Description:
Howard Husock interviews James Kelly (South Boston Information Center) outside of the South Boston Information Center. Kelly talks about a meeting he has called to discuss "black on white crime". Kelly indicates that the meeting is not for "whites only." Kelly talks about the shooting of Darryl Williams (African American Jamaica Plain student) and contends that the shooting was not racially motivated. Kelly accuses the media of bias in reporting on incidents of racial violence and says that whites must bring more attention to racially motivated crime against whites. Kelly indicates that he would consider participating with African American community leaders in a meeting to condemn racial violence, and blames media interferance for forcing the cancellation of his meeting with William Owens (State Senator) to discuss racial violence. Kelly says that he resents media efforts to draw him into the mayoral debate between Kevin White (Mayor of Boston) and Joseph Timilty (mayoral candidate). Kelly talks about his efforts to establish his independence from all political figures. He expresses his resentment at media coverage suggesting that he is being manipulated by White. Kelly refutes rumors that White got him his job at the Boston Marine Industrial Park. He notes that he represents the interests of the South Boston community at the Boston Marine Industrial Park; that he is well qualified for the job; that he was encouraged by community leaders to take the job; and that similar jobs around the city are held by members of the African American community.
0:01:10: Visual: Howard Husock sets up an interview with James Kelly (South Boston Information Center) outside of the South Boston Information Center. Husock asks Kelly about the meeting he has called for Wednesday evening. Kelly says that there has been a conscious attempt to convince white society that it is at fault for all of the ills of the city. Kelly notes that the shooting of Darryl Williams (Jamaica Plain student) was tragic. He says that some are calling the shooting a racial incident; that no one knows yet if the shooting was racially motivated. Kelly says that the media only cover racial violence when the victims are African American and the assailants are white; that stories about racial violence with African American perpetrators and white victims are buried by the media. Kelly says that white people need to bring attention to racially motivated crime against whites. Kelly says that the meeting on Wednesday will focus on "black on white crime"; that the meeting is not for "whites only." Kelly says that the Darryl Williams shooting was not racial; that a racially motivated incident occurred last Saturday when four white women were stoned on Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan. Kelly notes that no coverage was given to the Blue Hill Avenue incident; that the incident was ignored by those who repeatedly condemn racial violence. 0:04:15: V: Husock asks Kelly if he would consider participating with African American community leaders in a meeting to condemn racial violence. Kelly says that he would not rule it out. Kelly notes that his meeting with William Owens (State Senator) was postponed; that reports of him making a joint statement with Owens are false. Kelly says that he resents efforts by the media to draw him into the mayoral debate between Kevin White (Mayor, City of Boston) and Joseph Timilty (candidate for mayor of Boston). Kelly adds that the media have published false reports about White setting up the meeting between Kelly and Owens. Kelly says that he has no idea what the outcome of a meeting with Owens would have been; that the meeting became impossible due to media interference; that the media acted irresponsibly in predicting the outcome of a meeting which had not taken place. Kelly denies being manipulated by White. Kelly adds that he is making an effort to establish his independence from all political figures. The reporter asks Kelly if he will leave his city job in order to establish his independence. Kelly says that he is undecided about leaving his job. Kelly notes that a link to any politician will hurt his cause and the cause of the South Boston Information Center. Husock closes the interview. 0:08:11: V: The crew takes cutaway shots of Husock interviewing Kelly. Kelly adds that he would have liked to meet with Owens; that the media "cut the legs out" from under him by predicting the outcome of the meeting before it was held. Kelly says that he resents being brought up in the mayoral campaign; that he has never endorsed any politician. Kelly adds that White did not give him the job at the Boston Marine Industrial Park; that he was given the job by Michael Westgate (former director, Boston Marine Industrial Park); that he represents the interests of the South Boston community at the Boston Marine Industrial Park by making sure that qualified South Boston natives are hired. Kelly says that similar jobs around the city are held by members of the African American community. Kelly says that Westgate was approached about the position by South Boston community leaders. Kelly notes that he is well qualified for the job; that community leaders Melba Hamilton, Tommy Butler, and Jimmy Flaherty asked him to take the job. Kelly and Husock discuss remarks made about him by Timilty. Kelly says that the media is attempting to punish him for his position on the busing issue; that the media has focused on the connection between him and White; that the connection does not exist.
0:01:10: Visual: Howard Husock sets up an interview with James Kelly (South Boston Information Center) outside of the South Boston Information Center. Husock asks Kelly about the meeting he has called for Wednesday evening. Kelly says that there has been a conscious attempt to convince white society that it is at fault for all of the ills of the city. Kelly notes that the shooting of Darryl Williams (Jamaica Plain student) was tragic. He says that some are calling the shooting a racial incident; that no one knows yet if the shooting was racially motivated. Kelly says that the media only cover racial violence when the victims are African American and the assailants are white; that stories about racial violence with African American perpetrators and white victims are buried by the media. Kelly says that white people need to bring attention to racially motivated crime against whites. Kelly says that the meeting on Wednesday will focus on "black on white crime"; that the meeting is not for "whites only." Kelly says that the Darryl Williams shooting was not racial; that a racially motivated incident occurred last Saturday when four white women were stoned on Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan. Kelly notes that no coverage was given to the Blue Hill Avenue incident; that the incident was ignored by those who repeatedly condemn racial violence. 0:04:15: V: Husock asks Kelly if he would consider participating with African American community leaders in a meeting to condemn racial violence. Kelly says that he would not rule it out. Kelly notes that his meeting with William Owens (State Senator) was postponed; that reports of him making a joint statement with Owens are false. Kelly says that he resents efforts by the media to draw him into the mayoral debate between Kevin White (Mayor, City of Boston) and Joseph Timilty (candidate for mayor of Boston). Kelly adds that the media have published false reports about White setting up the meeting between Kelly and Owens. Kelly says that he has no idea what the outcome of a meeting with Owens would have been; that the meeting became impossible due to media interference; that the media acted irresponsibly in predicting the outcome of a meeting which had not taken place. Kelly denies being manipulated by White. Kelly adds that he is making an effort to establish his independence from all political figures. The reporter asks Kelly if he will leave his city job in order to establish his independence. Kelly says that he is undecided about leaving his job. Kelly notes that a link to any politician will hurt his cause and the cause of the South Boston Information Center. Husock closes the interview. 0:08:11: V: The crew takes cutaway shots of Husock interviewing Kelly. Kelly adds that he would have liked to meet with Owens; that the media "cut the legs out" from under him by predicting the outcome of the meeting before it was held. Kelly says that he resents being brought up in the mayoral campaign; that he has never endorsed any politician. Kelly adds that White did not give him the job at the Boston Marine Industrial Park; that he was given the job by Michael Westgate (former director, Boston Marine Industrial Park); that he represents the interests of the South Boston community at the Boston Marine Industrial Park by making sure that qualified South Boston natives are hired. Kelly says that similar jobs around the city are held by members of the African American community. Kelly says that Westgate was approached about the position by South Boston community leaders. Kelly notes that he is well qualified for the job; that community leaders Melba Hamilton, Tommy Butler, and Jimmy Flaherty asked him to take the job. Kelly and Husock discuss remarks made about him by Timilty. Kelly says that the media is attempting to punish him for his position on the busing issue; that the media has focused on the connection between him and White; that the connection does not exist.
Collection:
Ten O'Clock News
Date Created:
10/12/1979
