Peoples Temple Collection; Box 18, Virtual Item 20, Q637 - Part 2, White Night (continued from 635 through 639)

Digital Record

Identifier: ms-0183_18.20 Part 2

Staff Only

Digital Object (mixed_materials)

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Creator

Peoples Temple (Organization)

Summary Note

This tape continues the White Night that began on tape Q 635, continues on Q 636, and extends through Q 638 and Q 639. Many of the same themes remain: Stanley Clayton is still on the floor, as is Janice; Jones and the Temple leaders struggle with writing a response to the Concerned Relatives; and while the subject of death arises several times, people talk in the future tense on occasion. The tape opens with a man seemingly agreeing with what Jones has said before, that he would die for his child. The question arises from the floor: what if that means the fascists would get her. Would you leave her for the fascists? After a moment, the man says he would kill her. Jones then asks how old she is. Eleven, he replies. Then she can fight, Jones says. "She would take up a cutlass and fight till she was dead, unless it came to an overwhelming invasion, and then we would gently put them to sleep." Jones says they would also die if the battle appeared to be set up to be black against black, in which case, they would all die. "But you don't do that as long as there's alternatives in which you can make a mark." He also says suicide for selfish reasons will leave you cursed. Full summary of the recording available at Alternative Considerations of Jonestown website, along with the tape transcript.

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