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Phyllis Griffin interview transcript, December 21, 2004

19

PG: I think my mother was always able to see the larger movement, and I think that's what kept her moving forward. She was never interested in stopping, because she saw how much work needed to be done. 

NL: And do you consider her effort against Katz as part of the Civil Rights Movement, as an antecedent to the movement, or unrelated?

PG: Well, uh, is antecedent before?

NL: Yeah, would you say it would predate the Civil Rights Movement. 

PG: No, I think it's a part of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement for me started right after World War II.

NL: And your mother participated in World War II, is that correct? As a WAC?

PG: Yes, yes she was.

NL: Do you think that had an influence on her, um, activism?

PG: Yes I think it, I think it helped to, it grounded her as an American citizen. She was not a proponent of quote, going back to African She was a proponent of participation in the democratic process. We too share in the building of America, we are a part of it, and important part of it, why should we go back to Africa? Not to say that she wasn't opposed to being in Africa, but that the struggle needed to be here now, on this continent 

NL: Mm hmm. If your mother were alive today, what movements to do you think she'd be active in?

PG: What a powerful question. She would be protesting the War in Iraq. She would be, um, continuing to work for women's rights. She would be, um, warning the African American, um, Middle Class, to shake itself awake out of its apathy, to do something about the state of our African American young, the men in prison. And she would be, um, actively protesting. I mean she would be in the streets, with the Quakers, with the Unitarians, with the, um, Womens' rights groups. 

NL: Were there any Civil Rights leaders that your mother had an opportunity to meet with or work with?

PG: James Farmer

NL: Oh, really? What was their relationship?

PG: Uh, I think they talked about CORE. I think he came to Des Moines and spoke. Um, hmm... I think there were many people that she came in contact with. I know she knew Paul Robeson. He came to our house (pause) There was a Progressive candidate that ran for office. There was Stevenson and, I mean um, like...

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19 PG: I think my mother was always able to see the larger movement, and I think that's what kept her moving forward. She was never interested in stopping, because she saw how much work needed to be done. NL: And do you consider her effort against Katz as part of the Civil Rights Movement, as an antecedent to the movement, or unrelated? PG: Well, uh, is antecedent before? NL: Yeah, would you say it would predate the Civil Rights Movement. PG: No, I think it's a part of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement for me started right after World War II. NL: And your mother participated in World War II, is that correct? As a WAC? PG: Yes, yes she was. NL: Do you think that had an influence on her, um, activism? PG: Yes I think it, I think it helped to, it grounded her as an American citizen. She was not a proponent of quote, going back to African She was a proponent of participation in the democratic process. We too share in the building of America, we are a part of it, and important part of it, why should we go back to Africa? Not to say that she wasn't opposed to being in Africa, but that the struggle needed to be here now, on this continent NL: Mm hmm. If your mother were alive today, what movements to do you think she'd be active in? PG: What a powerful question. She would be protesting the War in Iraq. She would be, um, continuing to work for women's rights. She would be, um, warning the African American, um, Middle Class, to shake itself awake out of its apathy, to do something about the state of our African American young, the men in prison. And she would be, um, actively protesting. I mean she would be in the streets, with the Quakers, with the Unitarians, with the, um, Womens' rights groups. NL: Were there any Civil Rights leaders that your mother had an opportunity to meet with or work with? PG: James Farmer NL: Oh, really? What was their relationship? PG: Uh, I think they talked about CORE. I think he came to Des Moines and spoke. Um, hmm... I think there were many people that she came in contact with. I know she knew Paul Robeson. He came to our house (pause) There was a Progressive candidate that ran for office. There was Stevenson and, I mean um, like...