Interview with Cordie M. Briggs, April 17, 1987

Partial Transcript: What is your name?

Segment Synopsis: Briggs talks about her family history, including her grandparent's and parent's background. She also mentions the deaths of both her parents.

Keywords: Employment; Free blacks; Grandparents; Literacy; Medical care; Parents; Slavery; Subsistence farming; Wilkerson family

Subjects: African American families; African American farmers.

Partial Transcript: Now what happened to you after they died?

Segment Synopsis: Briggs talks about what life was like when she lived in an orphaned home. She mentions how lighter skinned kids were treated better. She also talks about what they did for recreation. She also mentions how she eventually left the orphaned home.

Keywords: All black orphanage; All black schools; Black teachers; Confrontations; Dark skinned kids; Dunbar High School (Lexington, Ky.); Employment; House work; Isolation; Light skinned kids; Orphaned homes; Preferential treatment; Punishments; Recreation; Siblings; Treatment

Subjects: African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions

Partial Transcript: I want to know more about, uh, you said, uh, the light skinned kids were treated better, I want to know more about how that happened in schools.

Segment Synopsis: Briggs discusses the preferential treatment that black teachers gave to lighter skinned black children. She goes on to talk about her siblings background, mentioning that her brother ran away from his adopted family when he was younger.

Keywords: Black teachers; Darker skinned kids; Dunbar High School (Lexington, Ky.); Employment; Light skinned kids; Preferential treatment; Siblings

Subjects: African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions

Partial Transcript: What did you do after you finished high school?

Segment Synopsis: Briggs discusses what she did after high school, including working odd jobs and getting married. She talks about raising her family in Pralltown. She goes on to talk about how Pralltown has changed since her kids childhood. She mentions how a change in family structure has effected children.

Keywords: All black community; Black communities; Child rearing; Community relations; Community support; Community unity; Employment; Family structure; Ghettos; Marriage; Neighborhoods; Occupations; Pralltown; Respecting elders; Social life

Subjects: African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions

Partial Transcript: So, what is that doing to the black race?

Segment Synopsis: Briggs discusses how the black community has changed and how it is divided along class lines. She mentions that she does not like the environment of her neighborhood due to the negative activities that take place in the area.

Keywords: "The man"; Black race; Class division; Class structure; Deterioration; IBM employees; Lower class; Middle class blacks; Neighborhood environment; Race relations; Racial pride; The white man; UK students

Subjects: African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Now I want you to tell me about--lets go back a little bit cause you said in Pralltown...

Segment Synopsis: Briggs discusses how education has changed for black students since integration. She also talks about how black students behavior has changed. She tells a story about a black student athlete who was trying to get into a junior college with a fourth grade reading level.

Keywords: All black schools; Black businesses; Black students; Black teachers; Bootleg houses; Integrated schools; Parenting styles; Pralltown; Respect; Strict teachers; Student behavior; Teacher effort; White teachers; home environment

Subjects: African American business enterprises; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington

Partial Transcript: But what about now that they've been teaching a while and you can afford...

Segment Synopsis: Briggs discusses the increase of interracial relationships. She talks about her feelings on interracial relationships and how it, for her, relates back to slavery. She also mentions possible motives for interracial relationships. She goes on to talk about her outlook on life and her take on friendships.

Keywords: "The white man"; Friendships; Huey Long; Interracial relationships; Material gain; Outlook on life; Race relations; Resentment; Rex Chapman (??); Secret relationships; Slavery; Treatment of black women; White slave owners

Subjects: Interracial marriage; Racially mixed people

Partial Transcript: I can be--I can treat white people just like I treat black people...

Segment Synopsis: Briggs discusses her work experiences she had working as a maid at the Imperial House and Campbell House. She mentions two occasions where she had conflicts with her bosses.

Keywords: Black maids; Campbell House; Hotel work; Human Rights Commission; Imperial House; Laundry manager; Maid work; Race relations; Racial discrimination; Treatment; Work place conflicts; Work relations; Working conditions

Subjects: African Americans--Employment--Kentucky--Lexington

Partial Transcript: So your husband is now passed on?

Segment Synopsis: Briggs discusses her children's background and mentions her grandchildren. She also talks about her impressions of the Campbell House and her general treatment as a employee.

Keywords: Campbell House; Children; Grandchildren; Parenting; Race relations; Segregated schools; Treatment

Subjects: African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Economic conditions; Kentucky Commission on Human Rights

Partial Transcript: Tell me the incident, the housing things that your grandson...

Segment Synopsis: Briggs tells a story about comments she heard Adolph Rupp say on the radio in regard to building Memorial Coliseum. She also mentions that blacks and poor whites were displaced by the building of Memorial Coliseum and Rupp Arena.

Keywords: Black neighborhoods; Displacing blacks; Memorial Coliseum; Poor whites; Racists comments; Radio; Rupp Arena; South Hill; UK

Subjects: Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: What do you think is happen to, uh, down on Fourth and Ohio, and down in there now?

Segment Synopsis: Briggs talks about how different development projects displaced sections of the black community. She goes on to talk about the housing projects in Lexington.

Keywords: Aspendale; Black communities; Charlotte Court; Consolidated Baptist Church; Displacing black residents; First Baptist Church; Housing projects; Kroger; UK

Subjects: African American churches--Kentucky; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; University of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: I want you to tell me, uh, describe to me the church you went to, the role of the minister...

Segment Synopsis: Briggs discusses the changes in the church. She talks about the role of the minister and the support they have from their congregation.

Keywords: Black church leaders; Congregational support; Dedication; Ministerial leadership; Progress; Reverend Rawlings (??); Role of the church

Subjects: African American churches--Kentucky; African Americans--Religion

Partial Transcript: Now did you take part in the revolution during the sixties?

Segment Synopsis: Briggs talks about the progress of the black community. She also talks about her impressions of former president Ronald Reagan. She goes on to talk about her experiences with the impoverished and uneducated white community.

Keywords: "The white man"; Black communities; Black progress; Impoverished whites; Racism; Ronald Reagan; Uneducated poor; Urban renewal

Subjects: African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Economic conditions

Partial Transcript: How did the blacks get along with the poor whites in the communities where they lived?

Segment Synopsis: Briggs talks about the relationship between blacks and poor whites that live in the black community. She goes on to talk about the current status of the black youth. She also talks about the double standards that exist in interracial relationships.

Keywords: "The white man"; Black success; Black youth; Double standards; Entitlement; Interracial marriages; Interracial relationships; Poor whites; Pralltown; Race relations; Racial identity

Subjects: African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions

Partial Transcript: What about, uh, the black peoples feelings toward each other?

Segment Synopsis: Briggs discusses the issues that exist within the black community. She mentions that there is a class divide within the community. She also talks about the increase in bad behavior among the black community's youth, including drug use and gambling. She tells a story about new reporters who wanted her supervisor to participate in a sting operation in the black community.

Keywords: "The men"; Black communities; Black jealousy; Black youth; Class divide; Community pride; Community unity; Drug use; Law enforcement; Motivation; Mr. Melvin Cunningham; News reporters; Sting operations; Violent crime

Subjects: African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Economic conditions; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions

Partial Transcript: When I went to UK, uh, there wasn't another black--another person, well another black person.

Segment Synopsis: Briggs talks about her and her daughters experiences at the University of Kentucky. She mentions confrontations she and her daughter had with teachers and students. She goes on to talk about her financial difficulties and financial problems she has with the University of Kentucky. [The interview is concluded]

Keywords: Business report; Confrontations; Continuing education; Daughter; Financial aid; Financial situations; Ignorance; Race relations; Recruitment program; State assistance; Student relations; Tuition; Welfare; Writing class

Subjects: African Americans--Education (Higher)--Kentucky--Lexington; University of Kentucky.