Interview with Lyman T. Johnson, May 22, 1979

Interview Summary

Johnson begins by talking about his problems with how history is taught in schools. He then talks about the problems facing African Americans after the Civil Rights Movement, including high drop out and unemployment rates, and the reasons behind this. Johnson then talks about the history of immigration in this country, and how America interacts with the rest of the world. He talks about the history of African American dialects within the United States, and class and racial divides that he witnessed growing up in rural Tennessee. He then gives an overview of his family's political views, and the ways in which African Americans were kept from voting before the Civil Rights Movement and the Voting Rights Act. Johnson continues by talking about his views on contemporary politics. He then gives his thoughts on slavery, and a history of the economics of slavery. Then, he talks about examples of wage inequality that he has experienced throughout his life.

Interview Keyword

History education African American history Reconstruction Inequality in education Education policy Wealth inequality African American drop out rates Assimilation of immigrants into American culture Assimilation of African Americans into American culture African American farm workers Capitalism Cost of labor Republican Party in the 19th century Republican Party in the 20th century Democratic Party in the 19th century Democratic Party in the 20th century Race relations in the rural South Slavery Economics of slavery Back to Africa Movement Wage inequality

Interview LC Subject

United States--Race relations. American culture Emigration and immigration. African Americans--Race identity. African Americans--Economic conditions. African Americans--Education. Racism Discrimination in education. African Americans--Social conditions. African Americans--Social life and customs. African Americans--Southern States. African Americans--Politics and government. Voting. African Americans--Legal status, laws, etc. African Americans--Civil rights African Americans--Employment.

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Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.