Interview with Valerie Black, April 7, 2009

Partial Transcript: My name is Valerie [Willfolk] Black.

Segment Synopsis: Black discusses her personal background, and establishments in the East End during her childhood.

Keywords: Arthur's; Chestnut Street; East End neighborhood; Family; Land ownership; Lexington (Ky.); Marriage; Owen's Grocery; Palmer's Drugstore; Valerie Black

Subjects: African American families; African American older people; African American parents; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Childhood

Partial Transcript: Now who were the Higgins boys?

Segment Synopsis: Black describes her childhood experience in the educational system in comparison to the current generation.

Keywords: Allen boys [brothers]; Billy Higgins; Constitution Elementary School; Courtney Allen; Discipline; Dunbar High School; Family-owned bushiness; Higgins Trio; Higgins boys; Homes; Jonathan Higgins; Music; Norman Higgins; Russel Elementary School; Teachers

Subjects: African American neighborhoods; African American older people; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Childhood; Education

Partial Transcript: So what kind of activities did you do?

Segment Synopsis: Black elaborates on the education system and activities she took part in during school.

Keywords: Beta Club; Constitution Elementary School; Dunbar High School; East End shopping center; Future Teachers of America; Glee club; Honor Society; Johnson Elementary School; Lyric Theatre; Office assistants; Russel Elementary School; Tates Creek High School; White neighborhoods

Subjects: African American older people; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Housing.; Music; Segregation in education--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Now what else do you remember?

Segment Synopsis: Black discusses her childhood, church life, and the businesses in the neighborhood.

Keywords: A. B. Lee; Arthur's Grocery Store; Black barbers; Central Christian Church; Claude and Brown Funeral home; Drinking; First African Church; First Baptist Church; Greater Liberty Church; Holman Nutter; Loyalty Month; Owen's Store; Robert Mitchel; Sunday school; Swimming; Women's clothing; Youth Day

Subjects: African American neighborhoods; African American older people; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Fashion.; Integration

Partial Transcript: So you said y'all would walk to town?

Segment Synopsis: Black discusses her early adulthood, career path, and the community.

Keywords: Barry White; Black Achievers; Black community; Choir; Downtown Lexington (Ky.); Drugs; Dunbar High School; Family; Issac Hayes; Luther Vandross; Neighborhood Association; Record shops; Social clubs; Sunday school; Teddy Pendergrass; The Shirelles; The Supremes; Woodson Heritage Festival

Subjects: African American older people; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education (Higher); Music; Race relations--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Tell me this, because you've, uh, been around for a while, what do you make of the changes in the neighborhood?

Segment Synopsis: Black shares her final remarks on the current status of the East End and what has been lost over time.

Keywords: Crime; Drugs; Drugstores; Family; Land ownership; Lays Potato Chips; Loss; Louisville (Ky.); Lyric Theatre; Pride; William Wells Brown; Youth

Subjects: African American older people; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Race relations--Kentucky--Lexington; Transportation