Terrin Strickland

Period 4, Mrs. Buescher

Me= Terrin Strickland
Nana
Free at Last

Me: Hello what is your name?

Nana: My name is Catherine M. Franklin and I was born in 1951
Me: WHat happened during the years during 1963-1970
Nana:A heck of a lot. There was some tramendous break throughs. One of
the major events that happened in 1963 was president Kennedy was
assainated. I recall that I was at choir rehearsal when I found out. When we
got the news we all crying. He was one of the presidents that believed in
equal rights. He was not as political as people thought he should be but he
was more about the people, he wanted to bring about change.
Me:Where were you when Martin Luther King Died?
Nana:I was at church and we were devasted. We cried and we were in shock.
However, we knew that he had some sort of premenition. In his speech he
talked about he has seen the mountain top. He has seen the day where black
and whites would join together. However I believe that he was speaking his
on eulogy and his time on this Earth would not be long. However it was still
devastating. How could someone get away with killing such a wonderful
man, who only spoke of peace and wanted to bring peace amongest the
races? His death was a turning point in civil justice. People's heart and minds
started changing. People would look at the content of their character and not
the color of their skin.
Me:What were your thoughts about his death?
Nana:I was dishearted. I thought it was totally unfair. How could someone kill
our leader? He was the black hope. We were so glad he that he stood up for
justice. He was able to bring all cultures and all races together, with one
heart, one mind, one soul, and one focus to bring everyone together not just
one race.

Me:How did this effect your life and the lives around you?
Nana:It helped me to be proud of who I was. I lived in a era where I went
from Nigga, darky, then we were called Negro. We were transvered to being
called black. I didn't want to be called black, I was a negro. It took a while for
me to change. James Brown came out with that song, "I am black and I am
proud." That changed me and I was proud for who I am. We all put our pants
on the same way. I should be treated as equal.
Me:Did you change or were you impacted by his death?
Nana:Absolutely. His death impacted and changed history. There was anger
and disbelief. Through the face of adversity he still stood for what was right.
Me:What did you do after his death?
Nana:Mourned and comforted each other. I watched as much video as I
could. Because of his death, it would not be in vein. We would continue his
legacy and push forward with change.
Me:Did you tell you kids about the segregation period?
Nana:Yes, exstensively. All the time. I am so greatful because they taught me
so much. My oldest daughter had a teacher that taught her a lot. The blacks
had so many inventions. The telephone, the light, the cotton jin that the
whites got credit for. The old saying is "if you hide it in a book, the blacks will
never find it" but now that is not true today.
Me:What was your dream in the 1960s?
Nana:I wanted to be a A student. My focus was on school. I was a A student
and was on the honor roll. I could be anything I wanted to be. I wanted to get
a education for my children and my children's children.
Me:What did your mother tell you about the segregation era.
Nana:It was tough times. My mother and grandmother had to get to out of
the way of a white person. They never looked a white person in the eye. My
grandmother told me about being polite saying, yes sir and yes ma'am.
However my mother was very bold, she didn't believe in injustice. She
wanted to be treated fair and she coudn't go downtown a lot because her
mouth was too flipid. They showed me that their were white fountains and
black fountains. Black people had to go around the back. Black people had to
give up their seats or sit in the back of the bus. Everyone loved each other in

the community though. Neighbors would share food. Sometimes they went
without food to make sure we had some.
Me:Since you were in the generation with Martin Luther King Jr. what would
you like to tell the younger generation that may not know about him and
everything that he has accomplished?
Nana:The young people need to stop killing each other and get a education.
Their was so many people that suffered and died. They were hung, shot, and
held in prison for our freedom. You shouldn't take this lightly. Everything that
we enjoy now was on the backs of the slaves that suffered. JFK, Malcom X,
Martin Luther King Jr. helped us get a voice to be able to ride on a bus and
we could be equal. It was because of the sufferage, the fighting, the
protesting, whether peaceful or violent. We wanted the younger generation
to have equality and freedom. You can be anything you want to be. A doctor,
lawyer, actor. Don't waste your time because we suffered for you to have
this.