Dwania Kyles and Diane Bezucha
Recorded
June 7, 2023
Archived
June 7, 2023
01:13:12
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
ddv002521
Description
Dwania Kyles (67) speaks with conversation partner Diane Bezucha (39) about her experience as a member of the the Memphis 13-- the inaugural class of first graders to desegregate schools in Memphis, TN. Dwania reflects on the work of her parents, who were both civil rights leaders, and reflects on what it was like to be an integral part of the civil rights movement at such a young age.Subject Log / Time Code
D discusses how her father got involved in the Civil Rights Movement in Memphis and his desire to return to the South. She explains how her entire family was “on the front line” of the Civil Rights Movement.
D recalls her initial reactions to being a part of the Memphis 13.
D speaks about her neighborhood school Cummings and being upset she couldn’t go there with her brother
D remembers feeling abandoned on her first day at Bruce, the integrated school.
D remembers the adult conversations and activity happening around her leading up to her first day at Bruce and photos being taken.
D emphasizes that her parents always checked in about how she was feeling throughout her education.
D recalls feeling good after the first week, accrediting it to her younger teacher.
D recalls being isolated from other Black students at school.
D discusses feeling grateful to have her siblings at Bruce with her later on, since a lot of her neighbors shut her out once she started attending a white school.
D remembers being bullied by the older white girls in the bathroom.
D speaks about her 3rd grade teacher Ms. Evans, who consistently checked in and showed empathy.
D explains the way not being seen in classrooms can negatively affect children, and how her parents combatted that.
D recalls going home for lunch with a white classmate, and her friends mom being mortified and sending her to the back door.
D speaks about MLK planning on coming over for dinner the night of his assassination, and starting to understand the importance of her role in the Civil Rights movement at 12 years old.
D expresses her desire for people to know about the Memphis 13 in Memphis, emphasizing that people don’t recall this moment because it wasn’t violent.
D explains why she stayed in integrated schools from 1st-12th grade.
D describes her family dinners.
Participants
- Dwania Kyles
- Diane Bezucha