Oral History- Kha'Breah Rodgers

Abstract

In this interview I, Kha’Breah Rodgers, interviewed my grandmother, Joycelyn Parker. During this interview, we talk through her her early life, discrimination, rebelling, race, and a little about the government's flaws. We explored through my grandmothers young life which lead to a shocker that she revealed. Her life has faced the bare minimum amount of racism and discrimination. Which was a shocker because she was just the first african american family to live on her block.

During the interview, we came pass a brief moment with talking about the government. My grandmother talked about how she thinks the government allows racism. She explained how certain races high up in the government only want their race to succeed. At that moment and now, I still agree. Those are just our opinions though, everyone has a different view on things. We also talked on the what-ifs faces discrimination and racism. With that topic, it led us to relling. My grandmother said knowing the string minded person she is, she would have rebelled. Because my grandmother didn't really face a lot of racism or discrimination, a lot of this interview was based on predictions and personal perspectives.

Research

Rebellion is “an act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler” or “the action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention”. There are many reasons I found explaining why people rebel. People often rebel when they are jealous. They see something they like and they can’t have it so they act in negative ways to try and change or make that something different. While researching, I also found that people rebel when they see something in their perspective that is wrong or they don't like it. They feel as though something can/should be better and they think rebelling is the answer to change. In the interview my grandmother explained her reasoning for rebeling. She said that because she don't believe racism and discrimination is right. She thought that life would be better without it. My grandmother said that after trying peacefully with no progression in desegregating, she would rebel. She said at that point she would rebel because after trying peacefully, she dont believe theres any other way to try to stop, than rebelling. I also used context clue from what my grandmother said and determined that she has some anger towards this world and the government. From that prediction, I can guess that, that is another reason why she would rebel.

Sources

• http://society-politics.blurtit.com/46751/why-do-people-rebel-

• https://economics.rabobank.com/PageFiles/581/SP1203esa_Why_people_rebel.pdf

• http://www.ask.com/question/why-do-people-rebel-against-authority

• https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101124220041AABold1

• https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091105131419AAsVBea

• https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070612094453AAMavis

Transcript

KR: Ok my name is Kha’Breah Rodgers and I am conducting this interview for my 9th grade, freshman benchmark project. Would you like to identify yourself for the records?

JP: My name is Jocelyn Parker.

KR: Okay and when were you born?

JP: July the 3rd, 1949

KR:Okay so, im gonna ask you a few questions on a cou… few different topics. Are you okay with that?

JP: Yes.

KR: Okay so, my first question is, in your opinion, why do you think the civil rights movement took as long as it did to function?

JP: Because African American (uhh) people were hesitant and they were afraid of prosecution by the Caucasian race.

KR: Okay.. in your opinion, do you think racism.. died?

JP: No, racism is very much alive. Its hidden undercover (uhh) but its there and comes out at various times.

KR: Do you still f.. face racism?

JP: No, not myself personally.

KR: Okay.. When will racism die?

JP: Racism will never die. Its gonna be (uhh) going on forever I believe. And if it does die, I don't believe we’ll be around to see it.

KR: Okay I… I… I...I agree with that.. Certainly. I certainly agree with that. I think myself, racism will never die. It is very much still alive.

JP: Yes it is.

KR: And.. racism isn't only with the caucasians. Its also with African Americans and different races.

JP: All nationalities (uhh) face racism at some point or time of their life.

KR: Agreed, agreed. So how do you think the concept of race has changed from the time we were.. you were younger, till’ now?

JP: Well (uhh) minorities have come a long way, they have overcome a lot of hurdles that they faced previously in the years. (Uhh) A lot of (uhh) rights (uhh) have been established, programs, (uhh) regulations that are out there now that have been created that wasn't there before that has help all of the racism.. racist. (Uhh) Proceed and go ahead, go forth with what they wanna do.

KR: Okay, now this might be a quick question…

JP: Okay.

KR: Do you think the government, to some extinct allows racism?

JP: Yes I do.

KR: May you explain that for us?

JP: I can't pinpoint it exactly because of whose.. sitting in those positions high up in government, because lets face it, its a lot of folks up there, big wheels up there, that don't wanna see any race of people

KR: Succeed.

JP: Succeed. Just their particular race.. And.. thats my opinion.

KR: Okay and what do you… what role do you think race plays in life?

JP: All roles.

KR: All roles?

JP: All ro... no particular roles. All. It affects all roles, no matter what role you carry.

KR: Soo.. how much discrimination have you faced when you were younger until now?

JP: Truthfully.. not very much (uhh) I was raised up on a street in West Philadelphia. Cedar Avenue. 5900 Cedar Avenue.

KR: Mhm.

JP: I was the second.. we were the second afro american family to live on that block. The first family was the family of  MCcoy Tyner. The fabulous and very entertainable jazz player who is still much still alive and travels overseas.

KR: Yes, yes.

JP: Very well, were very well friends and like I said we was the second family, the Tyner family were the first. And we had wonderful (uhh) Italian and and Jewish neighbors on the block,. We went to school together with their children (uhh) we looked out for eachother.

KR: Yes, yes.

JP: So (uhh) my childhood growing up did not face (uhh) a great deal of racism.

KR: Okay.. so, if so... and this is a honest opinion from you, if ,if you did, how do you think you would have been able to handle that? In a positive way or in a negative way because I recently read this… story in my history class about doctor Marten Luther King Jr who says  lets fight this battle with peace. We will use the word of god. So how do you think you would've fought the war?

JP: Honestly.. I thi… I believe I would've been a little rebellious.

KR: Okay, and we all rebel sometimes.

JP: Yes we..yes we do. (uhh) I believe in peace. I dont like to fight and I dont like to argue. And if we can try to talk it out and mo.. keep it moving, we can and of course prayer played a..a great part in every decision of our life.

KR: Mhm.

JP: But (uhh) I do believe I would have been (uhh) little rebellious.

KR: Okay and with racism and discrimination still alive how do you predict our future?

JP: Thats a hard question to answer. Until people can really look at themselves and realize that we are all one race of people. We were all born the same way and we'll all die the same way, and until people can come together and realize that we all here to serve the same purpose.

KR: Okay.

JP: I dont think its gonna ever, ever gonna change.

KR: Okay, and thank you for your time.

JP: You’re quite welcome, and you have a blessed day.

KR: You too.