1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: On theme is a production of iHeartRadio and fair Weather 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: Friends Media. 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 2: You are stars. 4 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 3: When I think back to family gatherings past, I don't 5 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 3: really remember the food I ate or the gifts I received. 6 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 3: I don't remember what the weather was like, or who 7 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 3: was on CPE time showing up to the function. I 8 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 3: remember the laughter. I remember the story share Like when 9 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 3: I visited my grandma after my grandpa had passed, she 10 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 3: told me about the time he won the casino jackpot 11 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 3: on Friday the thirteenth. He didn't speak the entire way home. 12 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 3: He was gripping his gun and had his head on 13 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 3: a swivel. Or when my big cousin came by the 14 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: kid's table to let us know that everybody at the 15 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 3: club mistook her for Eve because she had platinum blonde 16 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 3: hair and Paw Prince tatted on her. And the thing is, 17 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 3: those stories aren't going in nobody's American history textbook, but 18 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 3: it's still a part. 19 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 2: Of my family history. 20 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 3: These small anecdotes make up a tapestry of what life 21 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 3: was like for Grandma, Grandpa, Mama, Daddy, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, 22 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 3: that one person you're not really sure how you relate 23 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 3: it to them, but they always around. 24 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 2: So they family. 25 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 3: It all adds up and it's all important. 26 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: Sometimes the stories flow freely and other times they need 27 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 1: some prompting, like that quiet uncle who just smokes his 28 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: cigarettes and minds his business, but has a ton of tales. 29 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: So today we're talking with annebar Johnson, an oral historian 30 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: who created a guide specifically to help us keep the stories, 31 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: the laughter, and the learning going. And i'm eves join 32 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: us as we become armchair archivists. 33 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: My name is Ambar Johnson. 34 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 4: I'm an urban planner and oral historian based in New 35 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 4: York City. 36 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: Ambar created a guide to help us collect family oral 37 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: histories just in time for gatherings. 38 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 3: What goes into preparing to collect these stories. 39 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 4: Just being really curious and having the time and space 40 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 4: to really absorb and listen. In terms of oral history 41 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 4: as a practice, it really is a preparation of the mind, body, 42 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 4: and soul. You know, you have to really show people 43 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 4: that you're listening. So that doesn't mean like scroll on 44 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 4: on your phone while people are talking, like maintaining eye contact, 45 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 4: being open that the questions that you want to ask 46 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 4: or not the questions they want to answer, and being 47 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,239 Speaker 4: ready to go on the journey that they want to 48 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 4: take you on, not the one that you thought that 49 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 4: you were about to be on. So it's a lot 50 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 4: of surrender that I think you have to have, and 51 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 4: surrender and some humility as well. 52 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: I'm glad that you brought up humility because I was 53 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: thinking that it seems like you need to have a 54 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: certain level of confidence too, so I could see how 55 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: that doesn't need to venture too far into arrogance. But 56 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: you have to be confident to be like, I'm the 57 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: one to ask these questions and to get these answers 58 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: from my family members. So what is your experience of 59 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: gaining confidence to be able to collect these stories? 60 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 4: The confidence it really came from curiosity, to be quite frank, like, 61 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 4: I never thought of myself as like I'm the anointed 62 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 4: one to go and ask these questions. I really just 63 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 4: notice everyone's busy, and they're living their lives, and people 64 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 4: are living in different places, and I just got cheered 65 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 4: a lot of the times. I think some of the confidence, 66 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 4: especially if you're in a larger family, is being okay 67 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 4: with multiple truths, being that like you can grow up 68 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 4: in the same household and there's how many people are 69 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 4: in that household, there's that many perspectives. I noticed that people, 70 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 4: especially family members, they are as comfortable with answering the 71 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 4: questions as you are asking them. 72 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: So if you're like him and and HI like, uh, 73 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 2: you know, well I don't know, you know, but. 74 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,720 Speaker 4: I mean if you want to it's like nobody but 75 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 4: I want why should I talk to you? 76 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: You know, like you don't even know? Your question is 77 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 2: what do you want to say? 78 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 4: So just like clearly asking the question and creating the 79 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 4: space for it to be answered starts to develop the 80 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 4: confidence between both people to really open up. Because when 81 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 4: you think about it, especially with black Southern families where 82 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 4: the culture can be you know, children are meant to 83 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 4: be seen and not heard of. A lot of us 84 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 4: grew up with that, and also makes you think, well, 85 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 4: when's the last time that my elder or this older 86 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 4: person in my family, when was the last time they 87 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 4: were truly heard? 88 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 3: You did talk about like different family members having different 89 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 3: perspectives on the same situation same time. How do you 90 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 3: balance that when you're talking to family members? If you 91 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 3: do balance it, because I know that in your guide 92 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 3: you say it's not for social media or it's like 93 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 3: for your family, But is there are you like, this 94 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 3: is the record of what happened? Or do you just 95 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 3: let it be that everybody says something half in a 96 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 3: different way. 97 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:38,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, everybody says their piece. 98 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 4: So one of the things I think is awesome about 99 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 4: oral history and the practice two things. 100 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 2: One, it's not. 101 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 4: Necessarily about getting all the exact facts and when we're 102 00:05:55,560 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 4: correct in that moment. It's really about understanding the events 103 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 4: that happened over time from the perspective of the person 104 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 4: who shared it, and in their perspective, you understand more 105 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 4: about the context of their life, society and how that's 106 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 4: shaped them. And two, the awesome thing about oral history 107 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 4: is that you're recording these events for the future to 108 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 4: take into consideration as they're moving through life. 109 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 3: How do you navigate emotionally charged topic? 110 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 2: One? 111 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 4: I prepare myself what before even going in of like, 112 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 4: am I even able to retain how I think of it? 113 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 4: It's almost like if you were to ask someone how 114 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 4: are you doing, and then they really told you how 115 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 4: they felt, do you even have the capacity to listen 116 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 4: to that and hold that no matter what it may be. 117 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 4: That's really the orientation that I have just asking some 118 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 4: of the questions in general, and then knowing that I 119 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 4: may ask something a little personal. 120 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 2: In relations to our black families. 121 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 4: Sometimes I ask a heads up or I just test 122 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 4: before like doing like a formal thing with them where 123 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 4: I'm like recording and all. 124 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 2: They'll be like, oh, well, you know. 125 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 4: Like that's really hard, or I affirm the hard feeling 126 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 4: or touchy subject, and if they want to share more, 127 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 4: I let them. If they don't, I really just. 128 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: Leave it at that. 129 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: Are there any centering practices that you have before asking 130 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: the questions to prepare or any that you've seen anybody 131 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: else do that you would recommend. 132 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 4: I make sure to take lots of walks and meditate. 133 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 4: I create a lot of stillness for myself before and 134 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 4: after to make sure that I'm fully present and I'm 135 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 4: aware of how these stories are impacting me as well. 136 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 3: Are there any other lessons or themes that you see 137 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 3: as you collect these oral histories. 138 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 4: I've really learned how to see people as people. I 139 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 4: think at times within families that can be really hard 140 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 4: to do because there's like particular roles that people play. 141 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 4: It's just really inspiring to just see them as these 142 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 4: as people, not just folks that I'm tethered to by 143 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 4: blood or like the systems that I'm meant, but it's like, oh, 144 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 4: I would actively choose to talk to you, like it's 145 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 4: it's been really interesting to see how the relationships have 146 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 4: changed by understanding their life more. And it's been really 147 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 4: great too to just understand their values. I think that's 148 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 4: that's really been a game changer. 149 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's amazing how long you can know someone but 150 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 3: not really know them because you never ask them much 151 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: and they vice versas, never asked you that much, so 152 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 3: you just know them as this like archaetype, like the 153 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 3: bodybuilding uncle. 154 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 2: Or you know the one who can cook real well, yeah. 155 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 3: Like you. But it's like, yeah, like everyone's living like 156 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 3: these whole complicated, messy, interesting lives and then all those 157 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 3: stories are right there if if only you take some 158 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 3: time to let them open up and you open up 159 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 3: to them. You mentioned recording, Like, what are some tools 160 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 3: that you use while collecting oral histories? 161 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 4: You can use your phone if you want to record, 162 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:09,599 Speaker 4: just like the recording button that you have, and I 163 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 4: would say it's even valuable too, it's just not record 164 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 4: at all, like just being able to be present and. 165 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 3: So once you record how do you save it? How 166 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 3: do you preserve it? What's that process? Looking like? 167 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 4: It's always good to have, like it's saved in three 168 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 4: different places because you never know what will happen with technology. 169 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 4: I use like my external drive to like organize by 170 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 4: like date family member, and I've been thinking about like 171 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 4: finding ways to transcribe those and print those so it 172 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 4: can at least have it for the record, not just 173 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 4: like for myself, but to share with other relatives too, 174 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:46,839 Speaker 4: and like future generations so that they can ask some 175 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 4: follow up questions to another family member who may have 176 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 4: that answer. 177 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 3: Okay, this there's a multi layered process going on. 178 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's it's a lot of work, like honestly, like 179 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 4: it's a lot of steward and like fine combing and 180 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 4: typing and all that other stuff. So I don't recommend 181 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 4: you doing it by yourself, like and like really like 182 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 4: getting help because it's I don't think it's something that 183 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 4: someone should be doing alone because it is just so much. 184 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,199 Speaker 4: But often I think everybody knows that person and their 185 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 4: family who's the one who has all the photos and 186 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 4: knows all the stories. 187 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, but also everyone has such different relationships with each other, 188 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 3: and I saw in the guide you said start with 189 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 3: dessert first, like the people who you like and who 190 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 3: like you, So that's going to be different for everybody, right, 191 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 3: So having multiple people is like, okay, well, I know 192 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 3: you really get along with cousin Pam, and you know, 193 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:45,559 Speaker 3: I want to go talk to Peaches, And. 194 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 1: I know you were going to say Peach. 195 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 2: Everybody got to Peaches. You gotta teaches in your family. Yes, too. 196 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,320 Speaker 3: Do I know her real name? Absolutely not. I know 197 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 3: it's not Peaches, but like spreading that around so everybody 198 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:02,079 Speaker 3: is involved, and like there's more skin in the game 199 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 3: for everybody in the family or for more people in 200 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 3: the family. Where can folks be in contact with you 201 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 3: or follow you on the inner webs. 202 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 4: So you can find me for the most part of 203 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 4: my newsletter, my Dandelion Studios newsletter on flow desk. You 204 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 4: can find me there to share more stories practices than 205 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 4: my journey as I try to figure this out. 206 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for coming on with us, and 207 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 3: I love this conversation. I am getting ready for when 208 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 3: I see my family on Christmas. 209 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: Yes, a lot of people will get a lot of 210 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: value out of this and be able to have such 211 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,079 Speaker 1: intimate and loving conversations with people and their family from 212 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: this in ways that I think feel so accessible that 213 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 1: they don't have to, like you said, feel intimidated by it. 214 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: So I think it's really nice that you've provided this 215 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 1: for everybody. 216 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 4: Oh, thank you so much for making space to talk 217 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 4: about because it's really exciting. 218 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 2: Thank you and thank you anytime. Thanks y'all. 219 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:20,319 Speaker 3: More on collecting family histories after the break. Okay, So 220 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 3: to summarize Ambar's astute points, be upfront. Let your family 221 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 3: members know what you want to do, that you want 222 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 3: to ask them some questions, and have those questions prepared. 223 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 3: That being said, let the conversation flow. The guide is 224 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 3: just that, a guide, it's not a roadmap. Other things 225 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 3: might come up and that's great. And remember to not 226 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 3: press too hard. If someone isn't comfortable answering certain questions, 227 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 3: that's okay. Let the conversation flow and move on to 228 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 3: a different topic. This guide is for the entire family, 229 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 3: Ambar says. Don't feel pressure to put it all on 230 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 3: yourself to collect these family stories. Get some folks who 231 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 3: are interested too to join you. You'll have fun and you'll 232 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 3: create a stronger bond. And now eas will put Mbar's 233 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 3: guide to use as she speaks with one of her 234 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 3: family members, Larry Miller. 235 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk to you about some of your 236 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: family stories. Where were you born and when were you born? 237 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 2: And what's your name? 238 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 5: My name is Larry Thomas Miller. I was born in Atlanta, 239 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 5: October to twenty eighth, nineteen forty nine, Grady Memorial Hospital. 240 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 5: I'm a Grady baby. My parents, I loved them so 241 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 5: and they was from Jonesboro, Georgia, And that's basically who 242 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:37,559 Speaker 5: I am and where I came from. 243 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,479 Speaker 1: So do you have any favorite memories from your childhood? 244 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 6: Yeah, one was my father. 245 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 5: I never will forget. I was in high school and 246 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 5: he allowed me to go to a basketball game. And 247 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 5: my high school was Samuel Howard Archer. We lived in 248 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 5: Perry Holmes, which was the Projects, and basically he told 249 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 5: me I could go, and so when I went out 250 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 5: the door, he came out of the door and he screamed. 251 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 6: You better be home by ten thirty, and all of 252 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 6: my friends laughed. 253 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 5: And that was my nickname all the way through high school, 254 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 5: ten thirty. In my year book, they called me ten thirty. 255 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 5: So that's one that I'll never forget. That my dad 256 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 5: giving me the nickname ten thirty. 257 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 2: Were you back by ten thirty? 258 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: No, I figured And all this was in Atlanta, right. 259 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 6: Yes, And it lasted in period home of a period boulevard. 260 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 2: So he was strict. 261 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 6: He was very strict. 262 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: So do you still feel like that, you still enjoyed 263 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: your time in your childhood? 264 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 3: Oh? 265 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 6: I wouldn't. 266 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 5: I wouldn't. It made me the man I am today. 267 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 5: I never would forget. One of the first jobs I 268 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 5: had was I to Plains Georgia and I met Jimmy 269 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 5: Carter when he was just a peanut farmer. He wasn't 270 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 5: he was just he was growing peanuts, him and his 271 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 5: brother's Billy, and he hadn't he wasn't even the air 272 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 5: and even been the governor yet. And he allowed us, 273 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 5: gave us a little plot of land where we put 274 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 5: up our first brick creek plant and we started making 275 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 5: brick creek and which was a hollow, low bearing block 276 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 5: but the size of a brick. And we built houses 277 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 5: out of that. And the first project was in Plains Georgia. 278 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 5: We built African Village in Plains Georgia, which is there today, 279 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 5: and we built it for the black people. 280 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: And I think my last question is how do you 281 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: feel about your life today? I know that's a big question. 282 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 5: At my age of seventy four, I can really say 283 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 5: that I'm proud of myself, of who I am. I'm 284 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 5: really at peace. Came a full circle. But at seventy four, 285 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 5: I'm still full of energy and I'm just really waiting 286 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 5: to be spiritually led. Everything I ever did, I've been 287 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 5: spiritually led. And one thing I found out is that 288 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 5: when I spiritually led to do something, all resources are 289 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 5: there for me. But when I try to force things 290 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 5: and as they say, plan and before and push things 291 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 5: forward without first being heaving the vision, it fails. So 292 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 5: at this point I'm still a visionary, I'm still spiritually led, 293 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 5: and I just thank God for the life that I have. Now. 294 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 3: That was a great interview, Eves. I never knew all 295 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 3: that about Larry. 296 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: I want to thank you. I learned quite a bit 297 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: from Mbar's guide, and I was really happy to talk 298 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: to Larry. I mean, he has a great story, so 299 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: it was a good time. 300 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 3: Larry makes your job easy exactly. 301 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 2: Thanks Larry. 302 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,640 Speaker 3: And now it's time for role credits, the segment where 303 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 3: we give credit to a person in place or thing 304 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 3: throughout the week. 305 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: And today we'll be doing our role credits with Ambar 306 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: from the beginning of the. 307 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 3: Episode, Eves, Who or what would you like to give 308 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 3: credit to this week? 309 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: I think that I would like to give credit to 310 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: people who are really open, So people who are open 311 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: to strangers and being personable and loving and operating and 312 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: loving kindness with people that they don't know, people who 313 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: are empathetic. I think that's what I want to give 314 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 1: credit to today. 315 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 3: Nice, I would like to give credit to workers. I've 316 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 3: been thinking more about my position, my class position, and 317 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 3: we've seen a lot of strikes and union organizing, labor 318 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 3: organizing this year, and I've I've been thinking more of 319 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:04,439 Speaker 3: myself as working class. I feel like middle class is 320 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,640 Speaker 3: like a fake term they've given us to make us 321 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 3: a little complaceance. 322 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: And middle has a wide range. Middle can mean a lot. 323 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,119 Speaker 3: Of things, but it's like you're working class if you 324 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:21,360 Speaker 3: have to work to live. Yes, and that's me. So 325 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,199 Speaker 3: I would give credit to the workers of the world, 326 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 3: am Bar. Who or what would you like to give 327 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 3: credit to? 328 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,719 Speaker 4: I think, naturally, who I would like to give credit 329 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 4: to are all the family historians, the unsung heroes of 330 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:40,479 Speaker 4: our memories us and stewards of our culture. They do 331 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 4: a lot of research and spend a lot of time 332 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 4: figuring out the things that a lot of us want 333 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,680 Speaker 4: to know and having those answers for us and passing them. 334 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:53,679 Speaker 2: So yeah, shout outs to all the family historians. I 335 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:54,239 Speaker 2: love it. 336 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: And you can keep up with Ambar through her newsletter 337 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: Dandy Lyons Studios. And you can find a link to 338 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 1: Ambar's guide on collecting family stories in this episode's description 339 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,439 Speaker 1: or in the show notes for this episode at on 340 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: Theme dot Show. 341 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 3: And that's all for this week. See you next time. 342 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: See you on the Flip Side. On Theme is a 343 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: production of iHeartRadio and Fairweather Friends Media. This episode was 344 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: written by Eves Jeffco and Katie Mitchell. It was edited 345 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: and produced by Tari Harrison. Follow us on Instagram at 346 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: on Themeshow. You can also send us an email at 347 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: hello at on Theme dot Show. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, 348 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 349 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.