Interview with Joe H. Martin, July 9, 1986

Interview Summary

George Wright and Terry Birdwhistell interview Joe H. Martin of Shelbyville (Ky.). Martin recalls his childhood growing up in Shelbyville (Ky.). Martin talks about a hanging incident which occurred before his lifetime, involving two black men and a Jewish woman who later became his mother's employer. He discusses segregation in Kentucky during his childhood and contrasts it to the segregation he experienced in Alabama and Mississippi during World War II. Martin also talks about his service in World War II, where he was stationed in the Pacific. Martin discusses returning to Shelbyville after World War II and recalls his experiences with integration.

Interview Keyword

African Americans African Americans in Kentucky Race relations Hangings in Kentucky African American veterans of World War II Personal experiences Experiencing racism Racism in the South Life experiences

Interview LC Subject

African Americans--Civil rights African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky African Americans--Segregation African Americans--Social conditions African Americans. Martin, Joe H. Martin, Joe H.--Interviews Shelbyville (Ky.) African American families Racism Hanging

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

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