Interview 1

 I had an interview with a lady I know that helps me take care of some things at her hospital, I asked her a few questions about growing up as a black woman.

What is your name?

Dorothy Walker

Where were you born?

Ripley, Mississippi

Where did you grow up?

Memphis, Tennessee

Do you have any siblings?

I have two siblings, Marcus and Telisha.

What was your life like growing up as a black girl in Memphis, Tennessee?

I grew up with my brother and sister in our Uncle’s house outside of town,  we didn’t have much back then, it was in the 1970’s we didn’t even have a T.V. until I was fifteen years old.

Did you ever encounter racism? Explain?

When I grew up there was obvious tension between races, I never encountered many problems but it felt there was an unwritten rule that if we didn’t bother one another then there would be no problems.

 What do you remember your parents telling you about race?

My parents died in a car crash when I was eight, I was taken in by my uncle and aunt, they told me that I may be seen differently from others but that didn’t make me less important, when I was older and I started dating my Uncle became very clear that I was not to date a white boy, I didn’t really ask why I just did as I was told.

Did you attend school?

I went to an all black school but it changed to a mixed school when I was in the 8^th grade, and I graduated in 1982.

Talk a little bit about those days...

Well when the school became mixed there was some confusion and we didn’t get along at first, I was cautious of those white boys because they would give me looks or talk to me in a way that made me feel uncomfortable, eventually I realized they didn’t mean any harm.

Did you graduate and attend college?

I graduated college and I am a nurse at the hospital I work for.

So what is your official title? You’re a bachelor of what?

I’m not sure what it’s called now since that was about 30 years ago but I think now it’s a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

What it was like living as a black woman? 

I’ve met some patients as a nurse and some of them have given me a hard time, most of them are older men and most men that have given me a harder time are white, black men seem more kind to me, I think it really depends on the person because I’ve met either black or white men that are rude or kind.

Are you friends with white women?  

I’m friends with a few white women, I have more black friends than white friends, I figured that was normal for most people.

 What type of relationship do you have with black men or white men?

I’m more attracted to black men than white men, I think it just makes sense seeing as how I’m a black woman, I don’t think races should get together unless their truly in love and that’s it.