Interview with John Fleming, April 7, 2021

Interview Summary

John Fleming served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi from 1967-1969. He was the only African American in the all-male group and 1 of 7 volunteers working as audio-visual experts in an Agriculture Program. He discusses living with a poor family while in training in Tuskegee, and specialized audio-visual training for developing countries in London. He talks about his Civil Rights activities and almost being deselected for his Black militancy during training while white racist trainees were given a pass. He discusses navigating residual colonialism in the southern part of Malawi where he served, the racism of missionaries, being the first agricultural extension agent of color, and being considered a European by Malawians. He discusses his choice to associate with Africans rather than ex-pats, his friendships, and learning to accept their culture and food. He says Peace Corps service changed the way he looks at the world, which influenced his life’s work in the U.S. and internationally.

Interview Keyword

Malawi (Country of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Agriculture 1967-1969 (Date of service) Post-colonial period Blantyre (Malawi) Fort Johnson (Malawi) Chichewa (Language) PRIDE (Non-profit anti-poverty agency in Washington, D.C.) Tuskegee (Ala.) London (England) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Audio/visual Mangochi (Malawi) Hastings Banda Agricultural programs Audio-visual programs Colonialism Civil rights movement Audio-visual training

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Malawi Malawi. Audio-visual aids Segregation. African Americans--Social conditions. Race relations. Acculturation Communication and culture Culture Culture shock Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism Volunteers

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Interview Usage

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