Oral History- Jason Perez

Posted by Jason Perez in African American History - Roy - A on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 12:04 pm

Abstract

Me, Jason Perez interviewer's my grandmother Candice on racial discrimination, the civil rights movement, race and racism of course, and the role race plays in our old and new society.

While you are listening to the interview and reading the transcription. You will find out and realize some good points made and well answered questions along with well asked questions. Basically what me and my interviewee talked about was racial discrimination and how has people’s view on race has changed and also the role race has played over the course of the last 50-60 years. I asked my interviewee questions like “has she ever faced or overcome racial discrimination, has her view on race changed and how race and racism affects or old and new society.” She answered the questions very well telling me things like “she has never faced or overcome racial discrimination, how she thinks that we all have come a long way with being racist and racism, even though we are not 100% and how racism and race still plays a big role in our society.” We mainly focused on discrimination and racism itself.

Research Portion

One topic i picked from the interview was when me and my interviewee talked about life after the civil rights movement. Now my interviewee did not remember too much about life after the civil rights movement mainly because she was only 11. But since i did not receive much information on that question i asked that’s why i decided to pick this topic and research it. Now according to the link http://www.usm.edu/crdp/html/cd/impact.htm after reading it, it basically says that the civil rights movement in missisipi had it’s good causes and it’s bad effects. How many people have lost their lives, homes, family and jobs but now no longer were blacks denied the right to vote, to eat, shop, and swim where they pleased, and more importantly, to attend integrated schools. It also mentions other things like how African American Charles Young, elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1978, is a former civil rights activist and how Mrs. Julia Holmes, one of the Meridian activists, thought that the movement brought a number of positive changes to Mississippi and american more then bad.

I used other links like http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2876.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post%E2%80%93Civil_Rights_era_in_African-American_history but the fir
Transcription
Jason: hello, good afternoon, beautiful outside, how are you feeling today

Grandma-im fine how are you

Jason-im doing good, thank you for asking

Grandma-you're welcome

Jason-let’s talk about what we came here to discuss

Grandma-what kind of questions do you have for me today

Jason-i would just like to talk about racial discrimination and your view on race itself. we are just going to talk about on your perspective on things overall

Grandma-okay let’s start!

Jason-first question. what kind of experiences did you have with racial discrimination

Grandma-well i really don’t remember too much of going through anything personally. the only thing i remember when i was middle school i attended a school that was located in a predominantly white neighborhood. which is now known as fishtown. i remember we had to walk to the 15th trolley stop on east girard avenue. there would be teachers standing at the stop to make sure that we would get on the trolley safely.

Jason-why would the teachers wait for you to get on safely?

Grandma-because the majority of the kids that went to the school were puerto rican and african american. Being that we were in a white neighborhood the faculty wanted to assure our safety from the neighborhood kids.

Jason-what do you think would have happen to you guys if there were no supervision from adults to assure your safety.

Grandma-the neighborhood kids would have probably jumped us and chase us all the way until we passed to the west side of girard avenue.

Jason-Okay. So what do you remember about the iconic members of the “Civil Rights Movement”. For instance, people like martin luther king, rosa parks, and malcolm x.

Grandma-I don't remember much about rosa parks. only what i learned in school. i remember that i was only six when she was arrested. but back then i never understood what he meaning of that was and why was it a big deal. I remember Martin Luther King. With civil rights and his walks and marches for civil rights and freedom. i remember he was a vocal point in the news media. I knew martin luther king was as big as life back then and was one of the most important people in america during that time.

Jason- That was a very good explanation

Grandma- Thank you

Jason- In your personal opinion how do you believe people’s view on race has changed.

Grandma- Well it’s been a struggle there are still narrow minded people have come a long way in becoming more diverse i still think there are still problems with racism in our society. But not as intense as it was back in the 60’d and 70’s.

Jason- You talked about how race has changed in a positive way but it’s not 100%. So what role does race play in our society TODAY?

Grandma- Well like i said it’s not 100%. Today i believe now the minorities have more opportunities. Mainly because of our iconic members of the civil rights movements. It is what they fought for. I think there is still racism and always will be.

Jason- Do you believe we are discriminated today?

Grandma- My personal opinion in the work world, discrimination isn’t what it used to be. but in people in general. i do think that there will always be discrimination. Mainly because of their beliefs. I think it’s still.

Jason- I have never overcome or come across racial discrimination. Have you.

Grandma- No. Not really. I honestly can’t say. As a child i was sheltered. My parents kept me inside. My parents kept me inside because of these reasons. Because of segregation and racial discrimination. I was sheltered. Although slavery was not nearly as much bad here as much as it was down the south. There was racism and discrimination though.

Jason- Have people ever been racist to you?

Grandma- No. I’ve never been discriminated against or called names or anything.

Jason- Have you ever been a racist

Grandma- No. I would never.

Jason- Since you live almost 13 years during the civil rights movement. How were things when the civil rights movement ended in 1960?

Grandma- Well i was only 12. As i have stated i knew what was going on but i was still a little too young to understand or comprehend. I only remembered big things like my own personal experiences. I've never been discriminated against.

Jason- So you don’t remember anything?

Grandma- Well remember everything i talked about. Jobs were easier to get, education was better im guessing. From my personal experience it was the same. But there was still racial discrimination and segregation and racism of course. It just wasn’t as bad before the 60’s. Even though we are still racist today it is definitely not as bad as it was back in the 60’s and before then.

Jason-Have your relatives ever come over racial discrimination?

Grandma-My sister has. Her husband is african american. They were leaving north philadelphia to live in northeast philadelphia. they were having problems because they were an interracial couple. All of his offers were being declined so he wounded up paying their offer because they wouldn’t let him bargain for anything.

Jason- Thank you for your time ma’am i really appreciate you taking time out of your day to let me interview you.

Grandma- You're very much welcome.

Jason- You're welcome. Have a nice day.

Grandma- You too.st link i liked the most and answered my questions and gave me the most information.