The Gary Convention Elided Black America’s Internal Disunity
In 1972, black political leaders and activists convened in Gary, Indiana, to develop a unified black political program. But the convention’s emphasis on racial cohesion overlooked the realities of black class stratification and internal ideological divisions.
Gary mayor Richard Hatcher welcomes delegates to the National Black Political Convention, flanked by Imamu Barak of the New Jersey Conference of African Peoples (L) and Rev. Jesse Jackson (R). (Bettmann Archive / Getty Images)
Between March 10th and 12th of 1972, the West Side High School auditorium was buzzing with excitement and hope. The room was filled with a tour de force of black political activists, politicians, and cultural figures. Comedian Dick Gregory delivered his usual mix of jokes and political commentary, while Muhammad Ali served as sergeant at arms. Newly elected black politicians like Richard Hatcher, Charles Diggs, and Kenneth Gibson mixed with black nationalists like Amiri Baraka and Queen Mother Moore. Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X, sat together in a dramatic display of unity.
The event was the Gary National Black Political Convention, convened fifty-two years ago today. Under the banner of “Unity without Uniformity,” the thousands in attendance sought to synthesize the various strains of black politics into a coherent strategy for the 1972 presidential election and beyond, while considering the options for political action outside the two major parties.
The Gary Convention was impressive in terms of the sheer depth and breadth of black political perspectives represented. In terms of lasting legacy or political impact, however, the gathering fell far short of its grand ambitions. Within just a few years, the broad coalition that was instrumental in mounting the convention was beset by divisions and stalled activity.
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