Interview with Lyman T. Johnson, April 25, 1979

Interview Summary

Lyman Johnson discusses being quoted and misquoted in several magazines. He talks about meetings of the Jefferson County Board of Education and maxing out his total per diem amount of $1,000 a year by early September. Johnson describes the black social system in America prior to the 1940s. He discusses why the class system within the black community was less divided. He discusses how black veterans returning from World War II changed the social and class system in the black community. Johnson describes a race riot that occurred in his hometown of Columbia, Tennessee in 1946. He describes the inciting incident, and the violence that occurred in the community between the races, including several murders. Johnson talks about his personal experience with the riot when he went to visit his father. He talks about inheriting property from his father and his uncle in Columbia, Tennessee and discusses the deterioration of buildings and real estate in the town.

Interview Keyword

Journalism--Editing. School boards--African American membership. Shootings Racial violence Class system Black society

Interview LC Subject

Louisville (Ky.) African American families African Americans--Segregation African Americans--Social conditions. African Americans--Social life and customs. African Americans--Societies, etc. Race discrimination. Race relations--Kentucky Racism World War, 1939-1945 African American veterans. Race riots Columbia (Tenn.) Violence United States--Race relations. African American neighborhoods African Americans--Housing. Real property. Landlord and tenant.

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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.