Interview with Helen Higgins, April 9, 2009

Partial Transcript: My name is Helen Louise Higgins.

Segment Synopsis: Helen Higgins is introduced. She talks about her family background. She talks about moving to Lexington when she was 18 years old, and discusses the places she lived in Lexington.

Keywords: 4th Street; Breathitt Avenue; East End Lexington; Family background; Fourth Street; Georgetown (Ky.); Georgetown Street; Greenwood Street; Houses; Husbands; Moving; Parents; Renting; West End Lexington

Subjects: African American families; African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Housing.; Childhood; Lexington (Ky.)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Lexington (Ky.).

Partial Transcript: Well no I did--I'm, I'm going too far. before I met Russell I lived in Rhode Island.

Segment Synopsis: Higgins talks about the various jobs she has worked throughout her life, and talks about living in Chicago and Rhode Island.

Keywords: 3rd Street; Chicago (Ill.); Elderly; Factories; Factory work; Husbands; Jewelry factory; Jobs; Laundries; Rhode Island; Senior citizens; Third Street; Tobacco factory

Subjects: African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Conduct of life.; African Americans--Employment.; Neighborliness; Neighbors

Partial Transcript: Le, let me ask you this cause i, i--when you were young and you rented a room, like how much did it cost?

Segment Synopsis: Higgins talks about renting a room when she moved to Lexington and describes her life as a young woman, including the restaurants and clubs she frequented.

Keywords: Age; Bathrooms; Children; Cooking; Cost; Doctors; Dr. Bush Hunter; Dr. Jones; Drinking; Drinks; Jukeboxes; Medical care; Men; Rent; Renting rooms; Restaurants

Subjects: African American neighborhoods; African American physicians; African Americans--Conduct of life.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Clothing and dress.; Fashion.; Lexington (Ky.)--Buildings, structures, etc.

Partial Transcript: What do you make of, uh, like the Roots and Heritage Festival?

Segment Synopsis: Higgins talks about how the East End neighborhood has changed over the years and talks about why she feels the neighborhood has deteriorated. She talks about young people's lack of respect.

Keywords: 3rd Street; Attitudes; Behavior; Black businesses; Caring; Changes; Children; Danger; Deweese Street; Different; Discipline; Disrepair; East End Lexington; Future; Gambling; Generations; Helping; Junk; Lyric Theater; New; Parents; Race Street; Respect; Restaurants; Roots and Heritage Festival; Third Street

Subjects: African American business enterprises; African American families; African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Conduct of life.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Lexington (Ky.)--Buildings, structures, etc.

Partial Transcript: How--what have you thought about race relations in Lexington over the years?

Segment Synopsis: Higgins talks about her experiences with race relations in Lexington. She gives her opinions on the election of Barack Obama as president. She talks more about lack of respect and people's behavior. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Attitudes; Barack Obama; Behavior; Black presidents; Changes; Discipline; Impossible; Love; Religion; Respect

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Conduct of life.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Race relations--Kentucky--Lexington