Geoff Bennett:
Now a conversation with Ambassador Andrew Young, a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a two-term mayor of Atlanta.
The country last saw him as he delivered a heartfelt homily at the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter last month. I spoke with Ambassador Young in Atlanta last week to get his insights on the current political moment and his reflections on his extraordinary life of service.
Few lives have so clearly traced the arc of the civil rights movement as that of Ambassador Andrew Young. Activist, diplomat, mayor, and statesman, his journey has both shaped and been shaped by the fight for equality.
Your life is a chronicle of civil rights progress in this country. What does this current moment feel like to you?
Andrew Young, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: You know, I don’t know.
But the first thing that popped into my mind was the spiritual, lord, I don’t feel no ways tired. We have come too far from where we started from. And nobody ever told us that the way would be easy, but I don’t believe he brought us this far to leave us.
And I’m not worried. I’m not anxious. It’s just another struggle. My parents taught me to deal with the slights and oppression. My father’s mantra was, don’t get mad, get smart. He said, if you lose your temper in a fight, you lose the fight, and that your mind is the most powerful thing you have.