Harry Freeman and Robert Matheny
Recorded
January 22, 2024
Archived
January 22, 2024
37:03 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
mbb000042
Description
Friends, Robert 'Mark' Matheny (77) and Harry Freeman (80) discuss growing up in the racially plagued South, the Civil Rights Movement, their love for Memphis, and their family's involvement with the government.Subject Log / Time Code
Robert 'Mark' Matheny and Harry Freeman discuss growing up in Meridian, MS during the height of racial injustice.
People received Mark well in his community though he was new to the area.
Mark describes his father and how he was raised.
Mark discusses his father going undercover for the FBI.
Mark discusses the town that Mark's family moved to Indiana was referred to as the "Sin City" of the Midwest.
Harry discusses his transition to left leaning politics after the finding of James Earl Chaney.
Mark and Harry discuss how the local paper did not cover the death of James Earl Chaney.
Mark discusses the saddest day of his life.
Harry discusses that the Civil Rights Museum purchased the building where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
Harry discusses that he was impacted by people telling him that they feared coming to Mississippi.
Mark discusses his work in civil and human rights.
Harry discusses taking a reading test to vote.
Mark discusses the possibility of what could have occurred alternatively if they had not attended segregated schools.
Harry discusses how the former governor of Mississippi expressed concern regarding Caucasian athletes losing to Black athletes.
Mark discusses how a Black man would visit his home as a child but that he had to enter through the back of the house.
Participants
- Harry Freeman
- Robert Matheny