September 14th, 2009
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Interview with Mr. Johnny Lewis
Click here to download the transcript of this interview.
General Topic of Interview: Education, politics, civil rights activism, and music
Date: 6 November, 2008
Location: Clarkesdale, Mississippi, USA
Narrator: Mr. Johnny Lewis
Interviewers: Atandi Anyona and Max Paschall
Transcriber: Atandi Anyona
*Transcript edited by narrator
Biographical Information:
Mr. Johnny Lewis is a retired teacher. He was born and raised in Simpson County, Mississippi, and attended both: the community college and Jackson State University. He taught English at Higgins High School and Clarksville High School.
Interview Information:
Mr. Lewis details civil rights activism in Coahoma County, as well as racial politics, and educational and economic notations of white flight area. He discusses blues tourism in Clarksdale, the role of music (especially gospel) in the civil rights movement. Mr. Lewis states his excitement at the recent election of Barack Obama to the American presidency (this interview took place two days after the election).