Interview with Mattie Jones, February 23, 2011

Partial Transcript: This is Todd Read.

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones recounts her birth; why her parents wanted to move from Memphis to Louisville; her graduation from Central High School in 1951; different colleges she attended while studying Sociology; her marriage to Turner Harris Jones in 1955, whom she had nine kids with and who passed away in 2007; and her time as a foster parent from 1957 until 1990.

Partial Transcript: Did your family stay around here?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones says racially, it was not much better in Louisville than it was in Memphis because everything was still segregated. Economically, it was better for her family - she describes the jobs both of her parents had.

Partial Transcript: Was there any political activities in the home?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones remembers her mother and the mothers of the community coming together to pray and talk about young African American men - she recalls a specific incidence that led to this. Her parents would talk to them about racial issues and remembers advising them not to hate white people, but for her brother to never speak to or get close to a white woman. She talks about the community supporting each other during segregation.

Partial Transcript: Did you have any major influences growing up?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones says her minister and her teachers at Central High School inspired her. She met her best friend, Mattie Mathies at Central High School.

Partial Transcript: We talked a little bit about some of the social issues...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones states that she never thought about segregation until she applied for a job at UofL and was denied because the white workers would not work with her. She talks about quitting another job because of the unequal working conditions. She remembers meeting Bob Cunningham, Georgia Powers, C. V. Vivian, James Orange, Jose Williams, Reverend Ruth Abernathy, and the Black Workers Coalition, which she joined in the mid-1960s.

Partial Transcript: Bob Cunningham went over to another organization called the Kentucky Alliance.

Segment Synopsis: Bob Cunningham convinced Mrs. Jones to visit the Kentucky Alliance - she met Anne Braden her first day there and was convinced to join. She talks about some of the cases she worked on and recalls working with Anne Braden, who taught her about organizing and became one of her great friends. She joined the Alliance in 1975 and became the first Executive Director in 1978.

Partial Transcript: We kind of covered this, but - what did you hope to achieve by joining the Alliance?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones talks about why she joined the Alliance and describes the Alliance, including some of the issues it fought for. She talks about Martin Luther King's influence on her decision to join the Alliance.

Partial Transcript: A couple of other things...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones says the Alliance would have it no other way than to be multi-cultural and multi-racial and she talks about Anne Braden's role in this. She remembers her surprise that the Alliance was a multi-racial organization.

Partial Transcript: So you were involved, really, in the Alliance from 1975...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones was active with the Alliance until 1991, when she was offered a job in New York with the group Fellowship of Reconciliation. She was a member of it until 1997. She describes this group, some of the issues she worked on, and her husband's support during this time.

Partial Transcript: One other thing about the Alliance...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones says everyone at the Alliance was a volunteer until the group received a grant from Catholic Charities in 1984 or 1985, which is when she became Executive Director. She talks about her husband's and children's support in her work and how they aided when they could. She also describes the support of some of the members when she decided to leave the Alliance for the Fellowship of Reconciliation.

Partial Transcript: I know you were involved in some parts of it...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones gives her opinions on the end of the Alphabet Plan and the changes that occurred after it ended. She talks about some of the actions she took during the changes in the busing plans and how this changed has ultimately hurt the African American children of today. She gives her opinion on the racial quota at Central High School and the lawsuits that occurred because of the quota. She talks about the poor education that students are receiving today and what role the Alliance took and continues to take in educational issues.

Partial Transcript: What do you think was the impression...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones talks about why she, and others, think the changes in the busing system was detrimental to the education of African American children. She also discusses the changes she would like to see in Louisville that would improve the educational system for all. She also discusses her efforts to make sure her children never attended schools in the West End.

Partial Transcript: Is there anything else...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Jones talks about what the Alliance used to do and says she wants more young people to work in the Alliance to revive it. She wants black history month to also focus on the people of today to motivate them to take up the cause. As an end to the interview, she gives her definition of progress.