Interview with Isaac J. Darneal, December 18, 1992

Partial Transcript: --ninety-one. I'm Kristina Minister.

Segment Synopsis: Isaac "Ike" Darneal is introduced. He talks about his family's history in Midway, Kentucky. He talks about how he was born in Lexington but his family soon after moved to Midway. His father worked as a farmhand and his mother took care of him and his nine siblings. He talks about the jobs he and his wife held and how much they were paid. He talks about getting a loan for his house.

Keywords: Banks; Careers; Children; Coal stoves; Farmhands; Farms; Fathers; Grandmothers; House fires; Houses; Jobs; Loans; Mothers; Payment; Salary; Siblings; Stevens Street; Wife; Willy Wise

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Childhood; Families.; Family histories.; Family history.; Lexington (Ky.); Midway (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: You see, let me tell you, I'll be honest with you.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about the flight of African Americans from Midway. He talks about the issues that he has taken to the city council, including the city's sewer system which only services certain parts of town and making sure his aunt was compensated for the city's use of her land.

Keywords: City councils; City sewage; City sewers; Civil rights movements; Compensation; Ignored; Leadership; Leaving; Mayors; Moving away; Mr. Lacefield; Politics; Property; Protests; Respect; Schools; Sewage systems; Sewer systems; Value

Subjects: African American families; African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Midway (Ky.); Plumbing.; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Refuse and refuse disposal.; Sewerage.

Partial Transcript: I belong to the Habitat. I belong to Lion's Club.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about his work with Habitat for Humanity. He talks about a 76-piece African American brass band in Midway in the 1920s.

Keywords: African American brass bands; African American musicians; Black brass bands; Black musicians; Dr. Jim Roach; Habitat for Humanity; Houses; Marching bands

Subjects: African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Childhood; Midway (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: The sewer system was designed for 800 people and it took care of 800 people.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about some of the people in town who control the town. He talks about some of the families in town receiving extra coal during particularly cold winters. He talks more about the city's sewer system which only services certain parts of town as well as the inequalities in the tax system.

Keywords: African American community; Authority; Black community; City sewage; City sewers; Coal; Coal yards; Control; Installation; Lige Osbourne; Martin Street; Mr. Lacefield; Pascal Lacefield; Police; Politics; Power; Sewage systems; Sewer systems; Stockyards; Tax systems; Taxes; Willy McDaniel; Winters

Subjects: African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Midway (Ky.); Plumbing.; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Refuse and refuse disposal.; Sewerage.

Partial Transcript: Midway started to dying in 1946.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about working at the stockyard in Midway, as well as the local distillery.

Keywords: Cattle; Distilleries; Jobs; Livestock; Mr. Richardson; Stockyards; Switch engines

Subjects: African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Careers.; Midway (Ky.); Occupations.; Professions.; Vocation.; Work.

Partial Transcript: I made a statement and I'll make it again: it's not a place for a poor person to buy...

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about the decline of Midway beginning in the 1940s, which Darneal attributes to selfishness. He talks about how expensive it is to live in Midway. He talks briefly about the Black community in Midway. He talks briefly about politics and the national debt.

Keywords: African American businesses; African American community; Black businesses; Black community; City council members; City councils; City sewage; City sewers; Conservatives; Costs; Decline; Expensive; Lack of growth; Liberals; National debt; Out of town ownership; Owners in absentia; Politics; Poor; President Jimmy Carter; Property; Prosperity; Selfishness; Sewage systems; Sewer systems; Taxation; Taxes; Trains; Transportation; Water; systems

Subjects: African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Kentucky--Social conditions; Midway (Ky.); Plumbing.; Poverty; Refuse and refuse disposal.; Sewerage.

Partial Transcript: Well, you, you were a political person.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about going to school in Midway, which only went to the eighth grade. His mother encouraged his sister to continue her education in Versailles, but Darneal stopped at eighth grade to begin working. He talks about one of his teachers, Lula B. Rowland, and a poem about the dangers of tobacco that she made them memorize.

Keywords: Cancer; Dangers; Health issues; High schools; Jobs; Lula B. Rowland; Mothers; Poems; Poetry; Schools; Sisters; Smoking; Tobacco; Warnings

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Careers.; Childhood; Families.; Health.; Midway (Ky.); Occupations.; Professions.; Teachers; Teaching; Versailles (Ky.); Vocation.; Work.

Partial Transcript: You have this dreadful disease AID[S].

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about how diseases are part of God's plan and that diseases will be cured but there will always be new diseases. He talks about the Spanish flu in 1917-1918 and the medical care available at that time in Midway, including his mother's home remedies. He talks briefly about his life philosophy.

Keywords: "Clean living"; "God's plan"; 1918 influenza pandemic; Child-rearing; Christian Church; Churches; Courtesy; Cures; Deaths; Diseases; Doctors; Family; Fathers; Government hospitals; Healthcare; Home remedies; Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); Illnesses; Influences; Killing hogs; Leprosy; Mothers; Polio; Poor; Poverty; Religion; Siblings; Sickness; Spanish flu; Treatment

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Childhood; Families.; Health.; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919; Medical care; Medical care--Kentucky; Midway (Ky.); Rural health services; Rural health--Kentucky; Traditional medicine

Partial Transcript: Well then when you, um, couldn't go to school anymore here, uh, did, did you follow in your father's footsteps and, and work on farms?

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about his career as a farmhand and at Avon, the Lexington Army Depot. He talks about the benefits of his job, including health insurance, and tells a joke about the state of healthcare costs in America.

Keywords: Avon (Ky.); Blue Grass Army Depot; Communication systems; Farms; Health insurance; Healthcare; Healthcare costs; Hospital bills; Illnesses; Jobs; Korean War; Lexington (Ky.); Lexington Army Depot; Poor; Poverty; Retirement; Splinters

Subjects: African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Careers.; Health.; Korean War, 1950-1953; Medical care; Medical care--Kentucky; Midway (Ky.); Occupations.; Professions.; Vocation.; Work.

Partial Transcript: Well, did, did you ever have any idea, Mr. Darneal, you wanted to run for city council here?

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about the issues that he has taken to the city council, including the city's sewer system which only services certain parts of town. He talks more about Habitat for Humanity and how the rules regarding contracts and rent are not applied equally. He talks about how he is charged more for his insurance due to his age.

Keywords: Ageism; Ages; Automobiles; Car insurance; Cars; City councils; City managers; City sewage; City sewers; Contracts; Costs; Creeks; Driving; Habitat for Humanity; Houses; Issues; Leaves; Leniency; Lenient; Mayors; Politicians; Politics; Problems; Protests; Raw sewage; Rent; Running for office; Sewage systems; Sewer systems

Subjects: African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Hazardous wastes; Midway (Ky.); Plumbing.; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Refuse and refuse disposal.; Sewerage.

Partial Transcript: Were you ever tempted to leave this town?

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about why he has chosen to remain in Midway his whole life, except for his military service in Italy. He talks about some of his recent health issues.

Keywords: Budgets; Colitis; Health departments; Homelessness; Illnesses; Italy; Jobs; Land ownership; Leaving; Medical tests; Military service; Raw milk; Relationships; Reputation; Salary; Ulcers; Weakness; Weight loss; Well-known

Subjects: African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Kentucky--Social conditions; Midway (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Well what did this little town do, uh, during the Depression?

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about how they survived the Great Depression in Midway. He talks about how people looked out for one another and shared resources when they could. He talks about how this attitude has changed over time.

Keywords: Alexander family; Attitudes; Caring; Cattle; Chickens; Coal; Community atmosphere; Cutting wood; Farms; Food; Gardens; Giving; Great Depression; Helping one another; Houses; Jobs; Livestock; Mr. Richardson; Protests; Salary; Selfishness; Sharing; Stockyards; Streets; Towns; Wealthy

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Childhood; Depressions--1929--Kentucky; Families.; Midway (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: But now this is my home. I don't want nothing coming in Midway with a smokestack.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks more about how expensive housing is in Midway. He says he repaid his home loan in one year.

Keywords: Brick houses; Costs; Credit; Debts; Expensive; Homes; Houses; Loans; Philosophy; Repaying debts

Subjects: African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Midway (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Well what did you, um--what--what--how old were you when you got married then and, and--

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about getting married in 1936. He says they never had children. He talks about meeting his wife and their relationship together.

Keywords: Arguments; Children; Courting; Courtship; Death; Lexington (Ky.); Married; Meeting his wife; Mr. Richardson; Sisters; Wife; Wives

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Marriage.; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Families.; Family histories.; Family history.; Midway (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Well, they call mys--me very curious.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about his life philosophy regarding staying out of trouble and maintaining his reputation.

Keywords: Alcohol; Attitudes; Character; Dances; Dancing; Drinking; Fun; Gentlemen; Philosophy; Reputations; Trouble

Subjects: African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Kentucky--Social conditions; Midway (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: You know the biggest fault with the race issue?

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about how racial prejudice is learned, not inherent in people. He talks more about inequality and how the middle class is often overlooked. He talks about his own pension compared to his father's. He talks about his mother and father passing away.

Keywords: Ageism; Ages; Beer; Brothers; Children; Death; Equality; Fairness; Fathers; Height; Insurance; Jobs; Learned prejudice; Menopause; Mothers; Pensions; Race issues; Social security; Teaching

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Careers.; Midway (Ky.); Occupations.; Professions.; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism; Vocation.; Work.

Partial Transcript: Well, um, you mentioned earlier there was this, uh, Black, uh, marching band.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks more about the 76-piece African American brass band in Midway in the 1920s, as well as the two Black baseball teams and two white baseball teams in Midway. He talks about the African American businesses that were once in Midway and the flight of African Americans from Midway.

Keywords: African American baseball teams; African American brass bands; African American businesses; African American musicians; Baseball teams; Black brass bands; Black musicians; Black-owned businesses; Demographics; Enjoyment; Harrison Hill, Midway (Ky.); Leaving; Marching bands; Moving away; Populations

Subjects: African American business enterprises; African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Childhood; Midway (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: I've enjoying my chat with you because it's just--

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about the Civil Rights Movement and his experiences driving around the country with his employer. He talks about being refused service in Illinois and how that experience differed from eating in a restaurant in the South. He talks about the African American businesses that were once in Midway. He talks about God's plan for the Civil Rights Movement.

Keywords: Alabama; Assassinations; Attitudes; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Driving; Greensboro (Ky.); Illinois; John F. Kennedy; Mentality; Mississippi; Mr. Campbell; Mr. Richardson; Opportunities; Resources; Restaurants; Stores; Threats

Subjects: African Americans--Civil rights; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Civil rights--Southern States; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Religion.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Southern States.; Civil rights movements--United States; Civil rights workers--Violence against; King, Martin Luther, Jr. 1929-1968; Midway (Ky.); Protest movements.; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism; United States--Race relations.

Partial Transcript: You see all of this merger and all of this, that man got up and made that statement that a few was trying to take over to monopolize...

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about monopolies and power. He talks about how his opinions aren't listened to. He talks about Haim Gratz, a local figure in Midway's history.

Keywords: Being heard; Companies; Control; Future; Gratz Street; Haim Gratz; History; International Business Machines Corporation (IBM); Johnson Street; Listening; Mean; Optimism; Politics; Poor; Power

Subjects: African Americans--Social conditions.; Authoritarianism.; Authority.; Business enterprises.; Corporations.; Kentucky--Social conditions; Midway (Ky.); Monopolies.; Poverty; Power (Philosophy)

Partial Transcript: Di--can you remember some of those Civil War veterans?

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about the Civil War veterans in Midway and the celebrations they would have on holidays like Veteran's Day.

Keywords: African American brass bands; African American musicians; Black brass bands; Black musicians; Celebrations; Cincinnati Hill, Midway (Ky.); Civil War pensions; Civil War veterans; Davistown, Midway (Ky.); Flags; Haim Gratz; Haydenville, Midway (Ky.); Kingtown, Midway (Ky.); Marching bands; Military uniforms; Parades; Pensions; Veteran's Day

Subjects: African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Childhood; Midway (Ky.); United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

Partial Transcript: So running after the parade, that was a big thing?

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about earning spending money during his childhood by doing odd jobs like thinning corn. He talks about spending some of his money on ice cream and candy. He talks about the games they would play during his childhood and says that although the children were segregated in school, white and Black children would play together after school.

Keywords: Candy; Children; Costs; Drugstores; Friends; Games; Hide and seek; Hoops; Ice cream cones; Jobs; Marbles; Money; Payment; Playing; Prices; Segregated schools; Spending money; Thinning corn; Wages

Subjects: African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Childhood; Discrimination in education.; Integration; Midway (Ky.); Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism; Segregation in education--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I read in the paper in there about a sixteen year old boy making a statement about ruining the beauty of Midway.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about the current state of Midway, including more about how expensive housing is in Midway, selfish attitudes, and many African American families leaving the area due to lack of opportunities. He tells a story about his interactions with a local governor. The interviewer talks about why she believes Midway is making a comeback.

Keywords: African American community; Black churches; Black community; Business parks; Cancer funds; Children; Community development; Contributions; Decline; Doctors; Donations; Governors; Greed; Houses; Houses for sale; Impact; Job placement programs; Leaving; Midway College; Money; Moving away; Populations; Selfishness; Survival; Versailles (Ky.)

Subjects: African American churches--Kentucky; African American families; African American neighborhoods; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Midway (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: And let me tell you something about Japan.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks about global politics and how the U.S. is giving people in other countries foreign aid despite having people in need in the U.S.

Keywords: Domestic aid; Fault; Fidel Castro; Foreign aid; Global politics; Government aid; Government funding; Government spending; Helping; Israel; Japan; Money; Social services; Taken care of; Treaties; Treaty; Welfare

Subjects: Politics and government; Poverty; United States--Economic conditions; United States--Politics and government; United States--Social conditions

Partial Transcript: I don't know much and what I know could be a lot of idiotic(??) but I can speak.

Segment Synopsis: Darneal talks more about race relations and his life philosophy. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Attitudes; Cleaning; Cleanliness; Independent; Philosophy; Prejudices; Treatment; Wife; Wives

Subjects: African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Midway (Ky.); Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism