feel like hitting some white guy in the head, too."

[freedumb2003]

>>But Mr. Fleming was not bitter. ‘‘If I was a young black man growing up on the streets of Watts,’’ he wrote in his book, ‘‘seeing what they had seen and going through what I know . . . they went through to survive, I might feel like hitting some white guy in the head, too.” <<

I grew up in the East L.A barrios. interestingly those are now gentrified Asian communities. Some cultures improve their neighborhoods. Other cultures expect and demand the government to do so. How did we let this happen? (OK that is rhetorical).

These guys have nothing on me. Poverty teaches you all you need to know about life. The stupid ones don’t learn those lessons. It was a bit of a grind but all my siblings learned what they needed to learn. I won’t put up with “you don’t know how tough it is” nonsense. I DO know and I worked through it with hard work and stubbornness.

The Who said it best: “I was a born with a plastic spoon in my mouth...”

[abb]

Indeed. Hard work overcomes just about everything that life throws at you.

[IronJack]

a ... reporter who dodged bullets and choked on tear gas while covering some momentous events of the civil rights era

So now we're supposed to revere people who just OBSERVE history? I'm sorry, but I must have missed the "heroism" in reporting events, harrowing "bullet and tear gas" experiences notwithstanding.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[freedumb2003]

>>So now we’re supposed to revere people who just OBSERVE history? <<

The observers are also the commentators. They went into rag-writing (there hasn’t been a “journalist” since Murrow) to demand accolades and affection.

Reverence is a subset within that spectrum.

[fella]

I believe he was from a time when even conservatives could be reporters and reporters didn't need a degree in so called journalism. And the RATs of that time surely did not want those civil rights stories to get out. That's why they had to corrupt and take over the news media.

[IronJack]

I think they confuse telling the stories of heroism with actually being heroic themselves. They hope to shine with reflected glory. But in reality, they are punks, pimps, and exploiters, carrion feeders who gorge themselves on the blood of martyrs.

There's nothing heroic about them.

[GOPJ]

These guys have nothing on me. Poverty teaches you all you need to know about life. The stupid ones don’t learn those lessons. It was a bit of a grind but all my siblings learned what they needed to learn. I won’t put up with “you don’t know how tough it is” nonsense. I DO know and I worked through it with hard work and stubbornness. The Who said it best: “I was a born with a plastic spoon in my mouth...”

You're right about this freedumb - liberals aren't doing blacks any favors by teaching them the antics of non-stop pity parties. Might 'feel' good in the short run - but in the long run it defines a person as a loser. Hats off to you and your siblings - you have the spirit that made this country great.

[freedumb2003]

>>. Hats off to you and your siblings - you have the spirit that made this country great.<<

That is one of the kindest things ever said to me on FR. I believe all of us here at FR share these values and we all work hard to make our country go. It is sad that we have to work AGAINST those who will not put in the effort (liberals, democrats etc).

I have a family reunion coming up in a few months. I will happily share your kind words with all my sibs. It was our Mom (God rest her soul) who gave us the work ethic. She deserves any and all credit. The best I can do carry on her work ethic — Lord knows I am trying. :)

[ConservativeStatement]

Good stuff. The quote irritated me as it exudes violence as a means, which is something civilized societies try to avoid at all costs.

[GOPJ]

He covered the Freedom Summer of 1964, when college students from around the country went to Mississippi to join in a voter registration drive. After three of those volunteers — Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman — were jailed, released, and, weeks later, found shot to death, Mr. Fleming was one of the first two reporters to arrive in Philadelphia, Miss. The other was Claude Sitton of The New York Times, a Georgia native with whom Mr. Fleming worked closely.

I don't usually stand with the press - but ... Reporters who went South in '64 were courageous. They stood with what was right against the establishment of their time. It's easy to forget there was a tradition of reporters willing to risk their lives for the public's right to know... They also defended blacks when blacks were prevented from voting - prevented from sitting on a bus (based on the number of white people in the bus - as white numbers increased blacks were force back and eventually had to stand - blacks were seated back to front and white front to back... horrible humiliating stuff), prevented from eating at lunch counters - and restaurants...

We need to give them their due - this man went down when he had no idea how dangerous it would be... he would have been considered an 'outside agitators'. Not a safe group to be identified with... It would be as if a reporter today decided to stand with the Tea Party against the politically powerful Southern Poverty Law Center.

That's something the press missed - it's not that one victim groups gets to be milked forever for glory - but that corruption and evil are moving targets. And the press needs to move with them... closely... watching and reporting.

[okie01]

In 1964, my boss spent his summer vacation as a Freedom Rider in the South. I admired him for that.

But, when he returned from vacation, he discovered that his landlord had rented the apartment next door to a black. Whereupon, he moved out -- in a huff.

I learned a lot about liberalism and liberals that summer.

[GOPJ]

In 1964, my boss spent his summer vacation as a Freedom Rider in the South. I admired him for that. But, when he returned from vacation, he discovered that his landlord had rented the apartment next door to a black. Whereupon, he moved out -- in a huff. I learned a lot about liberalism and liberals that summer.

Your story makes perfect sense within the cultures of the North and South at the time. In the South it didn't matter how close blacks were, but how big. Every upper class Southern kid had a black 'mammy' who he loved dearly. In the North it didn't matter how 'big' a black person got ( they could own a store - be the mayor etc ) but how close they were... Northerners didn't want close contact with blacks. So your boss - who I assume was from the North goes south to assist with basic rights that should belong to all citizens and comes home to a black 'too close'. Great story - thanks for sharing.

[GOPJ]

You had a wonderful mother - you were blessed.

[freedumb2003]

>>You had a wonderful mother - you were blessed<<

Indeed we (my sibs and I) were. I miss her to this day. So much work and so much hardship. This planet has like 6 billion people. God blessed me with the 6 billionth +one.

If your Mom is here, please give her an extra hug for me. You don’t have to tell her why, just do it if you can.