Interview with Beverley Marmion, June 22, 2011

Partial Transcript: Today is July 22, 2011.

Segment Synopsis: Introduction to the interviewer, interviewee, and project.

Partial Transcript: Can you tell me when and where you were born?

Segment Synopsis: Ms. Marmion discusses where she was born and why her parents moved to Louisville. She also gives information about her Education background, including that she attended Rudolph-Macon Woman's College, the University of Louisville, and Columbia University School of Library Service. She also talks about her job as a librarian.

Partial Transcript: How did you first learn about race and racism?

Segment Synopsis: Ms. Marmion says she was born into racism - her parents had African American maids that lived on the property, she attended segregated schools, and rode segregated buses. She remembers reading about the civil rights movement, but did not join the movement in the 1960s.

Partial Transcript: What was the first political or social justice issue that interested you?

Segment Synopsis: Ms. Marmion says the first social justice/political issue that interested her was the Israeli/Palestinian issue after she took a trip to the Middle East in 1964. Her first social justice action was in 1975 when she participated in a community meeting on the integration of schools. She lists some of the individuals she met there, including Mattie Jones and Joy Portugal.

Partial Transcript: There were several things going on at that time that were parallel to busing.

Segment Synopsis: Ms. Marmion discusses how the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Kentucky chapter of the Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression was formed. She talks about joining the Alliance around 1975-1976, its first meeting, what she hoped to achieve by joining the Alliance, and its efforts as a multi-racial organization. She considered herself active until about 1999-2000.

Partial Transcript: One of the first things I did when Progress in Education was over..

Segment Synopsis: One of the first cases Ms. Marmion worked with in the Alliance was on police brutality and mistreatment. She talks about some of the other major issues the Alliance organized around. She discusses maintaining a balance between working full time while remaining active with the Alliance. She describes her time as the chair of the Alliance for one year in the early 1990s and agrees that Anne Braden and Joy Portugal were her mentors.

Partial Transcript: What was really fascinating to me...

Segment Synopsis: Ms. Marmion compares what was happening with the Israeli/Palenstinian issue in 1964 to what was happening in Louisville, specifically in that the media did not adequately cover either issue and how this lack fed tensions. She also talks about the lack of leadership in Louisville during this time and how it correlated to what was happening in Israel/Palestine.

Partial Transcript: Can you kind of talk a little bit about the mechanics of how organizing happened at the Alliance when you were involved?

Segment Synopsis: Ms. Marmion talks about the offices and how anyone from the community could come in and speak about a particular problem or issue. She advocated for a time for just the committee members to talk, which led to two meetings a month. She describes the meetings in detail.

Partial Transcript: There were individuals who had come into the Alliance from other civil rights work.

Segment Synopsis: Ms. Marmion talks about meeting people from different social justice groups and how she became more aware of community issues, especially in areas she did not visit much. She was active with the Alliance for 25 years, and now, though she can no longer be active, she supports the group financially. She talks about her relationships with the people at the Alliance and how her role at the Alliance impacted her personal life.

Partial Transcript: If you had...if someone asked you to summarize the mission or the overall goals of the Alliance...

Segment Synopsis: Ms. Marmion is asked how she would characterize the overall mission of the Alliance - she spends a long time thinking before answering. She says the Alliance wanted to be multi-racial and wanted to raise awareness of the issue of race with city leaders. She says in her later years in the Alliance, the organization was becoming more sensitive to the needs of Hispanic residents in the community.

Partial Transcript: As we come to a close...

Segment Synopsis: Ms. Marmion talks about the large social justice community in Louisville and their variety of issues. She sees the UofL Programs, like the Pan African Studies Department, the Braden Institute, Islamic Studies in the Anthropology Department, and the developing Peace Studies effort as signs of change.