Constance Wright and Emma Devine
Recorded
April 30, 2024
01:09:03
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
dde001738
Description
Friends and neighbors, Ms. Emma Devine (87) and Ms. Constance Wright (71), talk about growing up; their memories of the since-destroyed Hayti neighborhood, which was a center of Black culture and business in Durham; and how they come to terms with the complicated history of Durham.Subject Log / Time Code
Ms. Devine (D) remembers growing up in Camp Butner which was, at the time, a camp for German Prisoner of War. She recalls what brought her to Durham and her experiences with racism from an early age.
D shares a story of racist violence from her childhood.
D recalls working on the family tobacco farm at Camp Butner.
D remembers what she would do for fun on Sundays, her day of rest while growing up.
D shares her memories of the Hayti neighborhood, which a center for Black business and culture until it was destroyed.
Both participants discuss the destruction of Hayti in the 1960s.
Participants reflect on how the destruction of Hayti was sold to them and how promises of its reconstruction were not kept. Ms. Wright (W) remembers her grandmothers home being destroyed during this time.
D talks about the importance of preserving history and how she believes people and politicians who want to return to the past are misguided.
W talks about some of the disheartening aspects of her community work.
D shares what gives her hope.
Participants
- Constance Wright
- Emma Devine