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good morning on behalf of corners of

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Highland Heights of the Knights United

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Methodist Church and crossroads to

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freedom

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arrows College I would like to thank you

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for taking the time to share your story

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today's day is June 24 2016 my name is

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Allison Haney and I am Mace my name is

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Alana Kennedy and I attend middle

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college high school first we will start

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off with some basic biographical

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information can you please state your

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name my name is Ernest Chanel senior if

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you don't like me egg soon when you were

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you born in here I was born in 1959 I

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guess I could tell you a little bit

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about me my connection to the Highland

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Heights neighborhood is that I was

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busted Treadwell high school trouble

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high school starting in my eighth grade

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year and I graduated from Troy High

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School in 1977 Montana me Treadwell was

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a good time for me from 8th grade to

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12th grade in the 9th grade I had a

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chance to play junior football in trewe

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high school that year we won the

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district championship at ul so that's a

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memorable moment for me being at

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Treadwell and then in my senior year in

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1977 we won the basketball class double

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A championship also as well so I can

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move being part of the band and

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Treadwell going from a traditional

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african-american school to a traditional

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white school was totally different for

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us it's the time of immigration in

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America also as well it was a little

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different because we didn't know what to

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expect you know how teachers would treat

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you you didn't know anything but you

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hope for the best and you wish for the

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best and that's what happens for us

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that's a little bit of background on me

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you mentioned that you played football

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and basketball

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are there any other activities that you

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participate in

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I was in ROTC I was in ROTC for two

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years when I first came into TC I was a

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corporal and into my first year I was a

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staff sergeant my second year I went

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from a second lieutenant to a captain

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and I did not do my senior year you know

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ROTC and the times I do I do wish I have

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done my senior year but I enjoyed it I

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also was part of distributed education

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Clubs of America I was vice president of

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distributed cache I learned a lot about

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the real world in distribute education

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because I learned a lot about a resume a

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lot about interviewing a lot of things

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that make me a little bit more prepared

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for the real world once you leave haskó

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because everyone wants a job but what do

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you have to do to actually get the job

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those are the skills that I learned in

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this trip the education you maintain

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that you transition from a traditional

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african-american school to a traditional

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high school what came free State those

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clothes please I was in my seventh grade

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year I attended Lester asked well from

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first grade to sixth grade I attended

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Lester Elementary which was a

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traditional african-american elementary

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school and for my seventh grade year I

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went to Lester High School and then at

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the end of my seventh grade year I was

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bussed to Treadwell Haskell so from 8th

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grade to 12th grade I was in trouble

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well so was it tough when they were

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integrating these schools it was it was

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tough because at that time there was a

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little bit of distrust oh everybody's

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sad Black is well it's why we did not

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know what to expect we didn't know how

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we would be treated would you be graded

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fairly

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what would be how would how would they

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treat you today is accepted but their

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time going from a traditional

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african-american school to a traditional

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high school we had no idea what to

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expect that was the biggest part of the

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transition but it worked out for us

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[Music]

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currently I'm a Liberian for the Memphis

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Public Library I'm the assistant manager

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for the Gaston Park library at 3rd

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Walker I am over programming for youth

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as well as teens and I do a little bit

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of adult programming also as well the

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main part of my job is to plan programs

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for youth this was teams to help them

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understand more about life as well as

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the library how do you feel about

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watching over the youth in the teens I

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like it before I was a Liberian I also

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worked at Downtown Elementary as a

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teacher's assistant

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I like education I like being in the

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field of education there's nothing quite

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like showing someone something letting

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them learn and then they they really

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understand it to take a concept that you

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understand and to teaching someone else

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and have them really accept it and

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realize that they own that concept

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there's nothing quite like it that's

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what we in teaching ecology our ha

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moment did you ever marry yes I'm

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married I've been married for 29 years I

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have two children I have a Ernest Ernest

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jr. and my daughter Natalie my son is

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currently a college graduate from Paul

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Quinn College which is a small

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historical black college in Dallas Texas

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my daughter's attending UT Knoxville

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good what is your spouse's name in her

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job my spouse is 19 channel she's she's

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a creative Inquirer specialist for

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bankruptcy court do you mind telling us

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how you two met each other

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I'm a graduate University of Memphis

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we have no meet at the University of

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Memphis yeah it's one of those things

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that you run to somebody a few times a

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few more times and all of a sudden you

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get to feel maybe there's something to

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this so that's how we we really met and

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started our relationship was at the

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University of Memphis my wife left

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school at the end of 1982 I continued on

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with my with my education she started

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working for the bankruptcy court I have

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a Bachelor of Business Administration in

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marketing where the concentration of

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sales and market management now let's

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talk all about your experiences growing

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up can you tell me more about the

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neighborhood you grew up

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well I grew up in a in a big Hampton

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community which is really not that far

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from the Highland Heights community

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because we did not have a car in my

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family so I had to walk from some and

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Tilghman to summer and national where

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there was a grocery store there was a

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store at the time called coconuts which

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you may know now it's Monty's

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it used to be called Hogan that so we

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would walk there so I got a chance to

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really know that neighborhood fender

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well even before I went to trade well

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that's where we walk to because the bank

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was there which is now the credit union

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which is such like a southern security

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credit union and what was like what used

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to be next door to my entities was a

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Shoney's restaurant so if there was a

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union planners bank just to show this

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restaurant and what's what's next door

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to Monty's is to your right

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what's the crystals believe it or not

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they notice the crystals on some

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evidence I can't take how long tops

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barbecue that's been there but they've

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been there for a while but I love

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crystals because I could go into

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crystals and buy a hamburger for about

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20 cents yes yes I am dead on but that's

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my connection to the neighborhood so

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indoor was Buster Treadwell walking to

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Treadwell was not a hard thing because

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walking was like breathing in my family

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and also I would walk to the once I

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guess it's where I realized that down

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the street from Treadwell there was a

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lab area there was not a library in the

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big Hampton community as you know it now

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the bookmobile would come maybe every

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week every other week but there was no

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real library in the Binghampton

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community

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that's why I think we're so happy to

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have the billhook slab Barry sit on

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poplar where it is at 33 popular because

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it's considered now part of being empty

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okay but walking to Randolph from true

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or high school was very easy because

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it's like three blocks three blocks down

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maybe two blocks down so that's how I

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got connected to the Randolph library as

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was to the Treadwell neighborhood as

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well so cute I wasn't worried about the

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bookmobile well the bookmobile would

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come like I said I think it was every

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week or maybe every other week to where

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it was just like a just like a book it

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was like a looks like a big bus but it

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had different books on that you could

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actually check out there and just return

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and once the bookmobile came back you

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turn your books back in it was the

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librarians way of connecting to the

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neighborhood even though they were not

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connected to the neighborhood at that

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time it was their way of supplementing

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our library to that neighborhood because

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you know like say even today there's no

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there's no library really in the

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neighborhood I mean other lesser

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elements you didn't have a library

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Lester how did our library but for books

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other than their library we had he goes

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to the main library or to the bookmobile

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the main library at that time was um

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MacLean Union the MacLean would be the

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closest landmark for y'all right there

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with the walk well two blocks down from

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the Walgreens right there sits his Union

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MacLean that's what the old Maine

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librarian used to be yeah can you tell

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us which our home life was right home

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life was nice I mean because I was

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raised back I was raised by my

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grandmother she was a very stern person

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but she believed in education she

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believed in education was the way for us

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to go further and do better in life and

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I believe that we lived in we lived in

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our community that was rather close

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together many of the families that I

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grew up with children I grow our

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families have been knowing each other

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for years and years minimum many of the

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parents could say I can remember when

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you know your mother

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they knew my mother they knew my my

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aunts because we grew up in the

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neighborhood

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my grandmother tells me that she turned

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20 years old in the house that I was

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raised in my grandma was born in 1902

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and based on the calculations that she

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told me so in 1925 she moved into a

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house that I was raised in I mean to me

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that's something to hear about you've

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been living in the same plot of land

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since 1925 so if you take 1925 and you

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subtract 1977

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that's like 57 years in the same place

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during her lifetime

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most people don't stay in the same place

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now 25 years even 30 years so so a lot

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of a lot of things changed she saw a lot

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of things changing a neighborhood I saw

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a lot of things change in the

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neighborhood also as well like I

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mentioned the neighborhood as well as

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the Highland High schematic seeing Union

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seeing well you know it is regions now

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but in that time it was Union planters

274
00:13:28,459 --> 00:13:35,079
bank so my grandmother open up a bank

275
00:13:31,459 --> 00:13:38,510
account for me at Union planners okay

276
00:13:35,079 --> 00:13:41,000
Shoney's was right there Hogan eyes and

277
00:13:38,510 --> 00:13:44,600
crystals so there was all part of our

278
00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:47,420
neighborhood to us it was within what we

279
00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:51,050
can say walking distance the map code

280
00:13:47,420 --> 00:13:52,910
that you know now was a 7-eleven see so

281
00:13:51,050 --> 00:13:55,040
we can go we can go again Slurpee

282
00:13:52,910 --> 00:13:56,569
now we can't go Gensler because we don't

283
00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:56,990
have seven level seven levels was bought

284
00:13:56,569 --> 00:14:00,770
out

285
00:13:56,990 --> 00:14:02,570
by map by map code so that was part of

286
00:14:00,770 --> 00:14:05,150
our neighborhood Nils part about that

287
00:14:02,570 --> 00:14:07,490
was all part of our home life a major

288
00:14:05,150 --> 00:14:08,510
part of my home life was church we went

289
00:14:07,490 --> 00:14:11,090
to the African tradition

290
00:14:08,510 --> 00:14:12,140
african-american church in our

291
00:14:11,090 --> 00:14:14,470
neighborhood a lot there are a lot of

292
00:14:12,140 --> 00:14:17,750
churches in the neighborhood you know

293
00:14:14,470 --> 00:14:22,040
New Salem Baptist Church right but you

294
00:14:17,750 --> 00:14:23,870
know atone Parkway but New Salem was one

295
00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,940
block over from where I lived it I lived

296
00:14:23,870 --> 00:14:28,490
on Glencoe Street in the big Hampton

297
00:14:25,940 --> 00:14:30,590
community office some everything one

298
00:14:28,490 --> 00:14:33,170
block over his tilma Street and that's

299
00:14:30,590 --> 00:14:36,950
where New Salem churches were started

300
00:14:33,170 --> 00:14:39,290
was on Tillman Street yeah see that's

301
00:14:36,950 --> 00:14:40,790
part of the that's part neighborhood she

302
00:14:39,290 --> 00:14:43,070
probably would never know

303
00:14:40,790 --> 00:14:45,380
but if us a lot of old members of New

304
00:14:43,070 --> 00:14:50,770
Salem they're saying we go back all the

305
00:14:45,380 --> 00:14:53,240
way back to being Hampton so I know that

306
00:14:50,770 --> 00:14:55,340
the neighborhood has really changed now

307
00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:59,200
from taking the stories out and putting

308
00:14:55,340 --> 00:15:02,420
new ones in how has it changed for you a

309
00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:03,890
lot of the families that were a part of

310
00:15:02,420 --> 00:15:05,360
the neighborhood when I was growing up

311
00:15:03,890 --> 00:15:06,740
they're no longer in your neighborhood

312
00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,780
they're no longer connected to the

313
00:15:06,740 --> 00:15:11,240
neighborhood there are a few families

314
00:15:08,780 --> 00:15:14,990
that I know that still there but most

315
00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:18,200
families have moved out like when I

316
00:15:14,990 --> 00:15:18,800
graduated from college and accept their

317
00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,920
position

318
00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:23,300
I left the neighborhood my first

319
00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:26,360
position was with Russell stove was

320
00:15:23,300 --> 00:15:28,580
candy out of Kansas City Missouri they

321
00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:30,050
moved me to Dallas Texas when I

322
00:15:28,580 --> 00:15:33,260
graduated from the University of Memphis

323
00:15:30,050 --> 00:15:34,970
so I moved out of the neighborhood after

324
00:15:33,260 --> 00:15:37,340
working for Russell stores for about a

325
00:15:34,970 --> 00:15:40,910
year and a half I got the opportunity to

326
00:15:37,340 --> 00:15:44,090
come back to Memphis so my wife and I

327
00:15:40,910 --> 00:15:47,290
first moved we first lived right across

328
00:15:44,090 --> 00:15:52,760
street from his high school and then

329
00:15:47,290 --> 00:15:55,070
when after about maybe three years we

330
00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:57,020
decided buy a house and my house is in

331
00:15:55,070 --> 00:16:00,020
that and the University of district of

332
00:15:57,020 --> 00:16:01,640
the University of Memphis so but the

333
00:16:00,020 --> 00:16:03,790
tone the whole neighborhood's changed a

334
00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:06,740
lot of feminists are not there anymore

335
00:16:03,790 --> 00:16:09,110
you know I can go down the streets okay

336
00:16:06,740 --> 00:16:11,000
miss Cox you see you live here

337
00:16:09,110 --> 00:16:12,410
Miss Rose used to live here I knew

338
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,170
everybody I knew everybody in the

339
00:16:12,410 --> 00:16:18,340
neighborhood because they saw me go from

340
00:16:15,170 --> 00:16:21,380
a little boy up to the man that I am I

341
00:16:18,340 --> 00:16:25,340
guess till I was about maybe 28 30 years

342
00:16:21,380 --> 00:16:27,440
old so and I would all my grandma still

343
00:16:25,340 --> 00:16:30,650
lived in English so I would go back and

344
00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:32,660
see my grandmother you know I would see

345
00:16:30,650 --> 00:16:36,110
a lot of people in the neighborhood but

346
00:16:32,660 --> 00:16:38,330
I didn't live in the neighborhood but

347
00:16:36,110 --> 00:16:39,560
it's a lot of changes because I say many

348
00:16:38,330 --> 00:16:40,340
of the feminists don't live there

349
00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,430
anymore

350
00:16:40,340 --> 00:16:48,260
and they're not connected to

351
00:16:42,430 --> 00:16:51,820
neighborhood by old families can you

352
00:16:48,260 --> 00:16:58,750
describe how I was like attended church

353
00:16:51,820 --> 00:17:01,250
church was a big part of my life because

354
00:16:58,750 --> 00:17:03,200
we got a chance to do a lot of things

355
00:17:01,250 --> 00:17:05,420
that we didn't get a chance to do at all

356
00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:08,870
I mean there was Sunday school but you

357
00:17:05,420 --> 00:17:10,220
had people that you saw some people

358
00:17:08,870 --> 00:17:12,770
lived in the neighborhood some people

359
00:17:10,220 --> 00:17:14,810
did not and some people you only saw you

360
00:17:12,770 --> 00:17:17,030
only saw them on Sunday because they

361
00:17:14,810 --> 00:17:19,520
didn't live in the neighborhood my

362
00:17:17,030 --> 00:17:21,830
godparents lived in the neighborhood so

363
00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:26,209
I could walk to my godparents house and

364
00:17:21,830 --> 00:17:30,920
see see their son and I could play with

365
00:17:26,209 --> 00:17:32,960
them and quite a few people a dusty old

366
00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:35,240
ending community but a lot of them

367
00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:38,060
didn't like the pastor his family they

368
00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:41,870
did not live in our community lived in

369
00:17:38,060 --> 00:17:44,420
South Memphis so I always saw them once

370
00:17:41,870 --> 00:17:47,060
a week a lot of the members did not live

371
00:17:44,420 --> 00:17:49,580
in the big Hampton community but they

372
00:17:47,060 --> 00:17:50,870
worship in the big ham the community and

373
00:17:49,580 --> 00:17:55,550
that's something I'm finding out now

374
00:17:50,870 --> 00:17:57,560
that 80% of members in the church don't

375
00:17:55,550 --> 00:17:59,870
live in they don't live in it even

376
00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:02,600
finally I know as I do outreach for the

377
00:17:59,870 --> 00:18:05,810
Gaston Park library a lot of churches I

378
00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:07,550
go to many people do not live in a

379
00:18:05,810 --> 00:18:09,920
neighborhood they come back to worship

380
00:18:07,550 --> 00:18:11,780
in the neighborhood or they grew up in a

381
00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:15,080
church but they don't actually live in

382
00:18:11,780 --> 00:18:16,670
the neighborhood now but church was a

383
00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,280
good part of the community for me

384
00:18:16,670 --> 00:18:21,480
because

385
00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:26,170
it was a foundation I saw a lot of men

386
00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:28,450
in my church which you don't see now but

387
00:18:26,170 --> 00:18:31,030
we had a lot of million in our church

388
00:18:28,450 --> 00:18:34,120
who gave me a lot of foundation who

389
00:18:31,030 --> 00:18:36,610
helped me grow up who set a film set a

390
00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:40,000
foundation for me to know that look this

391
00:18:36,610 --> 00:18:43,990
is what you do you work hard you love

392
00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:46,150
your family you love God and you be you

393
00:18:43,990 --> 00:18:48,190
know you're part of church that was the

394
00:18:46,150 --> 00:18:50,140
foundation me one gentleman I will

395
00:18:48,190 --> 00:18:55,440
always remember in my church is mr. Joe

396
00:18:50,140 --> 00:18:57,940
green now we're talking about like 1965

397
00:18:55,440 --> 00:19:01,240
to 1977

398
00:18:57,940 --> 00:19:04,600
okay at the time when I was going to

399
00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:13,150
when I was going to my church let's say

400
00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:18,220
let's say from 1963 to 1971 L green

401
00:19:13,150 --> 00:19:20,800
owned a golf boy you knew it now his BP

402
00:19:18,220 --> 00:19:22,780
he owned the Gulf gas station in the

403
00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:24,750
african-american community think about

404
00:19:22,780 --> 00:19:27,820
it for a minute and night think about

405
00:19:24,750 --> 00:19:30,670
1965 an african-american man owned a

406
00:19:27,820 --> 00:19:31,410
gulf gas station in an african-american

407
00:19:30,670 --> 00:19:33,760
community

408
00:19:31,410 --> 00:19:35,260
it's hard there for some African

409
00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:38,800
Americans to own a gas station

410
00:19:35,260 --> 00:19:42,190
let's loan a convenience store I mean I

411
00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:44,680
thought about to later I said wow he was

412
00:19:42,190 --> 00:19:48,700
mr. Joe green and then in those days and

413
00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:51,240
times only of golf franchise and people

414
00:19:48,700 --> 00:19:54,160
did business with him in the community

415
00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:56,380
he was a member of my church a rock of

416
00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,480
ages' semi church righteous cotton

417
00:19:56,380 --> 00:20:00,220
person in the be Hampton community right

418
00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:03,660
down the street from burst first which

419
00:20:00,220 --> 00:20:08,980
you know now it's First Baptist bro okay

420
00:20:03,660 --> 00:20:11,470
so in that day and time that was big mr.

421
00:20:08,980 --> 00:20:13,930
Joe green I mean think about being an

422
00:20:11,470 --> 00:20:16,720
entrepreneur businessman doing doing the

423
00:20:13,930 --> 00:20:21,160
six during the 60s with everything going

424
00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:22,870
on and racism and everything going on it

425
00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:25,700
may have been kind of hard for him to do

426
00:20:22,870 --> 00:20:28,700
what he didn't do but he did

427
00:20:25,700 --> 00:20:30,080
so church life was very big for me you

428
00:20:28,700 --> 00:20:32,269
know see something bad like mr. Joe

429
00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:34,639
green owned his own business a look I

430
00:20:32,269 --> 00:20:36,769
could have my own business one day if I

431
00:20:34,639 --> 00:20:38,990
want to no matter what's going on no

432
00:20:36,769 --> 00:20:40,490
matter what you hear the news you can

433
00:20:38,990 --> 00:20:41,600
still do y'all you can still do your

434
00:20:40,490 --> 00:20:44,049
thing you can still have your own

435
00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,049
business

436
00:20:45,970 --> 00:20:50,179
are there any memories from your

437
00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:52,820
childhood they influenced you later on

438
00:20:50,179 --> 00:20:55,130
in life yes my godfather and my

439
00:20:52,820 --> 00:20:57,380
godmother there's still part of my life

440
00:20:55,130 --> 00:21:00,289
today my godfather

441
00:20:57,380 --> 00:21:03,019
there are mr. and mrs. Winfred hacen

442
00:21:00,289 --> 00:21:05,659
senior they were godmothers to my older

443
00:21:03,019 --> 00:21:07,669
brother and sister so when my when my

444
00:21:05,659 --> 00:21:11,740
younger sister not joining church they

445
00:21:07,669 --> 00:21:15,970
became I got parents also as well as

446
00:21:11,740 --> 00:21:18,710
godparents they made sure that we were

447
00:21:15,970 --> 00:21:20,120
always on the right path always doing

448
00:21:18,710 --> 00:21:22,340
the right thing

449
00:21:20,120 --> 00:21:24,139
whether it be Vacation Bible School

450
00:21:22,340 --> 00:21:27,470
whether it be a church conference

451
00:21:24,139 --> 00:21:29,720
whatever was going on they always made

452
00:21:27,470 --> 00:21:32,240
sure that we were part of it and they

453
00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:34,100
all not only did they look out for us at

454
00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,440
church but even when church was not

455
00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:39,440
going on I can always go to their house

456
00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:41,659
and sit down and eat if I wanted to I

457
00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:44,389
could always just come over and tell

458
00:21:41,659 --> 00:21:50,029
them what was going on in my life they

459
00:21:44,389 --> 00:21:50,600
always made sure that we were well taken

460
00:21:50,029 --> 00:21:52,220
care of

461
00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:55,399
they knew my girls would take very good

462
00:21:52,220 --> 00:21:57,590
care of us but there's some things my

463
00:21:55,399 --> 00:22:01,340
grandma did not know did they make sure

464
00:21:57,590 --> 00:22:03,019
that we knew and if she knew I guess you

465
00:22:01,340 --> 00:22:05,690
could say that's the community growing

466
00:22:03,019 --> 00:22:07,309
and taking care of the generation

467
00:22:05,690 --> 00:22:09,679
parents as well as the generation coming

468
00:22:07,309 --> 00:22:13,519
ahead because a lot of times I don't

469
00:22:09,679 --> 00:22:16,720
think we see them now as well but having

470
00:22:13,519 --> 00:22:21,200
godparents made a difference for me

471
00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:23,059
because she are with my godmother when I

472
00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:25,370
get like said I did not have a car in my

473
00:22:23,059 --> 00:22:28,070
family when I get ready to take the a CT

474
00:22:25,370 --> 00:22:30,440
test I called my grandma I called my

475
00:22:28,070 --> 00:22:32,630
godmother and said I need to go to

476
00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,049
Southwest Community College to take the

477
00:22:32,630 --> 00:22:34,720
test

478
00:22:33,049 --> 00:22:37,090
on a Saturday

479
00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:40,030
I told her what time and everything and

480
00:22:37,090 --> 00:22:42,929
she made time in her schedule to take me

481
00:22:40,030 --> 00:22:46,390
I'm not sure if everybody would do that

482
00:22:42,929 --> 00:22:48,429
in today's day and time for you know

483
00:22:46,390 --> 00:22:52,780
because there's so much so much going on

484
00:22:48,429 --> 00:22:55,390
my godfather always made sure that if I

485
00:22:52,780 --> 00:23:00,250
needed something it was taking care of I

486
00:22:55,390 --> 00:23:01,690
took a job at Junior Achievement so I

487
00:23:00,250 --> 00:23:02,799
was able to earn money for the summer

488
00:23:01,690 --> 00:23:06,820
time so when I get ready to go to

489
00:23:02,799 --> 00:23:09,940
college I went out and bought clothes my

490
00:23:06,820 --> 00:23:13,299
godparents were the ones who took me to

491
00:23:09,940 --> 00:23:16,030
about not close with them my grandmother

492
00:23:13,299 --> 00:23:19,330
my grandmother trusted my godparents you

493
00:23:16,030 --> 00:23:20,919
know it was just a great they were great

494
00:23:19,330 --> 00:23:22,179
people and they're still great people in

495
00:23:20,919 --> 00:23:24,789
my life

496
00:23:22,179 --> 00:23:27,580
sunday was Father's Day I went to see my

497
00:23:24,789 --> 00:23:31,179
godfather and give him a card I take my

498
00:23:27,580 --> 00:23:34,090
godmother a car always for Mother's Day

499
00:23:31,179 --> 00:23:35,890
I mean I can't forget them because there

500
00:23:34,090 --> 00:23:36,730
are ways to me they're like mother and

501
00:23:35,890 --> 00:23:38,710
father to me

502
00:23:36,730 --> 00:23:41,350
matter of fact I called them mommy and

503
00:23:38,710 --> 00:23:43,900
daddy my children called them great you

504
00:23:41,350 --> 00:23:48,010
know granddad and Grandma that's just

505
00:23:43,900 --> 00:23:51,340
how close we are their son is like my

506
00:23:48,010 --> 00:23:51,700
brother and their grandchildren call me

507
00:23:51,340 --> 00:23:56,770
uncle

508
00:23:51,700 --> 00:23:59,470
Ernest so it's it's just a it's a tight

509
00:23:56,770 --> 00:24:01,870
connection of a family which came to

510
00:23:59,470 --> 00:24:03,520
church I'm not sure how close y'all are

511
00:24:01,870 --> 00:24:07,179
y'all got I'm not sure if you don't even

512
00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:10,000
have church godparents now but doing my

513
00:24:07,179 --> 00:24:16,659
damn time it was a connection that you

514
00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:19,570
made with them to make you more in depth

515
00:24:16,659 --> 00:24:21,580
and loved by the church you got a chance

516
00:24:19,570 --> 00:24:27,370
to seek because they cared about you and

517
00:24:21,580 --> 00:24:29,260
they looked out for you when you

518
00:24:27,370 --> 00:24:32,710
attended trail well do you have any

519
00:24:29,260 --> 00:24:34,720
certificates on the community oh it

520
00:24:32,710 --> 00:24:37,480
really did because all of a sudden you

521
00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:40,870
had african-americans come into an

522
00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:45,190
all-white community that they were not

523
00:24:40,870 --> 00:24:46,809
used to seeing or being a part of it

524
00:24:45,190 --> 00:24:49,210
there's there was a positive and there

525
00:24:46,809 --> 00:24:50,590
was a negative to it I mean it's no

526
00:24:49,210 --> 00:24:52,570
matter how you look it's always gonna be

527
00:24:50,590 --> 00:24:55,269
a positive it's always gonna be a

528
00:24:52,570 --> 00:24:57,609
negative but you have to understand the

529
00:24:55,269 --> 00:24:59,049
days and Tans when I was busted trailer

530
00:24:57,609 --> 00:25:01,269
you gotta really realize that we're

531
00:24:59,049 --> 00:25:04,269
being bused it wasn't like I wanted to

532
00:25:01,269 --> 00:25:06,489
go I really did not want to go to

533
00:25:04,269 --> 00:25:09,129
Treadwell I wanted to stay in Leicester

534
00:25:06,489 --> 00:25:11,080
with all the students and people that I

535
00:25:09,129 --> 00:25:13,149
knew that I you know from first grade

536
00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:16,629
all the way up to seventh grade I had

537
00:25:13,149 --> 00:25:18,249
been with you saying these same young

538
00:25:16,629 --> 00:25:22,649
people who were part of that community

539
00:25:18,249 --> 00:25:27,039
who I knew but I was Buster Treadwell

540
00:25:22,649 --> 00:25:29,289
Treadwell that area in their

541
00:25:27,039 --> 00:25:31,179
neighborhood a lot of people stayed a

542
00:25:29,289 --> 00:25:34,239
lot of people moved out of their

543
00:25:31,179 --> 00:25:36,789
neighborhood because we came in and I

544
00:25:34,239 --> 00:25:40,269
can understand a lot of children who

545
00:25:36,789 --> 00:25:44,200
attended Treadwell before we can excuse

546
00:25:40,269 --> 00:25:46,179
me left the neighborhood or went to up I

547
00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,649
went to a private school because

548
00:25:46,179 --> 00:25:49,749
african-americans were coming into the

549
00:25:47,649 --> 00:25:51,070
school there were no demonstrations

550
00:25:49,749 --> 00:25:56,109
there were nothing like that going on

551
00:25:51,070 --> 00:26:00,039
today we arrived there Treadwell but we

552
00:25:56,109 --> 00:26:01,869
knew what it was like you know you even

553
00:26:00,039 --> 00:26:04,749
though the administration did everything

554
00:26:01,869 --> 00:26:07,840
they could to make us feel welcome you

555
00:26:04,749 --> 00:26:09,849
still have a little bit of anxiety no

556
00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:14,139
matter what's going on when you go

557
00:26:09,849 --> 00:26:16,029
somewhere you know so it was like I said

558
00:26:14,139 --> 00:26:19,149
there's goodness positive about it

559
00:26:16,029 --> 00:26:28,690
I take I take the a little bit of both

560
00:26:19,149 --> 00:26:32,909
and think the best of it how people were

561
00:26:28,690 --> 00:26:37,470
really close together and one thing

562
00:26:32,909 --> 00:26:37,470
where people in the heights

563
00:26:38,010 --> 00:26:41,909
I think it is different because like

564
00:26:40,289 --> 00:26:44,580
saying they had to get you they had to

565
00:26:41,909 --> 00:26:47,070
get adjusted to african-americans being

566
00:26:44,580 --> 00:26:52,139
in that community because you gotta

567
00:26:47,070 --> 00:26:54,210
think about for years and years there

568
00:26:52,139 --> 00:26:56,309
had not been african-americans going to

569
00:26:54,210 --> 00:26:59,549
school maybe in that community like

570
00:26:56,309 --> 00:27:01,169
saying we went to to the grocery store

571
00:26:59,549 --> 00:27:04,320
we went to the post office in the

572
00:27:01,169 --> 00:27:07,019
neighborhood but we knew that was not

573
00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:09,210
our neighborhood that's just places we

574
00:27:07,019 --> 00:27:10,980
went to do business that it was not our

575
00:27:09,210 --> 00:27:13,080
neighborhood we knew being Hampton was I

576
00:27:10,980 --> 00:27:14,909
was our community it was our

577
00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:18,299
neighborhood and they knew the same

578
00:27:14,909 --> 00:27:21,149
thing too I guess it's like a it's like

579
00:27:18,299 --> 00:27:22,799
a border it's like a border line so we

580
00:27:21,149 --> 00:27:24,450
knew we knew where our borders were we

581
00:27:22,799 --> 00:27:25,799
knew where their borders were we do have

582
00:27:24,450 --> 00:27:28,919
four we could go and have four we could

583
00:27:25,799 --> 00:27:32,370
not go and and that day and that day and

584
00:27:28,919 --> 00:27:36,809
time on the 60s you were very careful

585
00:27:32,370 --> 00:27:38,909
not to cross and land per se and that's

586
00:27:36,809 --> 00:27:43,279
what you were taught watch the line

587
00:27:38,909 --> 00:27:43,279
watch the other two watch what you say

588
00:27:44,029 --> 00:27:54,899
are there any places in the heights they

589
00:27:47,070 --> 00:27:57,240
made it better I'm not sure I can't

590
00:27:54,899 --> 00:28:00,539
really say I said just just being part

591
00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:05,549
of Treadwell maybe a little bit better I

592
00:28:00,539 --> 00:28:10,019
mean the teachers were good the faculty

593
00:28:05,549 --> 00:28:11,399
was great I mean no one and the staff of

594
00:28:10,019 --> 00:28:15,299
the fact ever made you feel like you

595
00:28:11,399 --> 00:28:17,309
were just totally inferior and I think

596
00:28:15,299 --> 00:28:20,100
this I think because they were teachers

597
00:28:17,309 --> 00:28:23,519
teachers always want to see everyone do

598
00:28:20,100 --> 00:28:25,679
good I had the pleasure of meeting my I

599
00:28:23,519 --> 00:28:30,990
had the pleasure of seeing my 8th grade

600
00:28:25,679 --> 00:28:32,549
history teacher not too long ago I love

601
00:28:30,990 --> 00:28:34,769
history and I love geography those are

602
00:28:32,549 --> 00:28:37,909
my best subjects in in high school and

603
00:28:34,769 --> 00:28:41,639
in college so to see her again after

604
00:28:37,909 --> 00:28:44,780
almost 40 years of leaving school was

605
00:28:41,639 --> 00:28:47,630
great to tell her that I still have a

606
00:28:44,780 --> 00:28:55,010
of a history for geography was really

607
00:28:47,630 --> 00:29:06,380
great you know to say just one person or

608
00:28:55,010 --> 00:29:09,290
one area I cannot say yes I indirectly I

609
00:29:06,380 --> 00:29:12,290
am I guess because I work for the public

610
00:29:09,290 --> 00:29:14,330
library and there's a Randolph and I

611
00:29:12,290 --> 00:29:17,720
mean I never thought I would be working

612
00:29:14,330 --> 00:29:20,450
for the librarian and connected to the

613
00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:24,410
Randolph library so I feel good I see I

614
00:29:20,450 --> 00:29:26,960
feel a kinship always to the Randolph

615
00:29:24,410 --> 00:29:28,190
library because it's right down the

616
00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:31,940
street from Trevor that's a place I

617
00:29:28,190 --> 00:29:35,060
could go to and get lost in the world of

618
00:29:31,940 --> 00:29:39,080
books and learning and reading because I

619
00:29:35,060 --> 00:29:40,610
love to read so I will always be

620
00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:43,880
connected to the Randolph library even

621
00:29:40,610 --> 00:29:45,350
when I leave the library system I will

622
00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:47,660
always you know it's just like trouble

623
00:29:45,350 --> 00:29:50,930
real trouble is no longer high school

624
00:29:47,660 --> 00:29:53,150
it's now junior high school I think this

625
00:29:50,930 --> 00:29:55,610
I think that junior high school middle

626
00:29:53,150 --> 00:29:56,090
high school now but I will always be

627
00:29:55,610 --> 00:29:58,130
connected

628
00:29:56,090 --> 00:30:03,290
matter of fact my daughter went to trail

629
00:29:58,130 --> 00:30:06,560
well for some function and the class of

630
00:30:03,290 --> 00:30:09,910
77 picture is on the wall and she

631
00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:13,250
actually found my picture my graduation

632
00:30:09,910 --> 00:30:15,890
picture and it's still on the wall so I

633
00:30:13,250 --> 00:30:17,870
will always be connected to to Treadwell

634
00:30:15,890 --> 00:30:21,050
you know knowing that you can go in and

635
00:30:17,870 --> 00:30:23,480
find your father's picture on the wall

636
00:30:21,050 --> 00:30:26,630
so I will always be connected to the

637
00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:27,980
Highland Heights area because I said

638
00:30:26,630 --> 00:30:29,180
that's where I went to the grocery story

639
00:30:27,980 --> 00:30:32,540
that's where I went to the post-office

640
00:30:29,180 --> 00:30:35,000
the bank I mean like I said I always you

641
00:30:32,540 --> 00:30:38,150
know when I Drive that areas always the

642
00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:41,120
memories of what used to be somewhere

643
00:30:38,150 --> 00:30:44,360
and what used to be and what it is now

644
00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:47,960
so it's you know I say I'll always be a

645
00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:50,900
part of my life 20 years from now when

646
00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:52,280
you come back two rows to the

647
00:30:50,900 --> 00:30:54,170
neighborhood you like okay I'm gonna

648
00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:56,420
what that was I mean what this means so

649
00:30:54,170 --> 00:30:57,800
you always like okay

650
00:30:56,420 --> 00:31:00,380
you know I know what used to be here you

651
00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:02,660
can always drive down she said okay that

652
00:31:00,380 --> 00:31:04,730
was that's miss White's house then

653
00:31:02,660 --> 00:31:06,290
that's miss Smith's house you know

654
00:31:04,730 --> 00:31:08,810
that's was always going to you man who

655
00:31:06,290 --> 00:31:19,190
used to live there because it's because

656
00:31:08,810 --> 00:31:20,270
you're probably neighborhood no because

657
00:31:19,190 --> 00:31:23,810
times have changed

658
00:31:20,270 --> 00:31:28,190
and that's a that's a good thing it Alan

659
00:31:23,810 --> 00:31:29,990
Hinds is not the same as it was one

660
00:31:28,190 --> 00:31:33,590
young man who y'all probably know very

661
00:31:29,990 --> 00:31:36,470
well you may know Hank back down do

662
00:31:33,590 --> 00:31:39,140
y'all know the name hammock down hey

663
00:31:36,470 --> 00:31:40,610
McDowell played basketball for the

664
00:31:39,140 --> 00:31:43,250
University of Memphis but he was a

665
00:31:40,610 --> 00:31:45,740
graduate of sure what Hank McDowell now

666
00:31:43,250 --> 00:31:48,950
wearing the same homeroom class from

667
00:31:45,740 --> 00:31:50,810
eighth grade to 12th grade matter of

668
00:31:48,950 --> 00:31:55,100
fact his mother was a police she was the

669
00:31:50,810 --> 00:31:59,450
crossing guard at Treadwell and she was

670
00:31:55,100 --> 00:32:02,270
part of the part of the neighborhood but

671
00:31:59,450 --> 00:32:05,870
force changes and being part of it I

672
00:32:02,270 --> 00:32:08,420
think it's I think you always be a part

673
00:32:05,870 --> 00:32:10,850
of it in our ways see part and why I

674
00:32:08,420 --> 00:32:13,730
bring up Hank McDowell and the you know

675
00:32:10,850 --> 00:32:15,920
what you said a borderline the church a

676
00:32:13,730 --> 00:32:18,620
Highland Heights Baptist Church which is

677
00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:21,020
right behind my thesis we that's where

678
00:32:18,620 --> 00:32:25,190
half of the neighborhood of Highland

679
00:32:21,020 --> 00:32:27,410
Heights went to church it and after a

680
00:32:25,190 --> 00:32:31,310
while I we were allowed to go to howling

681
00:32:27,410 --> 00:32:34,010
heights and play basketball so that

682
00:32:31,310 --> 00:32:37,970
shows how the neighborhood changed their

683
00:32:34,010 --> 00:32:40,280
shows had that borderland change because

684
00:32:37,970 --> 00:32:42,110
we never thought about going to Highland

685
00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:43,730
Heights because we knew that was

686
00:32:42,110 --> 00:32:46,250
considered a white church they wouldn't

687
00:32:43,730 --> 00:32:49,310
consider a church it was considered a

688
00:32:46,250 --> 00:32:50,660
white church so you know it was even

689
00:32:49,310 --> 00:32:53,830
though it was a church we didn't think

690
00:32:50,660 --> 00:32:56,800
about it being open to us at the time

691
00:32:53,830 --> 00:32:58,820
because like Martin Luther King said the

692
00:32:56,800 --> 00:33:04,040
11 o'clock hours the most segregated

693
00:32:58,820 --> 00:33:05,450
hour and hallo America all Sunday still

694
00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:07,640
else even though you can talk about

695
00:33:05,450 --> 00:33:08,860
Bellevue Church and you can talk about

696
00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:11,500
different churches and

697
00:33:08,860 --> 00:33:13,090
new who is making changed changes is

698
00:33:11,500 --> 00:33:18,580
still the most segregated hour in

699
00:33:13,090 --> 00:33:24,010
America yeah are there any fond memories

700
00:33:18,580 --> 00:33:25,809
of your neighborhood I guess I guess one

701
00:33:24,010 --> 00:33:27,610
of the most familiar like I said it's

702
00:33:25,809 --> 00:33:33,760
going down to Randolph library being

703
00:33:27,610 --> 00:33:35,530
able to go and try a library and just

704
00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:38,010
being able to sit down and look at a

705
00:33:35,530 --> 00:33:40,630
book read a book check out a book

706
00:33:38,010 --> 00:33:45,010
anytime I wanted to because I do have a

707
00:33:40,630 --> 00:33:49,210
library card knowing that it was free to

708
00:33:45,010 --> 00:33:51,309
me was what was a great thing I guess

709
00:33:49,210 --> 00:33:54,370
you know playing around Treadwell being

710
00:33:51,309 --> 00:33:55,809
around Treadwell took Jeff took driver

711
00:33:54,370 --> 00:33:59,380
education dragging around the

712
00:33:55,809 --> 00:34:03,130
neighborhood doing you know doing

713
00:33:59,380 --> 00:34:04,720
driver's education tab it was no I

714
00:34:03,130 --> 00:34:07,270
learned some things about they would I

715
00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:09,780
didn't know just driving around doing

716
00:34:07,270 --> 00:34:09,780
driver's education

717
00:34:18,500 --> 00:34:27,000
okay um how would you like to see like

718
00:34:24,540 --> 00:34:28,549
which if Memphis was to change how would

719
00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:32,549
you like to see the change happen

720
00:34:28,549 --> 00:34:36,419
inexcus-- I think the change that we

721
00:34:32,549 --> 00:34:38,159
need to make in Memphis is we need to do

722
00:34:36,419 --> 00:34:40,409
a couple of changes that we really need

723
00:34:38,159 --> 00:34:42,859
to make we need we need to make an

724
00:34:40,409 --> 00:34:45,299
economical change we need to make a

725
00:34:42,859 --> 00:34:49,710
change in living conditions all together

726
00:34:45,299 --> 00:34:51,990
and I can say it because in the Gaston

727
00:34:49,710 --> 00:34:54,450
Park community in the Soulsville

728
00:34:51,990 --> 00:34:57,710
Neighborhood Association community you

729
00:34:54,450 --> 00:35:00,510
see a lot of houses that are just

730
00:34:57,710 --> 00:35:02,160
boarded up you see a lot of lots of

731
00:35:00,510 --> 00:35:06,630
where you could tell they were housed

732
00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:09,270
there we need to have better housing in

733
00:35:06,630 --> 00:35:11,670
Memphis more affordable housing in

734
00:35:09,270 --> 00:35:13,170
Memphis because I think when you give

735
00:35:11,670 --> 00:35:16,319
people a chance to have homeownership

736
00:35:13,170 --> 00:35:19,470
you change their life education and

737
00:35:16,319 --> 00:35:22,079
homeownership changes people's lives in

738
00:35:19,470 --> 00:35:27,710
a dark dramatic way

739
00:35:22,079 --> 00:35:31,740
I mean economics and homeownership and

740
00:35:27,710 --> 00:35:34,710
education changes everyone's lives you

741
00:35:31,740 --> 00:35:36,960
know I mean a family that can all of a

742
00:35:34,710 --> 00:35:40,470
sudden afford a house and know that it's

743
00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:42,180
their house no matter what goes on makes

744
00:35:40,470 --> 00:35:44,430
a life you know it's stability and

745
00:35:42,180 --> 00:35:46,109
that's what young people need and

746
00:35:44,430 --> 00:35:47,520
they're like they need stability and

747
00:35:46,109 --> 00:35:49,440
that's one thing I hate with my

748
00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:52,079
grandmother in our community I had

749
00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:54,990
stability I mean I knew that that was

750
00:35:52,079 --> 00:35:57,930
her house that would be the house I

751
00:35:54,990 --> 00:35:59,670
would be in all my life you know there

752
00:35:57,930 --> 00:36:02,190
was nobody gonna come along and take the

753
00:35:59,670 --> 00:36:04,680
house from us and we have to move that's

754
00:36:02,190 --> 00:36:06,390
one thing I do know people move people

755
00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:08,819
move the end people moved out but we

756
00:36:06,390 --> 00:36:13,140
always stayed there I mean it was always

757
00:36:08,819 --> 00:36:14,849
hard to see a classmate leave school

758
00:36:13,140 --> 00:36:18,240
because their parents were moving

759
00:36:14,849 --> 00:36:19,950
whether it was to uh inside Memphis or

760
00:36:18,240 --> 00:36:22,329
to another state or to another city

761
00:36:19,950 --> 00:36:25,650
there was always the hard part

762
00:36:22,329 --> 00:36:27,999
that someone was moving but I think in

763
00:36:25,650 --> 00:36:31,869
Memphis the change we need to make is

764
00:36:27,999 --> 00:36:33,969
economically educational when we do we

765
00:36:31,869 --> 00:36:36,789
make those changes I think we will be a

766
00:36:33,969 --> 00:36:39,910
whole lot better those are things we

767
00:36:36,789 --> 00:36:42,549
have to support overall because that's

768
00:36:39,910 --> 00:36:45,009
just gonna make us a grow because if we

769
00:36:42,549 --> 00:36:47,679
had full employment in Memphis imagine

770
00:36:45,009 --> 00:36:50,079
what it would be like you don't have

771
00:36:47,679 --> 00:36:52,839
time for robbery you don't have to him

772
00:36:50,079 --> 00:36:54,489
to break into someone's house you don't

773
00:36:52,839 --> 00:36:58,769
have time to argue with someone because

774
00:36:54,489 --> 00:37:01,150
you're you're working and you have

775
00:36:58,769 --> 00:37:02,589
economics going on for you so you don't

776
00:37:01,150 --> 00:37:06,069
have time to argue with someone about

777
00:37:02,589 --> 00:37:08,380
something you know your thing is look

778
00:37:06,069 --> 00:37:10,689
I'm going forward you you're thinking

779
00:37:08,380 --> 00:37:13,689
you're progressing so that makes me if

780
00:37:10,689 --> 00:37:15,009
it's all the better I guess I mean then

781
00:37:13,689 --> 00:37:17,789
one day in ten when Memphis did have

782
00:37:15,009 --> 00:37:20,199
full employment I think about many

783
00:37:17,789 --> 00:37:21,489
plants and businesses that have gone on

784
00:37:20,199 --> 00:37:24,189
I mean there was a time when we had

785
00:37:21,489 --> 00:37:27,130
Firestone here we had the Memphis

786
00:37:24,189 --> 00:37:28,900
defense Depot I mean that's your

787
00:37:27,130 --> 00:37:31,420
grandparents about the new Memphis

788
00:37:28,900 --> 00:37:35,619
defense depo I mean how many people

789
00:37:31,420 --> 00:37:38,920
actually worked there Firestone and I

790
00:37:35,619 --> 00:37:42,369
mean so many places that have closed up

791
00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:44,039
and have moved on out of Memphis I mean

792
00:37:42,369 --> 00:37:46,239
how many people have retired from there

793
00:37:44,039 --> 00:37:49,170
and that's one of the things in the

794
00:37:46,239 --> 00:37:53,229
sixties did lead to a little bit of

795
00:37:49,170 --> 00:37:59,799
middle-class for us also we teach many

796
00:37:53,229 --> 00:38:03,519
teachers as well but what does your

797
00:37:59,799 --> 00:38:05,890
neighbor really mean to you well I guess

798
00:38:03,519 --> 00:38:09,160
I got to neighborhoods because of where

799
00:38:05,890 --> 00:38:10,479
I work at and where I live in I live in

800
00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:13,479
the University of Memphis

801
00:38:10,479 --> 00:38:16,869
district I'm like four blocks from the

802
00:38:13,479 --> 00:38:18,549
University of Memphis so that means a

803
00:38:16,869 --> 00:38:22,269
lot to me because I graduate from the

804
00:38:18,549 --> 00:38:24,630
University of Memphis and 86 so to be

805
00:38:22,269 --> 00:38:27,969
close to a school that I'm an alumni of

806
00:38:24,630 --> 00:38:29,920
is great and the Cena changes that

807
00:38:27,969 --> 00:38:31,900
they're making in the university and

808
00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:32,890
also in what they call university

809
00:38:31,900 --> 00:38:36,700
district

810
00:38:32,890 --> 00:38:38,619
because one change they made was this

811
00:38:36,700 --> 00:38:41,559
what used to be the Highland Heights

812
00:38:38,619 --> 00:38:43,720
branch library is now owned by the

813
00:38:41,559 --> 00:38:45,489
University in Memphis did say you know

814
00:38:43,720 --> 00:38:49,690
security station now it's no longer the

815
00:38:45,489 --> 00:38:54,009
lat beer so that's one small change and

816
00:38:49,690 --> 00:38:56,619
to see them move forward they built a

817
00:38:54,009 --> 00:39:00,190
new library also as well so of course

818
00:38:56,619 --> 00:39:02,380
I'm connected to the library again but

819
00:39:00,190 --> 00:39:04,569
to see the changes that they're making

820
00:39:02,380 --> 00:39:08,470
for the better for the neighborhood and

821
00:39:04,569 --> 00:39:09,849
to see the more housing girl go because

822
00:39:08,470 --> 00:39:12,339
you have so many students going to

823
00:39:09,849 --> 00:39:16,239
University of Memphis about 14,000

824
00:39:12,339 --> 00:39:18,489
students coming and going commuting as

825
00:39:16,239 --> 00:39:19,960
well as being on campus it means a lot

826
00:39:18,489 --> 00:39:22,829
to the neighborhood means a lot that can

827
00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:25,569
excuse me it means a lot economically

828
00:39:22,829 --> 00:39:26,890
till that neighborhood I mean when you

829
00:39:25,569 --> 00:39:28,299
think about the Walgreens you think

830
00:39:26,890 --> 00:39:30,960
about the brand-new McDonald's right to

831
00:39:28,299 --> 00:39:35,519
his southern and how it was just built I

832
00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:37,930
mean why do they way make a change

833
00:39:35,519 --> 00:39:40,319
economics to be closer to the students

834
00:39:37,930 --> 00:39:45,420
they're building brand new apartments

835
00:39:40,319 --> 00:39:48,640
right there it's howling and matter I

836
00:39:45,420 --> 00:39:51,670
mean big big apartments and they're more

837
00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:53,559
apartments down down the way so the

838
00:39:51,670 --> 00:39:57,460
economics of the you what the university

839
00:39:53,559 --> 00:40:00,430
brings to that whole district is great

840
00:39:57,460 --> 00:40:05,499
it's they're living now for South

841
00:40:00,430 --> 00:40:09,940
Memphis I would like to see some changes

842
00:40:05,499 --> 00:40:11,920
made I like they need economics change

843
00:40:09,940 --> 00:40:14,380
in the neighborhood and that's why I'm

844
00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:16,630
part of the chillon zone to help make

845
00:40:14,380 --> 00:40:18,789
changes in their neighborhood try to let

846
00:40:16,630 --> 00:40:21,130
people realize they look you can make a

847
00:40:18,789 --> 00:40:24,089
change it doesn't have to you don't have

848
00:40:21,130 --> 00:40:27,759
to accept it make a change be radical

849
00:40:24,089 --> 00:40:29,140
you know make a change don't accept it

850
00:40:27,759 --> 00:40:31,420
let's a lot better be a part of it

851
00:40:29,140 --> 00:40:33,190
because knowing that you can come into a

852
00:40:31,420 --> 00:40:35,440
knowing that you have a library in your

853
00:40:33,190 --> 00:40:40,539
community you can come in getting on the

854
00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:42,609
library from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. if

855
00:40:40,539 --> 00:40:43,910
that's almost so that's almost a workday

856
00:40:42,609 --> 00:40:48,270
for some

857
00:40:43,910 --> 00:40:51,630
okay but if you took four hours every

858
00:40:48,270 --> 00:40:53,790
day to learn something to make yourself

859
00:40:51,630 --> 00:40:56,160
better then you can lead the

860
00:40:53,790 --> 00:40:59,820
neighborhood you know if you learn to

861
00:40:56,160 --> 00:41:01,590
learn coding if you took three months

862
00:40:59,820 --> 00:41:03,210
and you gave four hours every day I was

863
00:41:01,590 --> 00:41:05,340
just learning coding learning how to

864
00:41:03,210 --> 00:41:06,780
write code and then you got a job

865
00:41:05,340 --> 00:41:11,190
writing code you can lead the

866
00:41:06,780 --> 00:41:12,270
neighborhood and be better so that's

867
00:41:11,190 --> 00:41:13,710
what I would like to see I like to see

868
00:41:12,270 --> 00:41:15,960
the neighborhood be better I like to see

869
00:41:13,710 --> 00:41:17,700
more economics in the community I like

870
00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:19,970
to see a lot of blight a lot of

871
00:41:17,700 --> 00:41:22,800
abandoned houses and abandoned Lots

872
00:41:19,970 --> 00:41:25,230
I'd like to see houses built on I see

873
00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:27,900
the community come back in full force

874
00:41:25,230 --> 00:41:29,910
because one time it had a glory you know

875
00:41:27,900 --> 00:41:32,250
and it's coming but it's just gonna it's

876
00:41:29,910 --> 00:41:33,990
just gonna take a little time and in the

877
00:41:32,250 --> 00:41:35,400
economic situation that Memphis is in

878
00:41:33,990 --> 00:41:39,270
now it's gonna take a little bit longer

879
00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:40,500
than most people think so that's

880
00:41:39,270 --> 00:41:42,480
something change I'd like to see in the

881
00:41:40,500 --> 00:41:44,400
south members neighborhood but I'm glad

882
00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:47,490
that she Lausanne is there working

883
00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:57,780
I'm glad CTC is there working also as

884
00:41:47,490 --> 00:42:01,440
well I want to thank y'all for

885
00:41:57,780 --> 00:42:03,720
interviewing me being connected to two

886
00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:06,120
neighborhoods and being connected to

887
00:42:03,720 --> 00:42:07,860
Treadwell as well as the Randolph

888
00:42:06,120 --> 00:42:12,090
library as well as the South Memphis

889
00:42:07,860 --> 00:42:13,260
community I'm happy and I appreciate

890
00:42:12,090 --> 00:42:17,610
y'all very much for taking time to

891
00:42:13,260 --> 00:42:19,890
interview me guess that's really all I

892
00:42:17,610 --> 00:42:25,320
want to add to it is there any advice

893
00:42:19,890 --> 00:42:28,820
you have for the youth of Memphis hold

894
00:42:25,320 --> 00:42:31,290
fast to your dreams work for your dream

895
00:42:28,820 --> 00:42:34,380
you know don't don't give up on it

896
00:42:31,290 --> 00:42:37,910
it may be deferred a little bit but keep

897
00:42:34,380 --> 00:42:39,810
working realize that education is a key

898
00:42:37,910 --> 00:42:42,300
that's something no one can take from

899
00:42:39,810 --> 00:42:45,090
once you learn something once you learn

900
00:42:42,300 --> 00:42:46,410
to code once you learn mathematics no

901
00:42:45,090 --> 00:42:49,320
one can take it away from you

902
00:42:46,410 --> 00:42:51,360
and I think that's what I you have to

903
00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:54,630
realize that once you learn it once you

904
00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:56,349
really learn it no one can tell you from

905
00:42:54,630 --> 00:43:01,410
you but what you do with

906
00:42:56,349 --> 00:43:01,410
is what's so important when you do have

907
00:43:04,739 --> 00:43:10,059
freedom and neighborhood projects I we

908
00:43:08,229 --> 00:43:12,220
really appreciate your story and you

909
00:43:10,059 --> 00:43:14,640
taking your time out the city thank you

910
00:43:12,220 --> 00:43:14,640
so much