September 14th, 2009
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Interview with Mr. Troy Catching
General Topic of Interview: Racial relations and education
Date: 10 October, 2008
Location: Clarkesdale, Mississippi, USA
Narrator: Mr. Troy Catching
Interviewer: Ryan Koons
Transcriber: Unknown
Biographical Information:
Troy Catchings was born and raised in Clarkesdale, Mississippi. While still young man, he participated in several local civil rights movement events, including marches. He attended Jackson State University while it was still Jackson State College, and eventually became the executive director for Coahoma Opportunity Inc. Mr. Catchings is now the first black photographer at the Clarkesdale Press Register.
Interview Information:
Mr. Catchings describes a number of racist encounters he experienced during childhood and their affect on him. He discusses some of the pressures upon a black photographer even this long after the civil rights movement. As the former executive director of an institution with low income-targeted programs, he critiques negative racial relations in the programming. He also details Northern misconceptions of the Delta.