Jean Small's interview transcript
Transcript of Jasmine Jordan’s interview with Jean Smalls.
Jordan: Hello Jeans Smalls, I just want to confirm that it’s okay to oral record this?
Smalls: Yes, it is.
J:Where were you born?
S:Charleston, South Carolina
J:What apartment?
S:I was born east side of town, on 20th street, that was the family house, I was brought up with my mom, Grandmother, they actually nurtured and care for the girls.
Jordan: How many siblings do you have?
Smalls: Two sisters, one is deceased and a brother that is deceased.
Jordan: What elementary, Middle, and High School did you attend?
S: I attend Romney Street, they changed the name of Friasr, it no longer exist. I attend Charles A. High School in Charleston, SC.
J: How did yall feel like yall were treated in Elementary and High Schools.
S: In elementary school, we started in a predominantly black school, so we didn't get any, we didn't really know that much about segregation but we knew our books wer second handed.
When I attend High school, it was a predominantly black High School, so it went really well. We had a awesome principal, we were taught about segregation, we know they treated us as second class citizens, as baby bloomers at the time, We did not accept that.
Did you have predominantly white teachers?
S: I had predominantly black teachers, All my teachers were prodiemently black.
J: And when you graduated, what did you do after graduation?
S: Durham college business college, in Durham North Carolina
J: What was your major?
S: Business Administration.
J: Why did you choose this college/?
S: In High School, I liked business classes.
J: What was the population at this college?
S: All black as well as educators.
J: So not a lot of racial tension there either?
S:No
J: When the March on Washington happened, how old were you? I know my Grandma was 12 or 14.
S: I was probably was 12 or 14.
J: What did you think about your classmates going?
S: I thought the greatest thing, i applauded them, i was behind them, i was rooting for them to do what they needed to do, and I wish i was there,
J: Were you afraid for them?
S: Not really because my grandma told me what she went through growing up in a segregated world. She worked for 50 cents a day, and she always taught me, whatever I choose to do, do the best I can in it.
J: When did you graduate from Durham.
S: I believe I graduated in 1970, i think.
J: did you stay in Charleston after that?
S: Yeah i stayed in Charleston and never thought about leaving
J: How many children do you have?
S: I have two daughters, Kayla is 47 , LaShay is 41.
J: Where do they live?
S: Kayla here in Charleston and LaShay in Locus Charleston.
J: Can you tell us about your great grandfather?
S: My great great grandfather, Peter Poyas, was the first lieutenant, of Denmark Vassey. Who at that time was considering an uprise in charleston because of the unjust that was going on in charleston and someone went and told the master what they were planning on doing. And of course they arrested him an hung him on, this big tree, on Ashley Avenue. As they were hanging him, he said that he was “happy and not afraid”
J: And you feel like your great great grandfather didn’t get the recognition he deserved?
S: He did get the recognition he deserved because this uprise was between Denmark VC and another man I can’t remember his name. When you go into the internet and pull up Denmark VC. You will find a lot of information on him but not Peter and this other man. There is a black museum being built in Charleston. The owner knows alot about what happen. He knows that Peter house is the spearhead.
J: So he plans to add him?
S: Yes he does.
End of Interview.