Experiences of Migration within the U.S.
Baker, Joe Ann
Summary: Joe Ann Baker grew up a small town in Eastman
Georgia where she did not notice prejudices (white doll).
But life was quite different when she moved north. After
moving north she encountered racism and white flight in
Michigan. She also discusses the Highland Park riots and the
mayor at that time Colman A. Young.
Byrd, LaDonna
Summary: LaDonna Byrd is a single mother of five children
living in Detroit, MI. This interview recounts her younger
years living in Detroit and the difficulty of dealing with
the early loss of her parents. Also, how moving back to
Detroit, Michigan from a safer Burlington, Vermont has
changed her life.
Foote, Sandra A.
Summary: Marygrove College student Crystal Avant interviews
her mother, Sandra Foote, about her experiences moving to
Detroit. Sandra Foote grew up in New Orleans and lived a
sheltered life with a close-knit Creole community. Foote did
not feel much racial prejudice until she moved to Detroit.
Foote moved to Detroit with her mother when she was five
years old.
Gary, Daisy
Summary: Marygrove College student Danielle Washington
interviews her great-grandmother, Daisy Gary, about her
experiences moving to Detroit. Daisy Gary was born in
Arkansas, later moved to Houston, Texas, and finally arrived
in Detroit in 1945. Gary then details her life since the
migration.
Johnson, Andrew
Summary: Marygrove College student LeAndre Johnson
interviews his father, Andrew Johnson, about his experiences
moving to Detroit. Andrew Johnson came to Detroit in 1962
with his mother and siblings. Johnson's mother came to
Detroit looking for work. Johnson talks about racism in the
South and in Detroit and his perceived differences between
the Black Panther party and Dr. Martin Luther King's
approach.
Kirn, Herbie
Summary: Herbie Kirn grew up in a small town as a homosexual
male. As Herbie grew older he joined a band, and traveled
around the country with the band. He later joined the Church
of Scientology where he met his wife Lorrie Kirn. The couple
stayed married for while and had 2 children. Herbie
eventually divorced Lorrie, because he was still a
homosexual male.
Matlock, Mildred
Summary: Mildred Matlock speaks about her mother, Myrtle
Lois Gilford, and her mother's move to Detroit. Myrtle
Gilford came to Detroit from Beloit, Alabama in search of
better job opportunities and a better life. Mildred Matlock
is a member of the Detroit Association of Black Storytellers
(DABS). The speech was given during the "History Telling
Concert" at Marygrove College on May 7, 2006.
Moore, Sam
Summary: Sam Moore was born April 1, 1932. He was raised in
a small town outside of Texarkana, TX. In this interview,
Sam Moore revisits living in poverty during his childhood
which led to his migration to Detroit. He also recounts
living in poverty in Detroit as a result of migrating to the
region during “the turn over” (when automotive plants lay
workers off for two weeks).
Stamps, Earnest
Summary: Earnest Stamps, a retired pharmacist, details his
migration from Atlanta to Detroit and the opportunities
presented by the move north. Stamps also speaks about his
life once he arrived in Detroit. He speaks about the hard
times for his family, going into foster care, and the Marcus
Garvey Movement. The interview was conducted on April 28,
2006 by Marygrove professor Dena Scher.
Teasley, Marie
Summary: Marie Teasley was born on October 1, 1926. She grew up in Hannibal, Missouri. In this interview Marie recalls memories of her mother who immigrated from St. George's, Bermuda, and her father who migrated from Hannibal to Ann Arbor, Michigan and then to the Detroit area. Marie speaks fondly of growing up in Hannibal. She recounts the story of her father owning the Hannibal Registrar, the only African American newspaper in town. Marie describes how the family transitioned the business from Hannibal to the Detroit area. At the age of 9 she was dubbed "reporter" for the Registrar by her father, inspiring a life-long career in journalism that culminated in her position as Women's Editor for the Michigan Chronicle.
Torrence, Laretta
Summary: Laretta Torrence is interviewed by Marygrove
College student Stanley Keyes about her experiences growing
up and going to school in Detroit. She was born in 1930 in
Black Bottom where blacks and whites lived and played
together in shared poverty. When her family moved to a
better house in southwest Detroit in 1948 she observed white
flight but not much racial tension. Laretta recalls
listening to the radio, dancing at the Greystone Ballroom,
and visiting Belle Isle for entertainment. She married at
age 19 and had two sons who also grew up and went to school
in Detroit.
You are free to share (copy, distribute and transmit) this work under conditions set forth in this Creative Commons license.
