3. Strain, Christopher Barry. “Civil Rights and ... - Freedom Archives

Although they were denied official positions in the organization, local women
carved out a niche for themselves with regard to protecting themselves . For example,
rather than busying themselves with "wifely chitchat" at a tea party, ' the wives of
Deacons discussed the threat of violence . "fm going to get me a machine gun or some
hand grenades;' one claimed, as Robert Hicks, public relations director of the Deacons,
offered a .30-30 Winchester for her inspection`7 Public and private spaces defined
women's spheres of influence with regard to self-defense; in other words, how they
behaved at home differed from how they behaved in public . For example, women such as
Ora Bryant, Annie Reeves, Laura McGhee, Unita Blackwell, and others regularly
participated in the defense of their homes ; however, they rarely participated in community
patrols
In an interview in November 1965, Henry Austan, a young member and organizer
for the Deacons, explained how he understood the Deacons . `"The Deacons arc not just a
gun-battling organization," he cautioned . `"They are set up to participate in a wide-range
of activity--from voter registration to transporting civil rights workers in safety into `hot
spots' ." Echoing one of Malcolm X's famous catch-phrases, he declared: "We arc
dedicated to freedom and we're willing to use any means necessary to obtain our
freedom ." His woc+ds announced a self-conscious, self-styled emulation of the NOI
minister's admonition for black people to arm themselves for their own protection .
Indeed, he continued : "Malcolm X is my idol . . . [He] had not yet reached his peak [when
4~Quoted in Wall Street Journal , July 12,1965 .
~Uraoja, "Eye for an Eye," 189 .
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