Charlie Garrott and James Phares
Recorded
June 6, 2023
Archived
June 6, 2023
52:49 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
ddv002515
Description
Childhood friends Charlie Garrott (63) and James Phares (62) reflect on their time growing up in Jackson, Mississippi during the onset of school desegregation. Charlie and James discuss their experiences at public school in Jackson and remember their integrated youth orchestra.Subject Log / Time Code
Charlie (C) talks about meeting James (J) playing Cello as a kid in Jackson, Mississippi.
C speaks about desegregation in Jackson and having a Black teacher in 3rd grade.
C speaks about being bussed to Powell and his experience attending a school of majority Black students as a white student.
J and C speak about the poverty in Jackson.
J speaks about going to the under-resourced public schools in his community
C speaks about his positive experiences at public school in Jackson, taking enriching classes and making friends.
J remembers the negative aspects of public school in Jackson, getting beat up in the bathroom and having belongings stolen.
J talks about a counselor who encouraged him to take Latin at the local high school.
C remembers being a part of the integrated string instrument program in Mississippi prior to school desegregation.
J remembers how his neighbor, a rabbi’s, house was bombed. He realized that many of his classmates in public school were Jewish and discriminated against in the community.
C and J reflect on leaving Mississippi.
Participants
- Charlie Garrott
- James Phares