Oral history with Mattie Burks Kelly; 2001

Oral history.; Mattie Burks Kelly was born in Hinds County, Mississippi in 1913. She recalls experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South, including working for both white and African American store owners, and working as a hospital attendant in Jackson. Mattie Kelly talks about the racial tension and distrust of blacks by the white community. She also discusses the efforts of local Civil Rights and church leadership to register African Americans to vote within the state and the violence these individuals faced as a result. Mattie Kelly concludes her interview with several detailed accounts of home life within the African American community, as well as the racial tension that arose from poor whites who were unable to afford some of the amenities that Mrs. Kelly's family enjoyed from their hard work. Mattie Burks Kelly was 88 at the time of her interview and was married to John Kelly.

Oral history.; Mattie Burks Kelly was born in Hinds County, Mississippi in 1913. She recalls experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South, including working for both white and African American store owners, and working as a hospital attendant in Jackson. Mattie Kelly talks about the racial tension and distrust of blacks by the white community. She also discusses the efforts of local Civil Rights and church leadership to register African Americans to vote within the state and the violence these individuals faced as a result. Mattie Kelly concludes her interview with several detailed accounts of home life within the African American community, as well as the racial tension that arose from poor whites who were unable to afford some of the amenities that Mrs. Kelly's family enjoyed from their hard work. Mattie Burks Kelly was 88 at the time of her interview and was married to John Kelly.

Oral history.; Mattie Burks Kelly was born in Hinds County, Mississippi in 1913. She recalls experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South, including working for both white and African American store owners, and working as a hospital attendant in Jackson. Mattie Kelly talks about the racial tension and distrust of blacks by the white community. She also discusses the efforts of local Civil Rights and church leadership to register African Americans to vote within the state and the violence these individuals faced as a result. Mattie Kelly concludes her interview with several detailed accounts of home life within the African American community, as well as the racial tension that arose from poor whites who were unable to afford some of the amenities that Mrs. Kelly's family enjoyed from their hard work. Mattie Burks Kelly was 88 at the time of her interview and was married to John Kelly.