George Williams and Hazel Diaz
Recorded
May 13, 2021
45:04 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
ddv000761
Description
George Williams [no age given] and his new friend Hazel Diaz (35) discuss George's father's military career and life. George remembers his father Lt. Col. George Williams, who served in the Air Force.Subject Log / Time Code
Hazel Diaz (HD) asks about George William’s (GW) early life. GW grew up in a military family and says his father was in the Air Force. GW says his father was ahead of his time because of his focus on the Information Age and focus on STEM fields.
GW shares his father’s academic background. GW’s father started as a chemistry student at Lincoln University, a historically black university, where he met GW’s mother. Midway through his studies, he decided to study physics but had to transfer to San Francisco state, which was a predominantly white institution. While there, he joined ROTC. GW recalls what his father said about segregation and its impact on education.
HD asks GW for his father’s name, which his also George Williams. GW shares the significance of that name in their family, saying his father was named after an uncle who was murdered by white couple. GW discusses the African American struggle in the US, touching on George Floyd and the legacy of racism in the US.
GW discusses the racism he experienced as a Black child living on military bases around the country. GW compares those experiences to his time in New Mexico, which was more diverse.
GW considers his own children’s experience of racism in school.
GW discusses his father’s rank as a lieutenant colonel at Los Alamos National Labs, and shares some of his father’s accomplishments. GW then shares his father’s life after the military and his passing.
HD asks GW about his father’s impact on him. GW says he is proud of his father and feels that he’s following in his footsteps by getting an advanced degree. GW also discusses his father’s master’s thesis, which discusses race relationships and Christianity.
GW discusses his children’s relationship with his father and shares more about them. GW talks about his son Kyle, and reflects on what he wants Kyle to know, touching on the racism he might face.
GW recalls a moment when Kyle asked him about some racist graffiti they saw when Kyle was 8. GW also shares an incident of Kyle being verbally attacked by white teenagers shortly after the George Zimmerman verdict came out.
GW talks about his daughter Jill, who is creative and studious.
Participants
- George Williams
- Hazel Diaz