GBH Openvault
Ten O'Clock News; Common Ground, Part 7
09/28/1985
Thomas Winship (former editor, Boston Globe) speaks at a Town Meeting on Race and Class at the John F. Kennedy Library. The meeting is held in honor of the release of J. Anthony Lukas's novel, Common Ground. The novel is about the busing crisis in Boston. Winship says that Boston is no longer portrayed as a racist city in the national media. He notes that the city is dedicated to healing its wounds. Martin Nolan organizes a discussion among audience members and panelists. Gerard Doherty (former State Representative) says that Irish Americans were fighting for their children's right to a good education. He adds that there were no racial problems in Charlestown before the busing crisis. Ron Formisano (Professor, Clark University) says that he is disappointed at the absence of the McGoff family and other members of the anti-busing movement. Nolan says that many leaders of the anti-busing movement declined invitations to attend the forum. Paul Grogan (Liaison to the Business Community for the Flynn administration) asks Lukas to comment on the leadership of Kevin White (former Mayor of Boston) and Arthur Garrity (federal judge). Lukas responds to Formisano, saying that the absence of the McGoff family is troubling. He says that he invited many members of the anti-busing movement to the forum. Lukas comments on White's career as mayor. He says that White was most effective in the early years of his tenure. He notes that White became less attentive to racial issues over the years, though he was effective in other areas. Lukas compliment's Garrity's courage and integrity. Lukas speculates as to whether a metropolitan solution to busing would have worked. He says that the court order should have tried to address class issues. Rachel Twymon (member of the Twymon family portrayed in Common Ground) speaks to the audience. She says that children cannot be expected to attend school together until their parents can gather to discuss issues peacefully. Joan Diver (member of the Diver family portrayed in Common Ground) addresses the meeting. She compliments Lukas on his novel and says that his novel allowed her to understand different people's perspectives on the busing crisis. Panelists at the meeting include Jack Beatty (Senior Editor, Atlantic Monthly), Thomas Brown (Professor, University of Massachusetts), Marie Clarke (parent and member of the Home and School Association), Moe Gillen (Charlestown community activist), Father Michael Groden (Archdiocese of Boston), Robert Kiley (former Deputy Mayor of Boston), Theodore Landsmark (attorney), Sandra Lynch (former general counsel to the State Department of Education), Kim Marshall (Director of Curriculum, Boston Public Schools), Reverend Charles Stith (Union United Methodist Church), and Winship. Tape 7 of 8
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- Series
- Ten O'Clock News
- Title
Common Ground, Part 7
- Series Description
NIGHTLY NEWS WITH CHRISTOPHER LYDON AND CARMEN FIELDS Began January 1976. Replaced evening news show EVENING COMPASS. Original host: Steve Nevas. Other anchors, Christopher Lydon (1977-91) and Gail Harris (1983). In 1980 - hour long. Ended in 1991.
(PREDECESSORS: Louis Lyons began news operations at WGBH in 1952. The News at 10 began in 1966. The Reporters premiered in 1970. The Evening Compass started in 1974.) Series release date: 1/1976
- Duration
00:22:31
- Asset Type
Broadcast program
- Media Type
Video
- Subjects
- Garrity, W. Arthur (Wendell Arthur), 1920-1999
- John F. Kennedy Library and Museum
- White, Kevin H.
- Busing for school integration
- Locations
- Columbia Point (Boston, Mass.)
- Genres
- News Report
- Topics
- News
- Contributors
- Zimmerman, Leda (Reporter)
- Citation
- Chicago: “Ten O'Clock News; Common Ground, Part 7,” 09/28/1985, GBH Archives, accessed September 16, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_6F0F4EC442C7492685C6228E06B74423.
- MLA: “Ten O'Clock News; Common Ground, Part 7.” 09/28/1985. GBH Archives. Web. September 16, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_6F0F4EC442C7492685C6228E06B74423>.
- APA: Ten O'Clock News; Common Ground, Part 7. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_6F0F4EC442C7492685C6228E06B74423