James Brown. A clip from the documentary, "The Night James Brown Saved Boston", features interviews about the fans who attended the live concert at the Boston Garden on April 5, 1968.
In the aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination by James Earl Ray on April 4, 1968, rioting broke out in cities across the country. James Brown had been scheduled to perform at the Boston Garden on April 5th. Boston Mayor Kevin White had initially wanted to cancel all public events, including James Brown's show. As there was concern that the cancellation of the show might cause an escalation of the crisis. it was agreed that James Brown's show would go on. The show, one of the greatest in Boston's history, went on and the city of Boston remained relatively calm. James Brown consoled his mourning audience, dedicated the show to the memory of Dr. King and was instrumental in keeping the peace on the streets of Boston.
Fans rushed the stage in the middle of live performance and the police moved onstage to remove them. James Brown stood between the police and the stage crashers and immediately took control of what could have been a riotous moment in light of the raw emotions of the Black community and the tenuous relationship with the police. James Brown addresses the audience asking if he can finish the show, with the infamous words, "We are Black. Don't make us all look bad." He was asking for "respect from my own people."
Video transcript:
James Brown: Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. Wait --
David Gates: That was really a moment and it could well up in the crucial moment.
James Brown: Wait a minute, now listen John.
David Gates: Relations were not good between the Boston Police Department and the black community. If that had gotten nasty which well could have, it would have horrendous. It would have gone up like a torch.
James Brown: Can I please have your attention. Wait a minute. Wait, wait -- this is no way. We are black. We are black.
Here you get James Brown in Boston who is not a past of his calling for peace among the people whose hearts have been shattered, heartbroken, cracked open hearts, only to the level mark.
James Brown: Can't you all [inaudible 0:00:50] the show to go, we are black. Don't most of all look bad. I am kind of doing a show. Sit down there, sit there down.
He had a way but he had a way of hobbling but he stopped it. He had a way and they listen to him.
Serious situation. Very serious situation and yet his music had a healing effect. There's no doubt about it.
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