Introduction Ms. H. is a 66 year old retired black female, after being an educator for 30 plus years in the Hamilton County School system. She is the mother of two daughters and the granny of a fourteen year grandson and two year old granddaughter. Ms. H. is a fashionable lady, during the interview she was wearing a gold laced blouse, pencil skirt with a pair of matching high heel boot shoes. Ms. H. hasn’t let the challenges of life get her down. She says, “That you only get one life so you better use it and make the best of it”. Ms. H. enjoys being retired, going to the senior center, having fun with her favorite cousin Cynthia and traveling around the world.
Childhood
Ms. H. was the youngest of four, grew up in a household with …show more content…
Watching the Bob Brandy television show Monday through Friday, after the Mickey Mouse Club. Having revival in a tent with preacher, who had been a little boy himself. Playing with her siblings on the golf course (located in her back yard), swimming at Lincoln Park because blacks were not able to go to Warner Park, except when the county fair was in town on a Thursday. Ms. H. talked about the Jitney cab that would take you downtown for ten cents, soda priced at six cents, potato chips ten cents and candy for one and five cents. She also talked about the party line (telephone) remembering how she was able to listen to her neighbors conversation without them knowing that she was on the line. During sixth grade year she was bused to Park Place Elementary. The historical building is still located on the corner of M.L. King Boulevard and Fairview Avenue serving as condominiums. Seventh through ninth grade she was able to attend Orchard Knob Junior High where all of the black students attended. She walked one block to school. After school they would go to the teen club to socialize, dance, listen to Sam Cook and eat dollar rib sandwiches (which they had to chip in to have enough money). Ms. H. did not remember any racist remarks made directly to her. She remembered having to ride in the back of the bus, her older cousins talking about the sit in at Kress’s downtown Chattanooga, and sitting in …show more content…
H. stated that her parents were very loving and caring. The dinner table discussions consisted of their neighborhood and school events. Her father really focused on education because, even though he was highly recommended from a sergeant in the military he was unable to get an electronic job at Sears. Ms. H. stated that she knew she had to do something so she tried cosmetology, but was too slow. Then she decided that she either wanted to be an insurance agent or a school teacher because she liked the way that they dressed. Since Ms. H. thinks that she is most like her father who was a packrat, and she sees some of those same characteristics in herself she decide to become an educator because of all of the papers. Ms. H. attended Tennessee State University, a Historical Black University where she received her degree in elementary education in 1972. While attending college the Reverend Martin Luther King was assassinated, which cause some of the students to burn down the ROTC building, Ms. H. stated that she did not understand the purpose of damaging the
Childhood
Ms. H. was the youngest of four, grew up in a household with …show more content…
Watching the Bob Brandy television show Monday through Friday, after the Mickey Mouse Club. Having revival in a tent with preacher, who had been a little boy himself. Playing with her siblings on the golf course (located in her back yard), swimming at Lincoln Park because blacks were not able to go to Warner Park, except when the county fair was in town on a Thursday. Ms. H. talked about the Jitney cab that would take you downtown for ten cents, soda priced at six cents, potato chips ten cents and candy for one and five cents. She also talked about the party line (telephone) remembering how she was able to listen to her neighbors conversation without them knowing that she was on the line. During sixth grade year she was bused to Park Place Elementary. The historical building is still located on the corner of M.L. King Boulevard and Fairview Avenue serving as condominiums. Seventh through ninth grade she was able to attend Orchard Knob Junior High where all of the black students attended. She walked one block to school. After school they would go to the teen club to socialize, dance, listen to Sam Cook and eat dollar rib sandwiches (which they had to chip in to have enough money). Ms. H. did not remember any racist remarks made directly to her. She remembered having to ride in the back of the bus, her older cousins talking about the sit in at Kress’s downtown Chattanooga, and sitting in …show more content…
H. stated that her parents were very loving and caring. The dinner table discussions consisted of their neighborhood and school events. Her father really focused on education because, even though he was highly recommended from a sergeant in the military he was unable to get an electronic job at Sears. Ms. H. stated that she knew she had to do something so she tried cosmetology, but was too slow. Then she decided that she either wanted to be an insurance agent or a school teacher because she liked the way that they dressed. Since Ms. H. thinks that she is most like her father who was a packrat, and she sees some of those same characteristics in herself she decide to become an educator because of all of the papers. Ms. H. attended Tennessee State University, a Historical Black University where she received her degree in elementary education in 1972. While attending college the Reverend Martin Luther King was assassinated, which cause some of the students to burn down the ROTC building, Ms. H. stated that she did not understand the purpose of damaging the