Interview with Cynthia Roddey [electronic resource] 2004 May 17 / interviewer: Hope Murphy ; transcriber: Michele Greer.

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Interview with Cynthia Roddey [electronic resource] 2004 May 17 / interviewer: Hope Murphy ; transcriber: Michele Greer.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/566109982

Ms Roddey opens the interview by fondly recalling her elementary school years at Biddleville School (in Charlotte) and West End School (Rock Hill). She describes the school facilities and the enrichment programs offered by West End, including music, African American history, and Shakespeare. The community provided outside school enrichment, etiquette, and cultural exposure. Her class scored so high on a standardized test that the state questioned the results. When her mother returned to work, Ms Roddey transferred to Immanuel, a private Lutheran school in Greensboro. She describes life at the school, including a sit-in at a local movie theater. Her experience teaching in Rock Hill included working with a difficult principal. Ms Roddey explains that when she became pregnant with her second child, she decided to attend Winthrop College. Her desire was to be a librarian. Ms Roddey depicts her experiences as the first African American to attend the school. The Rock Hill Police Dept. provided security when she first set foot on campus. Ms Roddey goes on to describe events which were unfolding at Clinton Junior College at the time and conditions in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She discusses the increasing problems of high drop-out rates and poor family relationships in the home. She summarizes the situation she sees in the schools today. Ms Roddey shares her experiences and opinions concerning teaching before and after the Brown v the Board of Education decision. She reveals that she took part in the integration of several institutions in addition to Winthrop College. Ms Roddey discloses that her background consists of African American, Indian, and white relatives. In her words, "It's hard to hate part of yourself."

University of North Carolina, Charlotte, J. Murrey Atkins Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 7755433

University of North Carolina, Charlotte, J. Murrey Atkins Library

Related Entities

There are 11 Entities related to this resource.

Clinton Junior College (Rock Hill, S.C.)

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Clinton Junior College was founded in 1894 as Clinton Institute by the Rev. Nero A. Crockett and the Rev. W.M. Robinson under the auspices of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; incorporated in 1909 as Clinton Normal and Industrial College, the institution is named in honor of Bishop Isom Caleb Clinton, presiding A.M.E. Zion bishop in S.C. at the time; the land on which the school is built was given by Captains L.M. Davis and W.L. Roddey, two white men. From the description ...

West End School (Rock Hill, S.C.)

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Murphy, Hope (Hope Lorraine)

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Winthrop College, the South Carolina College for Women

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Rock Hill (S.C.). Police Dept.

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Immanuel Lutheran School (Greensboro, N.C.)

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Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616

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William Shakespeare was likely born April, 23, 1564; he was baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 1564. He grew up, had a family, and bought property in Stratford while working in London, the center of English theater. As an actor, a playwright, and a partner in a leading acting company, he became both prosperous and well-known. His parents were John and Mary Shakespeare. John was a leatherworker and involved in local politics, first becoming an alderman and eventually a town bailiff. ...

Biddleville Elementary School (Charlotte, N.C.)

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Topeka (Kan.). Board of Education

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New South Voices (Project)

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Roddey, Cynthia (Cynthia Plair)

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Cynthia Plair Roddey was born in Rock Hill, S.C. Her family background includes several teachers, and a grandfather who was born right after the Emancipation Proclamation. She earned two Bachelor's degrees, including one in religion from Johnson C. Smith. She later went on to earn a doctorate. During her career, Ms Roddey taught at Emmett Scott High School in Rock Hill, S.C., was the Library Director at Clinton Junior College, and taught in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system for over 30 yea...