Series:

Black Women Activists in Los Angeles, 1950-2000

Topic:

African American History

Biographical Note:

Pepperdine University professor of sociology and social caseworker. Researcher in gerontology with a focus on aging black elderly populations.

Interviewer:

Stevenson, Alva Moore

Interviewee:

Yelder, Josephine

Persons Present:

Yelder and Stevenson

Place Conducted:

not known

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Alva Moore Stevenson, Interviewer and Program Representative, UCLA Center For Oral History Research; B.A., English and M.A., African American Studies (Latin American Concentration), UCLA.

Processing of Interview:

The transcript is a verbatim transcription of the recording as transcribed by a professional transcribing agency. The interviewee was given an opportunity to review the transcript but made no corrections or additions.

Length:

7.5 hrs.

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

This series documents black women’s activism in Los Angeles from 1950 to the present, showing how women’s roles in the professions and in religious, civic, and social organizations translated into community activism to address disparities in education, healthcare, housing and political rights and access.

Childhood in Salina, Kansas—Background of Parents—Attending St. Paul Baptist Church—Attending Dunbar Elementary School—Background of Grandparents—Parents’ Education—Role of religion in upbringing—Social life and recreation---Adult role models—Influence of reading African American Newspapers

Origin of surname Yelder—Memorable works of poetry—Black towns—Attending Salina High School—Fort Riley, Kansas—Decision to migrate to California and attend UCLA—Differences between Salina and Los Angeles—Position at Baptist City Missionary Society—Black community in Los Angeles—Other Black students at UCLA—Ruth Washington and Los Angeles Sentinel

Midwestern connections in Los Angeles—Significance of Central Avenue—Sense of community—Opportunities for Black teachers—Interactions with non-Black students at UCLA—Socialization and being Mentored by other Black students—Black student network and resource center—Sororities—Scholarships—Lack of Black male students—Recreation at Val Verde—USO Trips—Travel time to UCLA—Enrollment in classes—Non-hostile campus environment—Pledging Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority—AKA vehicle for connection with Black women role models—Jessie Millhouse—Meeting places—Restrictive Housing Covenants—Opening up of Westside—Three Josephines—Demographics of Black community on the Eastside in 1940s—Memorable faculty—Original intention to attend a Black College—Influence of WWII—Best jobs for Blacks in the public sector—Living at the YWCA—Mentors—What “sold” Yelder’s mother on UCLA—Education as survival—Shared sense of aspiration in the 40s—Graduation from UCLA—Post-college plans to be a social worker—First job at Los Angeles County—Social work to affect social action—Audrey Jones—Confronting racial bias in Compton—Seeking legal representation from Attorney Loren Miller—Graduate school at USC—Position working for State of California—Decision to pursue doctorate—Differences in confronting bias between Salina and Los Angeles—Protection against bias in Salina

Content

Member of St. Paul Baptist Church—Church’s Music Legacy—Employment at the Church—Learning to Drive—Meeting her Husband—Church’s Changing DemographicPledging Alpha Kappa Alpha—Significance of Sororities—Changes at UCLA—Networking with other African American Students—John and Vada SommervilleProminent African American Individuals and Institutions—Proscriptions on Female African American Teachers--Choosing a College—Consideration of an HBCUAdvantages of having attended UCLA—1992 Rebellion—Position as Field InstructorBackyard Mothers—Fieldwork Center—Pursuing Doctorate at USC—Studying Intergenerational Relationships in Black Families—Countering Deficit Model of Black Families—Beginning to Study Aging and Blacks—Stereotypes of GrandparentsGrandparents Parenting Grandchildren—Categorization—More on Experience at Pepperdine—Being Careful of Labels—Changes in the Social Work ProfessionCurrent Community Needs in Social Work—Drew Medical School Nutrition ProjectElder Abuse—Association of Pan African Doctoral Scholars—Senior Health and Peer Counseling Center--Alzheimer’s Association