Series:

Black Educators in Los Angeles, 1950-2000

Topic:

Education

African American History

Biographical Note:

Assistant superintendent, principal, and educator of all ages in Los Angeles Unified School District.

Interviewer:

Slaughter, Michael

Interviewee:

Moore, Alfred

Persons Present:

Moore and Slaughter.

Place Conducted:

Moore's home in Los Angeles, California.

Supporting Documents:

Recordings 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 Michael Slaughter, former high school history teacher at Los Angeles public school; Ph.D., History, UCLA.Slaughter prepared for the interview by looking over the interviewee’s personal papers over a span of three days, scanning black newspapers for articles on programs connected to interviewee’s life, and reviewing secondary sources on the history of education in Los Angeles, most notably in connection to school desegregation.

Processing of Interview:

The transcript is a verbatim transcription of the recording. It was transcribed by a professional transcribing agency using a list of proper names and specialized terminology supplied by the interviewer. The interviewee's daughter, Alva Moore Stevenson, was then given an opportunity to review the transcript and made a few corrections and additions. Those corrections were entered into the text without further editing or review on the part of the Center for Oral History Research staff. The first session of the interview had to be completely redone due to issues with the recorder. In the sixth session of the interview, the batteries for one of the microphones died. The interviewer replaced the battery and backtracked about one minute, picking up where the battery failed.

Length:

21 hrs.

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

This series documents efforts to secure quality education for Black students in the Los Angeles area in the years 1950-2000. This includes the issues of integration/desegregation, increasing the numbers of Black teachers and administrators and the struggle against discriminatory hiring practices, securing equitable resources and safe learning environments, and maximizing achievement levels

Galveston, Texas--Describes household--Diphtheria--Segregated hospitals--Geography and economy of Galveston--Italian Americans and Jewish Americans in Galveston--Italian American playmates--Racism in Galveston--Father’s death--United Methodist Church--Household’s responsibilities and family routines--Meals, recreation and entertainment--Radio as an outlook to the world--Blacks could only go to one park in Galveston under Jim Crow--Legality of Galveston entertainment scene--Urban mobility in Galveston--Sister Phoebe and her occupation--Odd Fellows hall--Fishing as a dietary supplement--Family members’ occupations--Works as a paperboy--Sibling generosity--Grandparents’ history--Family’s level of education as atypical—The lack of college-educated blacks in Galveston—Reflections on early education--Segregated schools--Valuable lessons--The African American experience in classroom instruction--Jewish Americans in Galveston--Quality of education in Galveston--Primary school electives--Early experience with Jim Crow--Views on the positive aspects of segregation--Recollections on challenges to Jim Crow--Physical assault on brother-in-law--Segregated Galveston--First jobs out of high school--Black musicians from Chicago and New York--World War II and opportunities for African Americans--Los Angeles educational opportunities--Enrollment at UCLA--The appeal of UCLA--Black athletes at UCLA--UCLA class white student--Galveston gives him cold shoulder--Initially wears zoot suits at UCLA and receives cold reception from black students--Enrolls shortly after the Zoot Suit Riots--Few blacks on campus--Reasons for choosing UCLA--Adjusting to an integrated academic setting--Segregated railcars--Arrival at Union Station--Home at 23rd Street and Hooper Avenue--Describes his early excitement with Los Angeles--Entertainment and restaurants--Does not miss Galveston--Interurban red cars, buses, and streetcars--College parties on Sugar Hill--Central Avenue district--Gets job at the L.A. Pie Factory near home--Wednesdays at Lincoln Theatre--Hosting “Pigmeat” Markham and “Moms” Mabley--Father Divine’s prayer services--Central Avenue jazz scene.