Shirley Coker-Kerr and Leah Kerr
Recorded
August 6, 2020
Archived
August 5, 2020
30:55 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
ddv000102
Description
Shirley Coker-Kerr (84) shares stories of her life as a Black military spouse with her daughter, Leah Kerr (63). She recalls the positives and negatives of military life, including experiences with racist segregation in the south. Together, Shirley and Leah reflect on the impact of military service on their family.Subject Log / Time Code
SK talks about early life with her husband, William Kerr--meeting him in 1953, getting married, getting introduced to military.
SK reflects on what it was like to be an officer's wife in the '50s , given the racial strife at the time. She recalls segregation in the south, certain experiences in Texas in particular.
SK on her experiences with the wives other officers.
SK and LK talk about the higher standards their family was held to, on account of their Blackness. They reflect on its impact on their family life.
SK shares what she liked about military life - order, sense of structure. Then she shares the hardest parts - life off post where they contended with racist policies such as redlining.
SK and LK impact of military life on them - their interest in travel, SK's friendships,
SK recalls experiences as a military family during the Vietnam War.
SK reflects on life in the U.S. as being part of the most challenging in their time as a military family.
LK shares the impact of military life on her, and offers closing reflections
Participants
- Shirley Coker-Kerr
- Leah Kerr