James H. Gilliam Sr. no longer worries about racism.
The community leader and civil rights activist, best known for his work as the director of the Community Development and Housing Department for New Castle County, long ago accepted the reality of the world.
“We need for all of us to think in terms of equality in this business,” he said before pausing. “I don’t worry much about racism anymore because it’s here.”
Gilliam’s voice floated Thursday through the Christopher Ward Reading Room in downtown Wilmington as he recalled memories of his childhood days in Baltimore and time spent serving in World War II.
Though he was unable to make the Delaware Historical Society’s program, “Voices of the Elders: Stories of African Americans in Delaware,” a crowd still gathered to hear Gilliam’s recorded oral history, which will soon become a part of Wilmington history.
The society has been conducting interviews with prominent locals in the black community as part of the Center of African American Heritage, slated to open in February. Gilliam was the fourth person in a series of six to be featured.
His daughter, Patrice Gilliam-Johnson, spoke for her father instead Thursday night, recalling a “G-ism,” as their family now refers to her father’s popular phrases.
“My father is still on the right side of the grass,” she said with a smile, “but he wasn’t feeling well tonight. You know how it is when you’re in your 90s – you have good days, and you have bad days.”
Despite what many locals expected, Gilliam – better known as Jim to his family and friends – didn’t speak much of his extensive work in Wilmington housing in the taped interview.
Instead, he recalled his life growing up in Baltimore, during a time when segregation was an everyday occurrence. The pattern continued during his time serving in the military, where he recalled having a drink with a few white men.
“I’m sitting here having a drink with you, but I can’t even do that in my own damn country,” he said, shortly after receiving a Bronze Star for helping to save the life of a wounded white solider.
These stories are ones that today’s generation can’t afford to forget, said Bebe Coker, a close friend of Gilliam for nearly 50 years.
“This isn’t history to me,” she said, of Gilliam’s interview. “I grew up with this.”
Though today’s youth may not fully understand what their elders have gone through, they must try in order to better understand their future, she said.
Ashley Biden, who heard about the event through Coker, said more attention must be paid to Wilmington and Delaware’s rich history, especially by the younger generations.
“It’s so important to do these kind of things,” the vice president’s daughter said, gesturing to the gathered crowd. “We’ve got to get younger people out to come to these things.”
Jeanne Nutter, a consultant with the Delaware Historical Society, agreed, adding that the society is taking a hard look at how to attract the city’s youth to these events.
“The interesting things about these people is that you think you know them but you end up getting something else,” she said. “There’s so much people don’t know.”
The next Voices of the Elder program will feature Mayor George Wright, who was the first black mayor in the state. The program will be held at 6 p.m., Oct. 22 in the Christopher Ward Reading Room at the Delaware Historical Society. For more information, visit dehistory.org.
Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.
