Oral history interview with Martha Jo Hightower Campbell, 2012

Partial Transcript: HT: Today is February 15, 2012 and my name is Hermann Trojanowski and I'm at the home of Mrs. Martha Jo Campbell, Class of '69 at UNCG, and we're here to conduct an oral history interview for the African American Institutional Memory Project, which is a project of the UNCG Institutional Memory Collection

Segment Synopsis: Interview is introduced

Partial Transcript: HT: We'll get started by my asking you a little bit about your background; where were you born and that sort of thing and family life?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes her background and a brief mention of her father.

Partial Transcript: HT: Where did you go to high school?

MC: I attended - actually there were two high schools.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes her experiences attending St. Ann's Academy a black Catholic school in Winston-Salem, before moving to public school.

Partial Transcript: HT: Now when you were thinking about going to college, did you automatically apply to UNCG or were there other schools you considered?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes the thought process which led her to apply to UNCG for college.

Partial Transcript: HT: What was it like when you first got there as a student in the fall of '65? Do you have any recollections of your first few days there?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes living off-campus in her first semester before a room became available for her on-campus.

Partial Transcript: MC: I got to stay in the Quad - and there were several African American students, I shouldn't say several but quite a few, who were attending summer school and I had the opportunity to meet them, interact with them, get advice from them.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes the advice she received from older black students during her orientation, including a discussion of what professors not to take, and descriptions of some racism on campus.

Partial Transcript: MC: The first two years, I didn't heed the warnings; learned a great deal. I'll never forget one of the things that happened. My first year I was put into a trigonometry class, because I had to take math; they said I had to take math.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes problems she had with a trigonometry class, and with the professor not listening to her concerns.

Partial Transcript: MC: Some of the other experiences of not heeding the warnings of the upper classmen: I went and took a class of one of those teachers they told me I shouldn't take ...

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes what it was like taking a class with a prejudiced teacher, and being called out in every class to answer an exceptionally difficult question.

Partial Transcript: HT: After you moved into the dorm, what was that situation like for you? Were the other students accepting of you and that sort of thing?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell briefly describes the lack of prejudice that she felt from other students.

Partial Transcript: HT: In the mid-sixties, I imagine that the number of African American students on campus was not that large.

Segment Synopsis: Trojanowski describes just how small of a minority the black students were in the 1960s.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, what was your favorite subject at UNCG?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes several of her favorite subjects, including music class, art appreciation, and anthropology.

Partial Transcript: HT: What was your major?

MC: My major was sociology, pre-professional social work.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell briefly discusses why she decided to major in sociology.

Partial Transcript: HT: Did they have a good sociology department in those days?

MC: I think there was a very good sociology department but some of the teachers were prejudiced and I did end up in one of those instructor's classes.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes a sociology class she took with a prejudiced professor, and how her best work would not raise her grade.

Partial Transcript: HT: Did you ever think about transferring to another school?

MC: No.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell discusses dealing with discrimination through the Neo-Black Society.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, did you enjoy school?

MC: I did; I like challenges. I must say, in spite of some of the encounters, the negative encounters.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes some of her favorite activities that the school put on. These included some popular music groups and dances.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, what did you do for fun, other than go to the dances?

MC: I had so much fun with my close friends.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell talks about some of the things she did for fun during her time at UNCG, including homecoming activities, and being in a play

Partial Transcript: HT: And what about the dining hall? Do you have any recollection of the food and how it was set up - the dining hall - in those days?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes how good she thought the food at the dining hall was. She also describes a story where she was left downstairs washing dishes while the white students were allowed to return to the main floor.

Partial Transcript: MC: But the food was very good.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes the quality of the food that she ate at the cafeteria, and how much she enjoyed it.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, tell me about your involvement in extracurricular activities. You've already mentioned that you were in that play. Were you involved in anything else on campus, like sports or that sort of thing?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes her surprise at being elected an RA (recreational activities representative) for her hall.

Partial Transcript: HT: Did you have to take PE [physical education] classes?

MC: Yes. I took modern dance and learned how to - Is it plie?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes the physical education that she took, including modern dance.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, tell me about the men on campus because UNCG became coeducation in 1963.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes going on a date with Larry McAdoo, one of the early black male students on campus.

Partial Transcript: HT: What about the political atmosphere on campus during the sixties? What are your thoughts about that, or do you have any recollection about that?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes joining a protest on campus about the dining hall workers. She describes marching with the protesters, and the group trying to flip a car.

Partial Transcript: MC: I also recall during this period of unrest - and I can't remember whether this was after the death of Martin Luther King - but I woke up one morning and I looked out the window and I couldn't believe what I saw.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes the local aftermath of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Including her personal reaction, and the tank that was posted outside her dorm.

Partial Transcript: MC: And I had the opportunity to stand right behind Martin Luther King when he came to Winston-Salem.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes standing behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while he was speaking in Winston-Salem.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, speaking of him, what do you think of his memorial that has just opened up in Washington, DC? I've seen photographs.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell briefly describes her thoughts on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. national monument.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, we have spoken a little bit earlier about the Neo-Black Society. What are your fondest memories of the Neo-Black Society?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell discusses some of the aspects of the Neo-Black Society that she enjoyed.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, I'm going to ask you some more questions about the 1960s. The Civil Rights Movement was really going strong in the 1960s. What do you recall about that?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes her thoughts on, and involvement in, the Civil Rights movement, both in Winston-Salem and Greensboro.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, you've already mentioned the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King which happened in [April] of '68, and Bobby Kennedy was shot in, I think, June of '68. Do you recall anything about that?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes her memories of Malcolm X, and her reaction to the assassinations of Malcolm X and Bobby Kennedy.

Partial Transcript: HT: Vietnam. Do you have any recollections of Vietnam?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes her memories of the Vietnam War, from a home-front perspective.

Partial Transcript: HT: I want to backtrack to UNCG's administration and professors for just a second.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell is asked about several administrators, but does not recall having any contact with most of them.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, speaking of the infirmary, did you ever have to go down there for anything, for treatment and that sort of thing?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes her experiences with being ill and going to the Infirmary.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, how do you think attending UNCG has changed your life?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell reminisces about her post-graduation career, working for the City of Winston-Salem.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, have you been involved with UNCG at all since you graduated; attended reunions and -

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes some light interaction with other alumni.

Partial Transcript: MC: Well, it was so ironic; I had mentioned early on that one of the students had talked about being referred to as "the maid" ...

Segment Synopsis: Campbell describes an incident of being thought of by an older white woman as a maid.

Partial Transcript: HT: Well, I don't have any more questions. Do you have anything you'd like to add? We've covered such a variety of things this afternoon.

Segment Synopsis: Interview conclusion.