James Baldwin trounces William F. Buckley (1965)

This debate is always worth watching again.

Revered poet, playwrite and social activist James Baldwin debated a young William F. Buckley at The Cambridge Union in 1965, the question was "Is the American dream at the expense of the American negro?"

The students voted 540-160 in favor of Baldwin's thesis. Buckley demonstrates early moves to couch racism and bigotry as States Rights issues.

Here is a transcript of Baldwin's speech.