Oral History benchmark-Cameron Lockett
Lorraine Lockett was interviewed by her grandson Cameron Lockett. At first the two talk about the Civil Rights Movement and how the 71 year old woman was not affected by it. Moving on from that topic that got into something more interesting, race and racism. Lorraine says that race doesn’t matter it all depends on the person you are. During the interview her grandson asked her a question that really showed her feelings, “ Do you think black people were affected the most by racism.” Lorraine said yes and went on about how it’s always been black people, always.
Racism has been going on in the United States the beginning of the country. With racism gave rights to White Americans, while everyone else who lived in the country was just given second best or worst than that. Especially for African Americans in our country. African Americans were first slaves, the segregated, and then even attacked by the KKK. Even though times have changed in the last couple of decades African Americans are still being discriminated against as seen as how African Americans make less than White Americans and more African Americans are in poverty. Hopefully in the next couple of decades we can see some change to brighten the future.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_United_States
- https://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/racism-against-african-americans
Cl: This recording is from, this interview is between me, Cameron Lockett and my grandma Lorraine Lockett at.
LL: Yeah
Cl: 7:10 on May 18th. Alright grandma here are a few questions I have for you right now. So what was it like living in the time era for the Civil Rights Movement?
LL: What was it like?
Cl: Yeah what was it like?
LL: Well for one, where I lived at it wasn’t any different, I didn’t know anything about the anti racist thing and stuff like that, I knew that but it didn’t bother me it didn’t affect my life.
Cl: So I’m guessing that, so you weren’t affected by the movement?
LL: Hmmm?
CL: You weren’t affected by the movement?
LL: No.
Cl: Alright, So did race in anyway, wait what you say?
LL: It didn’t affect me because I wasn’t around that many white people really in the first place.
Cl: Well here’s a more general question, how did race affect you as a total growing up, as a black woman?
LL: From what I did in my life I worked, I got married, and it really didn’t affect me. Because like I said I didn’t interact with that many white people.
CL: So like did any white people that you did meet, did they bully you or anything because of your race?
LL: NO.
Cl: Ah ok
LL: Never had that affect me, only one time that happened to me in my whole life, it’s when I was going to work one day and I was walking down the street and somebody called me a nigger. That’s the only time that has really happened to me.
Cl: Oh well sorry about that… Do you think race matters as a whole?
LL: Race does matter because we are, to me we’re all the same, and as far as I’m concerned where people are racist because they are insecure people it’s not us ( African Americans) they are insecure, they have to have somebody to look down upon and it happens to be us.
CL: Hmmm, well do you think racism is the same as it was back in the 1940’s and as it is today?
LL: I don’t know how it was in the forties because I wasn’t around, I was a baby.
CL: Well let’s say the fifties or sixties then.
LL: What?
CL: Let’s say the fifties or the sixties then, do you think racism is the same as it was back then?
LL: ( Deep breath) It has improved, but ???? today I feel like racism is trying to come back.
Cl: Why do you say that?
LL: Because of the things that people are doing out in this world today. I mean you see swastikas on people’s houses now and ???? in people’s houses. That had stopped, but it’s starting up again.
CL: Why do you think it’s starting up again now?
LL: I don’t know why. Well I don’t know but when times is hard for people they have to find something to blame it on and it usually turns out to be us. ( African Americans)
CL: Well.
LL: And Times are still hard for us from working and living conditions.
CL: Do you think racism has affected more of The African American community or the other community such as Asians or Jewish people?
LL: It affects, it affected us, oh it affected black people... more and.
CL: Why do you say that?
LL:Because it just did, because it’s just us it’s always been us, it’s always been like that Cameron. It’s always been us. And then aw when we had 9-11 they ( racists) went to… the um
CL: Middle Easterns .
LL: Like that. And then it’s always just been us, I mean it’s just the way of life. I mean they suspected Asians, and um puerto rican people, but it’s always been us. Black people.
CL: Now that the Civil Rights Movement is over did you ever, after learning about it did you ever want more to happen from it?
LL: Did I expect what?
CL: Since the Civil Rights Movement.
LL: What about it. The Civil Rights Movement what about it?
CL: Since it has ended and all this has happened over the past couple of years do you think anything should have changed or did you want more from the movement?
LL: Well look I still think racism still exists, it hasn’t stopped.
CL: Well how do you think racism can end?
LL: I have no idea. On that I have no idea. How it can stop. Someday maybe, but not in my time and not in your time it might stop. But for now no, racism exists right now and it’s still here. And it’s going to be here for a long time.
CL: Well thanks grandma for your input.
LL: That’s it.
CL: Yeah
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