Interview with Shameka Parrish-Wright, June 21, 2011

Partial Transcript: This is Amber Duke...

Segment Synopsis: Date and time of the interview, consent form acknowledged. Date and place of Mrs. Parrish-Wright's birth (Cincinnati, Ohio; January 3, 1977). She talks about why she moved to Louisville in 2002.

Partial Transcript: Do you want to talk about your educational background a little bit?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright discusses her non-traditional background, including being a teen mom, dropping out of school, getting her GED in 1995, attending the University of Cincinnati part-time from 1995 - 2000, completing a two year program in Louisville at JCC in 2004, and attending the University of Louisville on and off since 2006.

Partial Transcript: Can you briefly describe your professional background?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright has had various jobs since the age of 13, ranging from childcare provider to factory worker. She started nonprofit work in 1997 or 1998 and her first organizing job was in 1999.

Partial Transcript: Well, kinda moving a head a little..

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright says Anne Braden was the first person to ask her about when she first dealt with racism. She discusses her experiences with racism and intercultural racism.

Partial Transcript: I started thinking and I was like - when did I first deal with racism?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright recalls dealing with her first instance of racism when she thirteen years old.

Partial Transcript: What about political and social issues?

Segment Synopsis: She says her parents talked about events on the news and in the newspaper that was happening in and out of the local community. Her mom, born in 1956, faced a lot of racism and influenced her messages to her children.

Partial Transcript: Can you tell me about a person or people who inspired you as you were growing up?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright recalls several people who gave her inspiration, including a few neighbors, her grandparents (though she never met them), another teen mom (who was an adult when Mrs. Parrish-Wright met her), a lesbian black woman working for a nonprofit organization, and Anne Braden.

Partial Transcript: I met Anne and I was just so inspired.

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright discusses when she first learned of the Alliance (during her time at JCC) and her first day working there as an intern. She talks about the first case Anne Braden gave her and how inspired she was by Mrs. Braden. She also talks about continuing to work for the Alliance after her internship ended, applying for paid positions in 2006, and finally getting hired to work with Alice Wade, representing the Alliance in the community.

Partial Transcript: What were some of the major issues the alliance was organizing around?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright discusses some of the issues the Alliance was working on, including police brutality, the merger of Louisville and Jefferson County, on the job discrimination, education, etc. They also did a lot of coalition work with other community social justice groups.

Partial Transcript: The Alliance should be doing this..the Alliance should be doing that...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright discusses the lack of direction for the organization since Mrs. Braden's passing. She talks about some of the struggles the Alliance had even when Anne Braden was alive, including a small budget, working like it was still in the 70's, and lack of leadership opportunity.

Partial Transcript: What happened is...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright discusses her personality and ability to work across lines of difference, which made her standout at the Alliance, especially at the beginning of her time with the organization. She talks about gossip about Alliance members that was happening within the community and within Alliance. She says Anne Braden was a bridge that allowed older members, such as Alice Wade, to be kept on staff, but also brought in new energy, like Mrs. Parrish-Wright.

Partial Transcript: Anne's death is a significant part of the Alliance's history.

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright agrees that Anne Braden's death was important in the Alliance's history, but argues that the downfall of the Alliance began before that, which she explains in depth.

Partial Transcript: I came right in into the midst of that.

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright talks about being seen by some members as an interloper, but welcomed by other members as a sign of change. She talks about the toxicity of the work environment after Mrs. Braden's passing and how she survived working there - with her own strength and finding support with other social justice groups.

Partial Transcript: At this point in the Alliance's history...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright discusses young Alumni of the Alliance's Arts and Activism Summer camps and her role in the summer camps. She also says the youth aspect of the work was the hardest thing because of inter-generational struggles within the Alliance. She also references some of the conversations she had with Anne Braden on inter-generational struggles.

Partial Transcript: I think it's a struggle...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright believes the older generations do not feel valued in the larger society, so organizations like the Alliance provided a place for them to dominate. She discusses some of her personal dealings with older generations at the Alliance and in the community.

Partial Transcript: I think now..

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright says despite the internal issues, the community recognizes the importance of the Alliance and she feels the Alliance is moving forward.

Partial Transcript: I know that for a lot of your time...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright talks about how her kids had a hard time understanding why she spent so much time at the Alliance, but as they are got older, they became more interested in the different community events. She also talks about the challenges she had as an activist parent.

Partial Transcript: Is there anything that you'd like to share that you haven't had the opportunity to, yet?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Parrish-Wright discusses some of the issues with the social justice movement, in general, and some of the challenges for people getting involved in social work. She also talks about the lack of support for the few people employed as staff at social organizations in Louisville.