Interview with Joseph K. Hobbs, July 12, 1978

Partial Transcript: My name is Edward Owens. I'm working with the Urban League on the Oral Black History Project.

Segment Synopsis: Owens introduces Hobbs and prompts him to discuss his personal and educational background as well as his experience in the mortician business.

Keywords: Educational background; Morticians; Personal background

Subjects: Background information; Funeral homes; Lexington (Ky.); Undertakers and undertaking

Partial Transcript: Why did you decide to leave the business of Mr. Cunningham's------??

Segment Synopsis: Hobbs talks about getting his start in the mortician business.

Keywords: Early career

Subjects: Undertakers and undertaking

Partial Transcript: To your knowledge, was there ever a time in Lexington that blacks were not allowed to go to white morticians?

Segment Synopsis: Hobbs discusses the generally accepted way of serving the community according to the racism that was well set in by the '70s.

Keywords: Institutional racism; Structural racism; Systematic racism

Subjects: African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Black community; Racism

Partial Transcript: How many other black morticians are there in Lexington?

Segment Synopsis: Hobbs touches on the relationship among the few black morticians in Lexington and explains the practice of "body snatching." He then describes an underlying animosity among black and white morticians.

Keywords: Body snatching; Community; Morticians; Relationship

Subjects: African Americans--Social conditions.; Communities; Funeral homes; Race relations--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Where are the majority of blacks buried?

Segment Synopsis: Hobbs discusses the progress in the burial of blacks as well as the persistence of racism.

Keywords: Cemetery; Memorial; White cemeteries

Subjects: African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Burial; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism

Partial Transcript: Is there anything that can be done about the double rate?

Segment Synopsis: Owens and Hobbs address the issue of having a double rate for burying blacks and whites in Lexington cemeteries.

Keywords: Cemetery upkeep; Double rate; Greenwood Cemetery; Solutions; Systematic racism; Unfair rates; Upkeep

Subjects: African Americans--Social conditions.; Equality; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism