Oral History

Abstract

In this interview I decided to interview my nana. Her name is Adel Armstrong . She was born in Virginia. I was told that the segregation and the racism was much worse in the South than it was in where she and I live now ( Philadelphia ) . During the interview we mostly talked about one thing. I think our main focus during this interview was segregation and desegregation. She explained to me how it was terrible because they were treated unfairly. They had different fountains… one was for blacks and the other was for whites. But the water fountain for the whites was a better one. Overall I feel like I learned a lot about the past thanks to my nana.

Research

Something I decided to do research on was desegregation of schools. From my research I learned that schools were first segregated in 1849. This was decided by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. All schools were segregated separating the blacks from the whites. White people were treated better at their schools whereas the blacks were not treated as well. These segregations lasted for a long time. But then schools were finally beginning to be desegregated. This all started at ‘Little Rock School”. This desegregation took place in 1957. Although blacks felt some kind of in equality then, they still felt unwanted because of the way the white people treated them.

Sources

• http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-25-spring-2004/feature/brown-v-board-timeline-school-integration-us

• http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_little_rock_school_desegregation_1957/

• http://www.usm.edu/crdp/html/cd/desegregation.htm

Transcript

Interviewer : Kiyannah McGee (Km) Interviewee: Adele Armstrong ( Aa) The Interview takes place Saturday night at around 7:00pm. It takes place at my house 525 widener. I interviewed my nana.

Km: Okay. I am Kiyannah and I am going to be interviewing my nana for this benchmark.

Km: In your definition what is social movement?

Aa: Social movement is when there is a group organized to desegregate any type of entity such as a school, restaurant or movie theater.

Km: I understand there were a lot of different social movements involved during 1957, why do you think that is?

Aa: Actually I was born in 58 so I can remember when I was a child and going to one of the first desegregated schools, which was an eschool and I was in the 5th grade at the time, so I was one of the african american students, who was chosen to desegregate that school.

Km: What are some examples of racial segregation?

Aa: One example , like I said before is the ability to go to a white school, that time I was the one of the african american students to go, as far as going to schools , going to restaurants , they had water fountains that were for uncolored only, ummmmmm etc.

Km: How were you treated?

Aa: We were treated as though we were not wanted, we were treated differently from the other caucasian people. We were treated as though we were interfering with their lifestyle and it was an adjustment that I had to make mentally in order to get through it and it happened , thank god.

Km: What was the outcome of desegregation?

Aa: Well, the outcome was ,we were able to go to an all white school Chared Elementry and after a couple of years, kids began to play with each other, you know the races, black and white children began to play with each other and the kids thinking about the fact that they are a different race, but I think the parents didn’t really allow the caucasian to play with african american kids.

Km: Why do you think these times got better over time?

Aa: I think over time people realized they are human beings whether its black, white … colors are only skin deep and start to look at people’s character more though than the color of their skin which helps them to really get along with each other and its the way you treat people with love and respect so let people know, wow you are just like I am and thats how I believe things got better.

Km: Did you live here during that time?

Aa: No , I lived in  North county , Virginia

Km: Down south?

Aa: Yes, down south

Km: So do you think it was worst down south than it is here?

Aa: Yes, because I think the southerners is where it originally began it was more amp to follow generational, follow what their family did, it was like their grandparents told their parents and their parents told their children and I think it was a continuing communication of how blacks should be treated whereas in the North they didn’t have slavery and people were more amp to receive african americans or negro as they were.

Km: So, I understand it was very segregated back then, so today there are still racial things going on, so do you believe they will ever stop

Aa: Well , I think once the generation really begins to die off, I think its only certain people that are trying to keep the racism going, you know... ummm right now , now we have a United states that has inneracial marriages thats happening, I believe that later on  as the years go by, there really is not going to be a race because there are many people who are mixed that you can’t tell who’s who. But I think the original rights are the ones who are trying to keep things going and for some reason the society is amp to change, I believe and I think its on the way.

Km: Ok, so we are almost done. Do you think it was harder for you than it was for a caucasian female , was it harder since you’re african american?

Aa: Ummm… yes it was harder because we were treated differently every time we went into a store, we was looked at as we were stealing stuff or a you know, we were looked at as we were different though, yeah it was different, you know, I guess since time went on you allow yourself to you know , get numb to it, it just becomes something thats norm. Basically us white (oops) I mean black children were treated differently than the caucasian.

Km: Okay, what is your opinion on the civil rights movement and segregation, about everything?

Aa: Well my opinion overall is that I thank god that it happened and I thank god that known, you know Martin Luther King he rose up , god allowed him to raise up to help desegregate and preach to the people that all men should be treated equal, he had to die for it but he died for a good cause.  I think it was well worth it in the end because now we do have an african american president and thats the start, thats a huge start for racism ending , racism truly ending.

Km: And lastly, do you have any regrets?

Aa: No , I do not, and if I had to do it again I would, because it toughened me up , and confidence and boldness and I think god for that

Km : Okay, Thankyou

Aa: My name was Adele Armstrong ( Oops forgot to mention her actual  name)