WILL logoOur Journey: Stories of School Desegregation and Community in Champaign-Urbana

A radio documentary produced by Franklin Middle School girls with guidance from WILL-AM
Tiera Campbell

 

"My name is Tiera Campbell. I am very talented at singing. I also enjoy writing my own lyrics. Also, on my spare time, I like watching T.V., hanging out with my friends, and going to the mall to shop."

Tiera interviewed Kathleen Slates.

 
Explore other students' stories:

Markisha Motton

Tamika Lee

Deanna Carr

Jessica Austin

Tiera Campbell

Yakera Barbee

Veronica Martin

 

Go back to Our Journey Home Page

Kathleen SlatesKathleen Slates was born in Urbana in 1940. She has worked in a variety of office work. In high school, she picketed local department stores in the late 1950s over their hiring practices.

listenlisten to the entire interview

moreread the interview transcript

Interview highlights:

"My grandmother and her sister...didn't have an opportunity to go to school, and so their feeling was you have this opportunity, you take advantage of it..."

"In all-Black schools...if you didn't get good grades they wanted to know why..."

"Our senior trip was to Miami, Florida, which was segregated...Black students couldn't stay in the hotels..."

"They were not allowed to enter the hotel through the front door..."

~ ~ ~
 About this Project  |  Interview Index  |  Project Credits  |  WILL Home Page

Listen to Our Journey:  RealAudio  |  MP3 Download  |  Audio Help