Series:

Black Women Activists in Los Angeles, 1950-2000

Topic:

African American History

Biographical Note:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker with contributing roles at the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)-Watts Health Foundation, African American Unity Center, and Partners in Care Foundation.

Interviewer:

Stevenson, Alva Moore

Interviewee:

Hodge, Marguerite

Persons Present:

Hodge 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:

5.5 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.

Birth in Avondale, Pennsylvania—Parents, Grandparents and their Occupations—Relocation to Pennsylvania and Delaware—Early Education—Union Rooms—Transportation Arrangement—High School—Memorable Teachers—Black HistoryLincoln University—Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park—Mother’s Education at West Chester Teacher’s College—Emphasis on Education—Role of Religion in Upbringing--Role in Father’s Church—Awareness of Race and Skin Color—DNA Results—Father’s Community Involvement—Memorable High School Teachers—Limited Social and Recreational Activities—Big Trip to Washington, D.C.

Pursuing Higher Education—First Experience with Segregation—Attending Virginia State—Securing Tuition—Attending Brooklyn City College—Resilience of Grandmother after Stroke—Totin’—George and Leroy Weekes—World War II—Employment with Bureau of Engraving—Fighting Athlete’s Foot—Attending Howard University—Washington D.C.—Prominent African American Scholars—Graduate School of Social Work—Decision on a Major—Assistance of E. Franklin Frazier—Graduate work at University of Chicago—Work at Provident Hospital—Housing—Meeting Husband--More on Howard University—Black Academics at University of Chicago—Varying Political Leanings—Pauline Roberts—Discrimination against Black Medical Students--Rent Protest—Differing Consequences for Prejudiced Blacks and Whites—“Affirmative Action”—Connection between Social Work, Social Action and Social Change--Segregation and Discrimination in Washington D.C.

Migration to California—Marriage to Dee Hodge in Las Vegas—Seeking employment in Downtown Los Angeles—Managing parenthood—Obtaining Employment at the Lung Association—Advantages of two incomes—Hodge’s extended family—Husband’s position with Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company—Area responsibility with Lung Association—Residences in Los Angeles—Son’s education--Differences between African American communities in Los Angeles and the East—Central Avenue—Geographic shift in L.A. African American population—Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company—Banks serving African Americans in Los Angeles—More on employment with Lung Association—Community needs related to tuberculosis and other respiratory ailments—Outreach and education related to asthmatic children—Trips for Tubercular Patients—Watts Rebellion of 1965— Lack of health access and other underlying social problems leading to the Rebellion—Los Angeles Unrest of 1992—Differences between ’65 Rebellion and ’92 Unrest—Persistence of social problems—Iran Contra Scandal—Health problems in the community—Childhood Obesity—Prevalence of Fast Food Restaurants—Martin Luther King Hospital—Other health-related community work –State of the Healthcare System—High-Risk Conditions Affecting African Americans—Multiple Services to Seniors Program (MSP)—Restrictive housing covenants.

Decision to educate son at Midland—Private school recruitment of minorities in the 70s—Western Avenue—Central Avenue—Blacks in Local Government –Serving in Administration of Mayor Tom Bradley—Legacy of Supervisor Kenneth Hahn—Hahn’s role in opening King Hospital—Top flight nature of Hospital’s staff—Reasons for demise of Hospital—Attracting African Americans into healthcare professions—State of Healthcare—Experience at Centinela Hospital—Need for Independent Healthcare Commission—Was King Hospital Setup to Fail?—Evolution of the Social Work Profession--Focus on Community Organization—Improving Quality of Life—History of Alpha Kappa Alpha—AKA Community Involvement—Historical Significance of Sororities—History of Westminster Presbyterian Church—Church’s Ministers and Mission—HUD Grant for Senior Housing—Church’s Community Involvement—Reason for Membership Decrease—Christian Social Work Group.

Westminster Community Counseling Service—Lillie Davis’s Role at Westminster Presbyterian Church—Watts Health Foundation—Post-Watts Rebellion Needs Assessment—Martin Luther King Hospital—South Central Welfare Planning Council—Lung Association—“World’s Biggest Baby Shower” for Pregnant Teens—Prevention Programs for Smoking and Tuberculosis—Pulmonary Health Programs—Breathing Clubs—California Pioneer in Non-Smoking Areas— Pregnancy rates among African American teens—Theology and Public Health—Exhibit on AIDS—Acceptance of homosexuality and AIDS in the Church—Change in attitude—Unwillingness to deal with sexuality—Religious reasons—Tragic case involving illegal abortion—Tradition of non-education on sexual matters—Headstart Advisory Committee—California Association for Mental Health—Black Health Leadership Council—Diversity of population and lack of access—Change in needs related to lung ailments—Asthma Camps—High asthmatic rates among African American children—Adult-onset asthma—Environmental and genetic causes—Environmental racism—NESW Pioneer Award.