Interview with James W. Hammons, April 24, 1990

Partial Transcript: I'm Mildred Mandt and I'm doing an oral black history report for the University of Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Hammons notes his basic information as an introduction, followed by describing his family background. In this segment, he focuses on his mother's father, his grandfather, who was born a slave, but eventually attended Fisk University and became a teacher. Hammons discusses his grandfather's role as an educational influence, helping tutor him in mathematics and with his homework. He also notes that his grandfather served as a community leader in his capacity as a deacon in his church.

Keywords: Church deacons; Fisk University (Nashville, Tenn.); Grandfathers; Grandparents; Historic black colleges and universities; Lexington (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); Mathematics; Slave descendants; Slavery; Teachers; Tutors

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Genealogy.; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Childhood; Education; Family histories.; Family--history; Teachers

Partial Transcript: My grandmother, uh, was not born a slave, but, uh, she was mulatta, her father was white, uh, and her mother was, we think probably a mulatta also.

Segment Synopsis: Hammons moves onto to discusses his grandmother, his mother's mother, whom he notes was born a mixed race child of a planter, and was adopted by his wife. He emphasizes her Christian values and the impact she placed on education for the young Hammons as a child. He also details his mother's age in relationship to her sisters, as well as how long his grandparents survived. He notes that he cannot speak much about his father considering his father died when he was five years old, and he has no other siblings.

Keywords: Adoptees; Christians; Education; Mixed-race individuals; Only children; School teachers

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Genealogy.; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Childhood; Education; Family histories.; Family--history; Lexington (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Race relations--Kentucky--Lexington; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Teachers; United States--Race relations.

Partial Transcript: Can you tell me something about what you remember as a child as to how you were treated, uh, by the whites--or the racial, racial situation.

Segment Synopsis: Hammons describes his childhood growing up in segregated Tennessee. He notes his confusion about the system, noting his own light skin from his mother's side. He describes how he had to learn about segregation as he grew older, and began forming his own identity as an African American. He discusses his family connections, tracing back some lines to 1700s Virginia, which he notes helped him build connections with several different groups as he tried looking for jobs, such as a local bank and the James K. Polk Hotel.

Keywords: Childhood; Descendants from 1700s; Growing up; James K. Polk Hotel; Mixed-race individuals; Murfreesboro (Tenn.); Segregation; Tennessee; Virginia ancestors

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Genealogy.; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Childhood; Education; Family histories.; Family--history; Teachers; United States--Race relations.

Partial Transcript: Do you remember the kind of house that you grew up in? Can you describe that for us?

Segment Synopsis: Hammons describes his childhood home in Tennessee. He discusses how it was built by his family in 1907 and the features of the house that made it modern for the turn of the century. He notes the water system of the house, as well as the hogs raised across the street.

Keywords: Childhood homes; Housing; Tennessee; Tennessee African American homes; Tennessee homes

Subjects: African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Southern States.

Partial Transcript: As a teenager, what did you do for recreation or for a social life?

Segment Synopsis: Hammons describes his social life as a teenager. He discusses going to school dances, dating, piano lessons, as well as his extra-curricular activities. He notes that he joined the Junior NAACP. He also discusses meeting various individuals through his uncle's connections, such as Charles S. Johnson, the president of Fisk University. Hammons also talks about how his uncle encouraged him to work several jobs despite gaining an allowance so that he gained some experience of the world.

Keywords: Childhood; Childhood social activities; Dating; Fisk University; Junior NAACP; Piano lessons; School dances; Socializing; Summer jobs; Working

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Childhood; Education; Johnson, Charles Spurgeon, 1893-1956; Kentucky State University; United States--Race relations.

Partial Transcript: After, uh, high school could you tell me something about, uh, your education, after you graduated from high school?

Segment Synopsis: Hammons describes his life after finishing high school, beginning with the death of his uncle and moving to Canada to work on the railroads. He notes that he went to West Virginia State University on a football scholarship, against the objections of his mother. Following an injury, Hammons describes finishing his undergraduate education at Kentucky State University. He discusses teaching at different schools across Kentucky, such as Hopkinsville and Versailles. Hammons also notes his desire to get a master's degree in osteopathy and pursue graduate research.

Keywords: Canadian railroad workers; Chicago School of Osteopathy; Federal Medical Center, Lexington (Ky.); Football; Football injuries; Football players; Historic black colleges and universities; Hopkinsville (Ky.); Kentucky State University; Kentucky teachers; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky; Versailles (Ky.); West Virginia State University

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Childhood; Education; Kentucky State University; Lexington (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Race relations--Kentucky--Lexington; Race riots; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; United States--Race relations.

Partial Transcript: Okay, were you involved at all in the Civil Rights Movement through the sixties?

Segment Synopsis: Hammons describes his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. He notes his support for integration and the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which opened housing to African Americans. He notes the help of white attorneys, whom he describes as seeing the broad picture of the Civil Rights Movement. However, Hammons also describes receiving opposition from those who believed that Civil Rights supporters were asking too much too quickly, which Hammons countered by noting he had heard the same sentiment as a child, and that asking for equality would always be deemed as moving too fast, and asking too much.

Keywords: Civil Rights Act of 1968; Civil Rights Era; Civil Rights Movement; Civil Rights activism; Fair Housing Act; Integration supporters; Open housing act

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Education; Kentucky State University; Lexington (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Race relations--Kentucky--Lexington; Race riots; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; United States--Race relations.

Partial Transcript: Do you remember, um, where you were and what you were doing when Martin Luther King was killed? Could you tell us about that?

Segment Synopsis: Hammons describes his recollection of hearing about the death of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. He notes that while he was in Lexington, he could not recall where he was exactly. He compares the reaction in Lexington to that occurring in other cities. However, he does acknowledge that there was frustration and acts of vandalism, including burning flags and breaking windows.

Keywords: Breaking windows; Burning flags; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Frustration; Henry Clay High School; Lexington race riots; Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination; Reaction to King's assassination

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Education; Kentucky State University; King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968.; Lexington (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Race relations--Kentucky--Lexington; Race riots; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; United States--Race relations.

Partial Transcript: Tell us about today, do you think things are different than what they used to be? Tell us what you think.

Segment Synopsis: Hammons considers the gains made for the African American community by 1990. He notes that while there have been many gains, there are still several areas where progress could be made. He cites that segregation still exists in some parts. His telephone rings halfway through the interview, which pauses the recording so he can answer the call. Upon resuming the tape, Hammons continues to discuss the areas where improvement needs to be made in terms of civil rights, such as discrimination in borrowing and lending. He also discusses the closing of schools.

Keywords: African American schools; Borrowing; Education; Job opportunities; Racial progress; Racism in 1990; School closures

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Lexington (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Race relations--Kentucky--Lexington; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; United States--Race relations.

Partial Transcript: What do you think--tell me some of the things you think could be done to better the life of a black person today?

Segment Synopsis: Hammons discusses ways to solve many of the issues he outlined in the previous segment. He notes that more job opportunities are key, both economically and socially. He discusses the need for more role models for young people, including bank presidents and directors. He notes that further education needs to be encouraged.

Keywords: Bank directors; Bank presidents; Increased education; Job opportunities; Role models; Young people

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Lexington (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Race relations--Kentucky--Lexington; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; United States--Race relations.

Partial Transcript: Dr. Hammons, what kind of life do you want for your children?

Segment Synopsis: Hammons describes his hopes for his children's lives and how they should act and treat others. He discusses their education, and hopes for their success in education and business. He also notes that he wants them to live according to his belief that people are individuals and should be treated well regardless of their race.

Keywords: Education; Hammons's children; Individualism; Success

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American families; African American physicians; African American physicians--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Social conditions; African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions--To 1964.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Businesspeople, Black; Lexington (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Race relations--Kentucky--Lexington; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; United States--Race relations.