Oral history interview with Alice Garrett Brown, 2011

Partial Transcript: SM: Today is April 17, 2011. My name is Sarah McNulty. I am the oral history interviewer for the African American [Institutional] Memory Project

Segment Synopsis: Interview introduction.

Partial Transcript: SM: And I would like to start today, Ms. Brown, by talking about just your past.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her early life and education.

Partial Transcript: SM: And can you tell us maybe about your family structure, about your parents and-

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her parents and extended family.

Partial Transcript: SM: When you said that music was a strong influence in your life, you later became a music teacher, correct?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her interest in music, as well as her other academic interests in high school.

Partial Transcript: SM: Now, it's interesting. Woman's College changed over to UNC Greensboro when you were there. Do you identify yourself as someone who went to Woman's College, or someone who went to UNC Greensboro.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes feeling like both an alum of UNC Greensboro and Woman's College.

Partial Transcript: SM: Why did you want to attend Woman's College?

AGB: I had no intentions of attending Woman's College. I had thought I would be a beautician.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her motivations in choosing to attend Woman's College, including a guidance counselor, and Woman's College's reputation as a first class music school.

Partial Transcript: SM: Well, can you tell me about what it was like your first day on campus?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes being roommates with Sina Reid, the living situation in Coit Hall dormitory, and advice from other black students.

Partial Transcript: SM: So, it was academically challenging?

AGB: Oh, yes.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her academic experience at UNCG/Woman's College, including it's difficulty and her trouble transitioning from high school.

Partial Transcript: SM: Yes, you were originally going to be a math major?

AGB: I thought I was. I thought that's what I wanted to be.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes how she decided to become a music education major, and describes the music education program.

Partial Transcript: SM: Well, did you-you said that school was hard, but did you enjoy school?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes what she and her friends did for fun while at Woman's College./UNCG. Brown also describes her accompanist in the music education department, Anita Patterson.

Partial Transcript: AGB: So ,when Meredith [Miriam Bradley] came over, I think that's her name, in Advancement.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her assistance with UNCG fundraising efforts.

Partial Transcript: SM: Because I, unfortunately, as a graduate student I don't know too much about residence halls. Well, can you tell me about that it was like living in the residence halls? did you live in the same dorm all four years?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes living in in Coit Hall, South Spencer Hall, and North Reynolds Hall. Brown also describes when McDonald's opened in Greensboro, and sent over hamburgers to the dorms.

Partial Transcript: AGB: And we ended up out little picket signs walking up and down Tate Street.

Segment Synopsis: Brown briefly describes a civil rights protest on Tate Street.

Partial Transcript: AGB: One of the good friends of mine that came in in '61 with us is Karen Parker.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes Karen Parker, a classmate and friend of hers at UNCG.

Partial Transcript: SM: So, you said that there was some civil rights activity, but you didn't actively participate in it?

Segment Synopsis: Brown continues to describe her activities with the civil rights movement in Greensboro.

Partial Transcript: SM: And, so, you never- I mean you would really just stay around campus; you didn't venture out to Carolina Theater, Woolworth's or anything else downtown?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes going to church while a student in Greensboro. Brown specifically mentions United Methodist Church at College Place.

Partial Transcript: AGB: But the experiences that I can remember are not with students. It would be something like that when you talk about being discriminated against.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her experiences with discrimination, and her interactions (both positive and negative) with white students while at Woman's College/UNCG.

Partial Transcript: SM: Did you get to know what the Glee Club? You said you were part of the Glee Club. Were you part of it all four years?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her experiences in both the Glee Club and Chorus while at Woman's College/UNCG. Brown describes trips, learning music, and conductor Dr. Richard Cox.

Partial Transcript: SM: And you say that you felt like it wasn't students who discriminated- white students weren't the ones who discriminated against black students.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her memories of discrimination from staff at Woman's College. Brown also describes a few memories of the Greensboro Sit-Ins.

Partial Transcript: SM: And class jackets, I guess, were very symbolic.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her memory of Woman's College class jackets.

Partial Transcript: SM: Do you remember any other kinds of events that stand out, graduation, or orientation, anything that-?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes assemblies and wedding fashion shows at Womans' College.

Partial Transcript: SM: That is interesting. So, obviously, you were there at an important time, the first male on campus. Can you tell me what that was like?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her memories of men on campus at UNCG.

Partial Transcript: SM: Well, what was- we said earlier that a lot of women would date men from A&T. They would come to dances and things like that. Did you guys interact with other students at A&T?

Segment Synopsis: Brown discusses interaction with Bennet college and A&T students.

Partial Transcript: SM: So, did you ever consider transferring?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes why she decided not to transfer to a different college.

Partial Transcript: SM: Well, what would you say was your favorite aspect of college? We've talked about kind of the hardships, but was something you enjoyed?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes enjoying the exposure she got to the arts while attending college.

Partial Transcript: SM: Well, one thing we're trying to do is, we talked a little bit about this is, kind of place you in history, in US history, about what was going on in the world at this time.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her memories of the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Malcolm X.

Partial Transcript: SM: Do you remember anything about the March on Washington that happened in 1963.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her memories of listening to the 1963 March on Washington over the radio.

Partial Transcript: SM: And, now, in 1963- everybody always remembers the Civil Rights Movement in Greensboro in 1960, which was the Woolworth's. But in actuality the 1963 movement was much more volatile.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes memories of Civil Rights protests in Greensboro.

Partial Transcript: SM: And you also went to college right at the escalation of the Vietnam, the Vietnam War.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her memories of the Vietnam war, including dating a soldier in the Army.

Partial Transcript: SM: And the last kind of moment in history was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which Johnson, President Johnson enacted to desegregate, basically, all public spaces.

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her memories of the Civil Rights movement, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Partial Transcript: SM: One thing we wanted to know, too, is kind of about your life after Woman's College. So, obviously, we talked about you're a teacher. But what did you do immediately after graduation?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes her life and career after graduation, including volunteering, and working at schools in Greensboro, Seagrove, Farmer, Trinity, and Tabernacle (all schools in the Greensboro, High Point, Asheboro area).
Brown also describes her husband and children. In addition, Brown describes her support of Bennett College.

Partial Transcript: SM: Do you know JoAnne [Smart Drane]?

Segment Synopsis: Brown describes several UNCG classmates that she is acquanted with, including JoAnne Smart Drane, Claudetter Burroughs-White and Karen Parker.

Partial Transcript: SM: My last question is, what do you want future students and scholars, or people interested in this subject to know about your experience as you were one of the first.

Segment Synopsis: Brown's message to future students and others who might read her oral history.

Partial Transcript: SM: That's so true. Well, I don't have any more questions unless there is anything else you want to add?

Segment Synopsis: Interview conclusion.