Interview with Tony Wimsatt, July 8, 1999

Interview Summary

Wimsatt begins the interview by discussing his maternal grandparents, who helped raise him. His grandfather worked for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, and also for "Hump" Tanner at the Tanner Liquor store. Wimsatt talks about the importance of the black church in his family and the black community. His family stressed the importance of getting an education as a way of getting ahead. Wimsatt feels that education was stressed more in the black community when he was growing up than it is now.

Wimsatt was the first black student to become student government president at Owensboro High School. He discusses student protests that occurred during his initial speech announcing his candidacy. Groups of black and white students staged walkouts. Wimsatt discusses his participation in school activities, and his involvement with today's youth. He believes today's young people have a different attitude, and that they do not fear the consequences of their actions, which has led to a loss of respect and work ethic.

Interview Keyword

African American communities Black student council presidents Black neighborhoods Young black people

Interview LC Subject

Integration Owensboro (Ky.) Race relations Racism Segregation African Americans--Education Housing

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

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