Sheyann Webb Christburg Interviewed on January 29, 1998

HUNTLEY: This is an interview with Mrs. Sheyann Webb Christburg for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute's Oral History Project. I'm Dr. Horace Huntley. We're presently at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Today is January 29, 1998. Mrs. Christburg, I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule from Alabama State and driving all the way to Birmingham to come and sit and talk with me.

CHRISTBURG: Thank you for giving me the opportunity.

HUNTLEY: Welcome to Birmingham. I just want to start by asking you some general questions about your family. Your mother and father, were they originally from Selma?

CHRISTBURG: Yes, both parents were from Selma. They were born and raised in Selma. There's a little town outside of Selma called Tyler, Alabama and that's 00:01:00basically where my father was born and raised. Then of course, my mom was in the area of Tyler and in between the town of Selma. So, primarily they were born and raised in the Selma area.

HUNTLEY: How many brothers and sisters do you have?

CHRISTBURG: I had eight brothers and sisters. I had a brother to pass and now there's seven of us.

HUNTLEY: Where do you fit in with that? Were you the youngest, the oldest?

CHRISTBURG: I'm the knee baby.

HUNTLEY: You're the knee baby?

CHRISTBURG: I'm the baby girl and I have a baby brother.

HUNTLEY: So, there's one younger than you?

CHRISTBURG: Yes, my baby brother.

HUNTLEY: Alright, I had to get that knee baby together.

CHRISTBURG: (Laughing).

HUNTLEY: What I'm attempting to do is to just get a picture of what it was like 00:02:00growing up in Selma. Let me ask you about your mother and father. What about their education? How much education did they have?

CHRISTBURG: My parents were not as fortunate as some others to have had the opportunity to finish high school or even go to college. However, my father went as far as the tenth grade, I believe, and my mother progressed to the eleventh. My parents worked very hard raising us as children. They primarily went as far as they could from an educational standpoint and they had begun to work in the factory to support their family.

HUNTLEY: Did both of them work in the factory?

CHRISTBURG: They both worked in the factory. My father worked for a table company, which was Cleveland Table Company for so many years. My mother worked 00:03:00for a sewing company, which was Selma Apparel for so many years. Right now they are both retired and I guess trying to enjoy life.

HUNTLEY: Do they still live in Selma?

CHRISTBURG: They both still live in Selma.

HUNTLEY: Where are your brothers and sisters? Do they still live in Selma?

CHRISTBURG: I have a brother who's living in Montgomery, well, two brothers that are living in Montgomery. I have a brother that is living out in El Paso, Texas. I have one brother that is presently living in Selma. However, I have a sister that is living in Detroit, Michigan and my oldest sister that is living in Atlanta, Georgia.

HUNTLEY: So, you are somewhat scattered then?

CHRISTBURG: Yes, we are scattered.

HUNTLEY: Do you have family reunions?

CHRISTBURG: We have family reunions, but not as often as we used to. As a matter 00:04:00of fact, we are in the process of planning a family reunion coming up [inaudible] of 1998, this year.

HUNTLEY: Are you going to have it in Selma?

CHRISTBURG: Yes, we will have it in Selma.

HUNTLEY: That's big business, lately.

CHRISTBURG: It is. Family reunions are great, but the whole agony of the planning aspect of it can become complex sometimes ,but in spite of all that, it is a great thing to do, when you can bring the family together in joy rather than in sorrow, in which most families always come together.

HUNTLEY: When you were growing up, your mother and your father were working. You started to school, and you were next to the baby, so all of your brothers and sisters have gone before you. What do you remember about starting first grade in 00:05:00Selma? What school did you attend?

CHRISTBURG: I attended Clark Elementary School, which was a school a couple of blocks over from where we lived in the George Washington Carver Project Homes. I could vividly remember my childhood growing up at that time. First of all, me being in the first grade or even in kindergarten I was what you may call unique or active child. I just liked the fact of being involved. Even though I was poor I was the type of child who wanted to be a part of some of the other things that I saw. Some of the others were doing but perhaps couldn't afford to do.

HUNTLEY: Like what for instance?

CHRISTBURG: For instance, programs that took place at school, I always wanted to be out front or part of it and even though I did not necessarily know that I had 00:06:00a particular talent at that particular time. I just wanted to be a part of whatever was going on at school. I would really try to execute my participation through my teachers. I can remember many times when I was to talk to my momma about me participating in a program. Of course, my parents always supported me with that, but there were a number of times when expenses had come into play. You know, everybody liked the idea of their children participating, but they always wanted them not only to do well, but to look good. Many times, when my mom and my dad expressed the idea of whatever my needs were or my discussing that with them, if they didn't have it, I didn't even hesitate to discuss this with my teachers. That really didn't make a difference with me. As a child I 00:07:00always wanted to be out front and be active.

HUNTLEY: And you were not bashful about asking people to assist you in whatever you needed to do?

CHRISTBURG: Whatever, whether it was through my teachers and... primarily, I really can attribute a lot to my teachers, as well as my parents, because they had the opportunities to get to know me well as a student. Based upon my track record, with growing up in school from the first grade to the sixth grade it had become a thing that I didn't have to ask, they asked me. Of course, as I grew up from the first grade on through the sixth grade I can vividly remember me participating in a number of programs that really enhanced my development and 00:08:00personal growth. It also made me become the person that I was, and I consider myself a very inquisitive type child. Many people often ask, "how did you become involved in the civil rights movement at such an early age?" Even though I didn't quite understand what was happening at that time, at that particular age I was so inquisitive that I knew that something was happening unusual and I wanted to be there. As I grew in that movement I became more knowledgeable of what was happening.

During that time with all of the turbulence and the confrontations and the challenges and the changes that took place and you being in the midst of it. You know, it wasn't like you just volunteered to do this, it was high risk. It was high risk for adults and even more for children. Even in spite of all of that 00:09:00with what I saw and with what I heard during that time and being right in the midst of it, I wanted to still be a part of that. So oftentimes, even being told or threatened by my parents or even sometimes by my teachers that I shouldn't have been there, or I shouldn't go, I was determined to be there and I that I did. So, you might can call me a disobedient child at that time, but for that particular cause and based upon those circumstances at that time, I'm very appreciative and I feel very fortunate to have done what I did as a child and to be a part of that history.

HUNTLEY: Even prior to getting involved in the movement, you sound as if you were outgoing and didn't meet any strangers and you were one of those children 00:10:00who would demand in a child's way that things would happen the way that you would want them to happen. Or you would be involved, say for instance, if there was a play at school you would want to be involved in that play. Are there individuals outside of the family that had an impact upon your involvement, teachers particular?

CHRISTBURG: I think there were several people who contribute to, impact my life in a most profound way. Not only as to me progressing attitude wise, educational wise, but I think in a real sense...even prior to the movement being active or becoming active in Selma, I think there was something very unique about my 00:11:00personality. Where it derived from, I couldn't really tell you. However, I do believe that the movement really elevated that particular element and I say that because Dr. King impacted my life in a very significant way. First of all, I knew that I was poor but even in spite of me being poor, Dr. King helped me to recognize that because I was poor, regardless of whether I was poor or not...not only me, but those others who were unfortunate in some incidents...that I still could do what I wanted to do as long as I could strive for that. An education was one of the things that Dr. King related to my best friend Rachel, who lived next door to me at that particular time. I didn't know the true importance of it 00:12:00but as constantly as he uttered those words to us each time that he talked to us the more significant and the more I wanted, or the more that I was motivated to want to go to college and want to finish high school. However, as I progressed and as I learned more and experienced more through the movement, I was one of the kids who went back to my instructors to let them know what was going on because of course, as my parents and so many others along with my teachers, if they had become involved in the movement at that particular time they would lose their jobs. Even again in spite of me being disobedient, it was like I was the communicator between my families and my instructors as to what was going on, cause I was there.

HUNTLEY: You had mentioned as a young child you didn't understand what was going on. You knew that something was happening and that you needed to be involved in it. Prior to the movement, did you understand segregation, did you understand the condition that the Black community was in relative to the White community?

CHRISTBURG: Well, in terms of understanding segregation to the 40s, I may not have prior to the movement, but I knew the difference.

HUNTLEY: You knew what you should do and what you shouldn't.

CHRISTBURG: I knew the difference between Black and White.

HUNTLEY: Did you ever question that?

CHRISTBURG: I always questioned that many times. When I had gone to the doctor's office with my parents and we had to sit on one side that always indicated Blacks and then of course, on the other side it indicated Whites. Even with the water fountain and so many other circumstances that we read about today with 00:14:00various restaurants; even going to various stores in Selma. I can remember that vividly. I always questioned that and even though I was given different responses at different times I knew it was wrong. As I grew in the movement I have become very knowledgeable as to why that was happening. That's one thing that really helped me to grow from an educational stand point, as well as a reality stand point, because being in the midst of it and meeting the challenges, as well as listening to Dr. Martin Luther King and so many other freedom fighters that had come to be a part of that movement and deal with the struggles of segregations and injustices and inequality at that particular time, being a child it was something that didn't take overnight for you to really 00:15:00learn about it if you didn't know it. You could just see it. Each time that I was in the midst of it of course, I had began to recognize and realize exactly what the movement was all about.

HUNTLEY: What are the events that stand out in your mind, more than any other, that relates to your involvement?

CHRISTBURG: I think the, let me just say this before I answer that. There were many experiences that I had that have stood out in my mind that will never leave me. One of the incidents that happened that I will never forget is the Bloody Sunday March.

HUNTLEY: Where were you on that march, in relationship to the front of the march?

CHRISTBURG: I was in the middle part of the march.

HUNTLEY: Were you on the bridge at the time?

CHRISTBURG: Yes, I was. I was actually, during that particular march, there were hundreds of people who marched on that particular day, but there were enough people who could cover the bottom of the bridge and still overlap almost down to the bottom and I was right in the middle, in the midst of the marchers.

HUNTLEY: Were you with any members of your family at that particular time? Do you remember who was right there with you? What was your age at that time?

CHRISTBURG: At that particular time, I was approximately seven years old. I was with the late Margaret Moore, who was one of the teachers who had the courage to 00:17:00participate at that particular time. Many threats had been made about the possibility of what would happen on that particular day. Even in spite of that, again I was still determined...with me being afraid and so many others who were a part of that movement. I was still determined to be a marcher.

HUNTLEY: What were you afraid of?

CHRISTBURG: I was afraid of what would happen. Prior to that time, with many instances, particularly at mass meetings, people spoke about how people would be beaten and there had been some on other marches that had previously taken place that had been beaten or abused in some form or fashion. I heard that on numerous 00:18:00occasions. However, this was the time that I knew in my mind that something would happen. I was afraid because first of all, I knew I wasn't supposed to be there as a child and secondly, based upon the faith and the way that people prayed, the way that they sung and I'm not just saying just a prayer and they were finished with. There were many instances that took place prior to that march and it's what you saw in the midst of the people who were part of that 00:19:00movement. On their faces, you saw fear on their faces, but yet at the same time you saw determination, dedication, commitment, and I think the people who were actually a part of that movement at that time it didn't matter. You know Dr. King said that, well, first of all, being in the midst of that movement you had to have a certain commitment. You had to have a degree of a certain type of faith. You had to have a degree of willingness and to have something to sacrifice even if it was your life. That is what I saw and that's what I saw people doing as a child. The expressions, the spirits, the determination those type attitudes, the attitude of readiness is really what taught me the most 00:20:00about the movement at that time. I felt that whatever I knew at that particular time as a child, I knew that first of all it was a struggle between something wrong that should be turned into right and I wanted to be a part of it, not just for myself but for my parents and for the people that lived in Selma. That attitude started exuberating within me just being in the midst of it, not understanding quite all of the ramifications that were involved. I knew the difference; I knew the difference again between Black and White and I knew the difference between right and wrong. I actually saw it. I not only visualized it, I experienced it as a child every day.

HUNTLEY: What was that day like for a seven-year-old? What did...what was the 00:21:00experience like? Can you explain what you saw? At the particular time that you had to turn around what did you do?

CHRISTBURG: Well, it was scary. From the time that we were asked to mobilize ourselves in front of Brown's Chapel Church. There was some communication between me and the late Margaret Moore. I had indicated to her that I wasn't going to march. I told her I wanted to, but I didn't have permission to. However, when the marchers had knelt down to pray, I remember standing on the sidelines being indecisive. Still with fear, not only for myself, but for them particularly. As they had gotten up and they had begun to march and start 00:22:00singing freedom songs. I remember running back up to her and joining here in the march, clutching her by her hand and I told her that I wanted to go. She took my hand and I marched with her.

HUNTLEY: Was Rachel with you?

CHRISTBURG: No, Rachel and I, my best friend, had discussed this and of course Rachel was not as, I guess, I was more disobedient in a sense than Rachel. Sometimes she wanted to do some things that we had talked about as friends and as children, but she listened to her parents more. I was basically the opposite. However, I could remember as we made our way to the Edmund Pettus Bridge on that particular day, the closer we got to the bridge the more frightened I was, as I had become as a child. I can remember when we had reached the Edmund Pettus 00:23:00Bridge and of course, we started praying and after we were asked to turn around all I can remember was tear gas that had begun to burst out into the air. I could see hundreds of state troopers and policemen with Billy clubs and tear gas masks and troopers on horses. When this tear gas had really been burst and flamed into the air, I could just see people running. Of course, I started running trying to make my way home.

I could see the horses and at some point everybody was trying to run. Several people were running in different ways but there were several people who were 00:24:00running in my direction, as if they were trying to make their way back to Brown's Chapel A.M.E. Church. As I had begun to run, trying to make my way back home I remember Rev. Williams picking me up and my feet was still galloping in his arms and I looked to him and told him in my own childish words to , "put me down because you're not running fast enough." There were some people along with him who were still accompanying, not only me but those others who were frightened, trying to make their way home. I remember getting home that particular day and my parents were standing at the door along with so many other neighbors, because it was obvious, obviously that something was going to happen that day. When we were running trying to make our way back to Brown's Chapel 00:25:00Church and myself trying to make my way back home, I could hear sirens, you know, the ambulance sounds and people crying. It was very frightening. I got home and my parents were standing in front of the door and I just ran up to my door and completely through them and making my way up the steps. My mom had come behind me trying to comfort me and I just cried. I was very frightened with what I saw and visualized on that particular day. I'll never forget it. It will never leave my heart neither my mind. That was the most traumatic experience of my life, particularly being a child.

HUNTLEY: Would you allow your children to be involved in the movement, if there 00:26:00was a movement going on of that nature today?

CHRISTBURG: You know, I've been asked that question once before and I believe if there is a given cause that would require the commitment and the dedication and if they felt that it was something that they needed to do or wanted to do for that cause, even in spite of danger, I may do it reluctantly, but I believe I will let them go.

HUNTLEY: At seven years old?

CHRISTBURG: At seven years old. I say that because I'm hoping that a movement will come now that will give not only young people that type of spirit or attitude but people as a whole. We haven't had a movement like that since that time when people were united and came together for a given cause. Even though it 00:27:00took the Bloody Sunday March for us to really mobilize people from all over the world, under most circumstances it takes crisis situations and circumstances for us sometimes to realize really what is happening. I'm very honest with you when I say that if at any point that I had children and there was a cause that came about that really would give them the attitude of wanting, or the attitude that I had in a sense, I would just be glad for that movement to come again for children and people to mobilize themselves. I think we have had so many reasons for that movement even after the civil rights movement. Right now, for us to 00:28:00have that type of attitude and based upon those circumstances, I will do that.

HUNTLEY: The book Selma, Lord, Selma suggests that there was rather an intimate relationship between yourself, Rachel, and Dr. King. Can you just describe to us what that relationship...you know a seven-year-old child and you had the opportunity to sit on his lap and talk to him, what was that like?

CHRISTBURG: As I mentioned to you earlier, there were so many experiences that I will never forget. One of those experiences was having the opportunity to meet Dr. Martin Luther King. As I look at it today, myself and Rachel at that time being kids, we had no idea of what type of man or what type of person or the history that would come behind our experiences of giving the opportunity to meet 00:29:00him. Obviously, it struck a chord with us even at that age meeting Dr. King, I mean anybody who has had the opportunity, adults or what have you, should feel very fortunate and grateful. We were even more fortunate. First of all, Dr. King saw people regardless of what background or what walk of life they had come from. He saw people or a person just as they were. That's how he treated us as he met us on that particular day. I remember Rachel and I playing in front of Brown's Chapel A.M.E. Church and there were these cars that had driven up and of course, it took our attention and as they had gotten out of the cars we went over towards them. One of the men that was with Dr. King said to us, "do you 00:30:00know who this man is?" We had no idea who none of them were. So, he said, "this Dr. King."

Of course, we didn't know who Dr. King was. As they proceeded to go into the back of Brown's Chapel A.M.E. Church and they were about to have a meeting on that particular day, we followed them and as we followed them one of the men said to us, "you all can go on now cause we are about to have a meeting." Dr. King immediately said to him, "no, let them stay." So, we followed him on into the church and as we got into the church Dr. King had begun to give us some attention as children. He came over to where we were and he asked us our names and of course, we gave him our names. Then, he said, "what do you want?" Rachel 00:31:00and I looked at each other and hunching our childish shoulders, we didn't know how to respond to that question. He asked us again, "what do you want?" We looked at each other again. He said, "when I ask you what do you want, your reply should be freedom." So, he asked us again, a third time, he said, "what do you want?" We said, "freedom" in our own childish voices. He said, "say it louder!" So, we said it louder. He asked us again, "when do you want it?" We didn't quite know how to answer that question. He said, "when I ask you when do you want it, you say now." So, he asked us, "what do you want?" We said loudly, "freedom!" He said, "when do you want it?" We said, "now!" This was our first acquaintance with Dr. Martin Luther King. We sat there for a while and after he had gone into his meeting he told us he wanted to talk to us more. We left and we started playing like children would normally do and we came back because we 00:32:00wanted to talk with him more. When we had come back, Dr. King told us he was coming back to Selma and he wanted to see us. Now even though we didn't quite know the significance of this man and really what he represented at this time, we knew he was someone very important and we couldn't wait to get home to talk to our parents about this. I can remember talking to my parents about it and they didn't have the expressions on their faces that I thought they should have had. Of course, I had become to realize why as I grew in the movement.

At that particular time Dr. King was a profound leader that people didn't necessarily dislike, but they didn't like the idea of the disturbance that it could cause with them as a community or a people. Of course, Dr. King with the 00:33:00leadership that he provided not only in Selma, but all over the world, it intervened in so many ways with the agenda of people being concerned about their jobs. Yet he was fighting for them in so many instances from an economic standpoint, from a social stand point. Of course, after having met Dr. King on that particular day I couldn't wait to see Dr. King when he came back to Selma. There were many pamphlets that had gone around in our community from SCLC announcing when Dr. King was going to be in Selma for the mass meeting. Of course, my parents didn't want me to be there. I didn't do a whole lot of 00:34:00discussion about it. I knew that I was going to be there. I recall slipping out of my house on that particular evening. I remember going into Brown's Chapel A.M.E. Church and sitting on the front row and singing along with the people that were there the various freedom songs.

HUNTLEY: How far was your home from the church?

CHRISTBURG: My home was right in the back of Brown's Chapel. Not far, it wasn't a half a mile. I remember Dr. King making his way to the pulpit there. I remember the people who were gathered sitting and clapping their hands and singing the freedom songs. All of a sudden everybody had begun to stand on their feet and look in one direction. As they looked in that direction there was a 00:35:00crowd of people who were following Dr. King as Dr. King made his way to the pulpit. You could just see the gleam, not only in Dr. King's eye as he made his way to the pulpit, but if you just looked around you could see a certain spirit that was exuberating all over the church. People had begun to clap their hands loud and even stomp their feet. They went from one freedom song to "My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." They sung that song and Dr. King just stood there and every now and then he would raise his hand. Then after everybody had quieted Dr. Martin Luther King took his seat, everybody was just waiting for him to make his speech. I'll never forget the first time that I had the opportunity to hear him speak. I didn't again quite understand all of the things 00:36:00that Dr. King talked about, but what I remember most about Dr. King was him talking about the difference between injustices, Black and White, and that in spite of people doing you wrong, you still have to turn the other cheek. At that particular time I couldn't really analyze it as I did maybe six or seven months from that time. I knew that he had a righteous heart and that he was coming there to start a movement to help people in Selma rather they were Black or White. Based upon the way that Dr. King spoke, you knew he had a very Christian like attitude. I knew at that particular night that I then was a part of the movement.

HUNTLEY: Were other members of your family involved?

CHRISTBURG: No, they did not become involved until a later date when others had 00:37:00become more comfortable with joining the movement.

HUNTLEY: How many times do you remember seeing Dr. King or being in his presence? Were there many other times after this time?

CHRISTBURG: Sure, there were many other times. Dr. King had, you know during that time SCLC had of course played an intricate role and there had been several meetings at Brown's Chapel Church with the absence of Dr. King and there have been many with his presence.

HUNTLEY: Were you disappointed when they had something, and he was not there?

CHRISTBURG: Very disappointed but I always asked when he was coming back. Those times that I knew he was going to be there I was always be there. There were many times that they had strategy meetings at Brown's Chapel Church and those were the times that we had private time in a sense to really communicate with 00:38:00Dr. King. A number of times in the midst of him doing what he had to do he still took time to give us that attention. He talked about education, you know us getting an education, or he asked us questions about our families a lot but he always told us he will be back and he wanted to see us. Every time that Dr. King would make his way back to Selma for the mass meetings, we made it a point as children to make our way to the pulpit and sit on his lap.

HUNTLEY: Did you ever question why your parents were not involved?

CHRISTBURG: I questioned that particularly when I really didn't quite understand a lot of things but, of course, as I grew in the movement I understood more about their reservations and so many other things. It didn't take me long to 00:39:00recognize and realize, or even to be educated about the significance and the purpose of what the movement was all about. So, I grew up fast in the movement, which made me become very, more understanding as to the position, not only my family took, but others as well. In a real sense as I grew in that movement and as I had become a part of that movement it was like I was not only in that movement for myself and others but particularly for my parents.

HUNTLEY: You were nine or ten when Dr. King was assassinated. Where were you when you heard the news?

CHRISTBURG: I had come from a dancing class. I remember making my way into the 00:40:00door and my momma and my daddy and four other sisters and brothers were there. They had their attention on the TV as I made my way through the door. As soon as I walked in all of them turned their heads to me and I saw this unique expression on their faces, and it displayed that something was wrong. Before I could really ask the question about what was wrong there was a special bulletin that had come across the TV saying that Dr. King had died. At that particular time, I had so many different mixed emotions as a child. The first thing that I did of course was cry. I went to my room and I thought about all of my memories 00:41:00as a child with meeting Dr. King and some of the things that he taught me as a child. I started writing about my pal Dr. King. I guess in the midst of me dealing with my emotions at that particular time, of course, it was nothing that I really understood. I knew he was dead. I knew he was killed and I knew it was wrong. I'm not saying that I understood the death, but what I did understand was what Dr. King said. He would rather die for what he felt was right and I remember him saying on a number of occasions, you know, from the song "Oh Freedom, Oh Freedom, Before I'll Be a Slave, I'll Be Buried and My Grave Will Go 00:42:00Home to My Lord and Be Free." That's what Dr. King's commitment, that's what his sacrifice was all about. He talked about it, but I had no idea that it would happen that fast ,because it was really like I was just getting to know somebody who had instantly been killed in the struggle for fighting for us as a people and for the rights of humanity. That was the type of commitment that Dr. King had and the sacrifices that were involved there. That helped me and as I continued to grow in the movement, as a result of his death, that helped me to even realize more the importance of me doing my part and me having the 00:43:00commitment to serve my community. I think that's one of the things we as a people are lacking today. Based upon the commitment, the willingness, the visions that it takes to deal with some of the challenges that we're faced with in our community. Even as a nation we're not really willing to have that same type of genuine sacrifice and be willing to serve. One of the prime examples that I like to express to young people that I have the opportunity to speak with anywhere that I go is exercising the right to vote and looking forward to that.

HUNTLEY: After Dr. King was killed you keep saying you grew up; you were growing 00:44:00up in the movement. What kind of activities were you involved in after 1968?

CHRISTBURG: After 1968, I was involved in various activities. One thing, desegregation had come into play, which had an impact still on young people, as well as adults in my community. My brothers and sisters they all went to predominate Black schools. At that particular time, as I continued to grow in the movement based upon what I had experienced, I was determined to go to a White school. I wanted to meet that challenge knowing that I had that right and that I could face it and I did that. In doing that, I was determined also not to 00:45:00just go to the school but to be active. At that particular time, it was very difficult if you were Black going into a segregated school and wanting to be a part of something. It just wasn't anything that you possibly had the qualifications for, you had to battle with the Black and White issue. It was an unfair system.

HUNTLEY: Were you one of the first to go into the White high school?

CHRISTBURG: I was not the first, but I was among the few. Being among the few, there were a lot of hatred and so many other things that we had to contend with on a day to day basis. I can remember many times when my parents tried to support me in dealing with some of those problems. I was the only Black in five 00:46:00of my classes. Of course, being the only Black in five of my classes, I wasn't the type of student that just sat there because I was Black. I was active and I tried to exemplify my character and my personality and showing them, I could be on the same level that they were.

HUNTLEY: Were you active in extracurricular activities?

CHRISTBURG: I sure was. I had the opportunity to be a cheerleader and I was among the few at that particular time who went out for cheerleader as a Black. That was quite difficult, but I made it. Even in spite of me making it, there were many times that I was spat on at different games, being called names, so many things as it relates to racial barriers. That still helped me to grow. I 00:47:00think that because of that movement it really contributed to me not only becoming more active but more understanding. I really didn't, even though I experienced a lot of prejudice, I didn't look at it from a hatred standpoint. I really just dealt with people just as they were.

HUNTLEY: What was the process of becoming a cheerleader?

CHRISTBURG: Well, being a cheerleader for the YMCA, as I again grew up, I was a 00:48:00cheerleader for the YMCA which was predominantly Black. Then, going to junior high school trying out for a predominantly Black team there were certain things you had to execute from a physical standpoint and in a real sense to make it all clear, Black folks had soul. I had to actually train myself to take form as to the type with the tryouts for getting through, making the cheerleader at that particular time. It took some extensive training to go from one transition to another.

HUNTLEY: You had to mass some of your rhythm in other words?

CHRISTBURG: Right. I did that and I did it well but even in spite of that part of the process, first of all was academics. You had to have a certain GPA, it was a screening process even before you did the practical part. They tried to give me a very difficult time on that, but I made it through that after my parents had to come over a number of times. I had all of the qualifications but there were many things that were put into place to keep me, to discourage me in a sense. I was still determined. When I even got to the practical part of course, when you try out for cheerleading you have an audience. During that time, each time that I would come on the floor to try out I was called names and 00:50:00there were many acts done to distract my attention, but I made it.

HUNTLEY: You were taking the place of some other White girl, so that competition then created the division. What was your relationship with others on the team?

CHRISTBURG: It was something that we had to grow through. Initially it was distasteful. Based upon my attitude with adjusting, not only adjusting to being a part of that type of system, but adjusting them because even though I knew that I was Black and they were White and I knew the difference I still had a cordial attitude and I still tried to blend. Initially there was one particular 00:51:00cheerleader that had more communication and interaction with me then it started trickling through the others. I think I was a contributing factor with all of that because if I had retaliated in any form or fashion it would have defeated my purpose totally. That is what the movement and Dr. King taught me.

HUNTLEY: What were your teachers like?

CHRISTBURG: Prejudice.

HUNTLEY: You were the only Black student in five of your classes?

CHRISTBURG: In five of my classes, they were basically prejudice. I knew what my objective was at that time and that was to really study hard and try to complete my courses in spite of what I was experiencing in the course of that. Many times, I did have problems with some of my courses. It wasn't a thing where I 00:52:00could go to them perhaps and get the type of assistance that I needed. I had to go elsewhere. I kept in my mind that I needed to complete that course or those courses. It was difficult at times and the experience that had come from that really motivated me more.

HUNTLEY: Did you ever consider going back to the Black high school?

CHRISTBURG: No, it never crossed my mind. As a matter of fact, I wanted to become more active. I did, I became a member of the choir. I became a member of the basketball team, the volleyball team, I even became very interested in becoming a member of the debate team, but I couldn't mix it in with the other 00:53:00extracurricular activities that I had. It really motivated me more.

HUNTLEY: Did your younger brother go to the same high school?

CHRISTBURG: Yes, he did but at a later time. During the time that I had gone to Parish High School there were other options for Blacks. At that particular time, he was at the predominantly Black school. However, when more Blacks had really started going to the school and when it had become a better situation of course he was one of those numbers.

HUNTLEY: After high school, why didn't you decide to go to Alabama or Auburn?

CHRISTBURG: I had. My first choice was the University of Alabama, because I 00:54:00wanted to be a cheerleader, that was one of my pet peeves. I knew wherever I went I wanted to be a cheerleader. I had some difficulties with getting through that program. For some reason they just didn't want a Black. Because of the difficulties that I had extracurricular wise and with me focusing on that with being a part of my academics, I chose to go to Tuskegee.

HUNTLEY: What was that experience like?

CHRISTBURG: It was a great experience. I think I had the opportunity with being a part of the movement, having the opportunity to go to be a part of a desegregated system. Then having the experience of going to a predominantly 00:55:00Black college. It taught me a lot. Being at Tuskegee, I tried to really take what I had because of what I experienced in the movement and growing up. I wanted to use every talent that I had and I did that which really enhanced my personal growth, mentally and socially. As a student at Tuskegee, my first year as a freshman I got involved in the student government. Not only my freshman year, from freshman year through my fourth year of college and graduating.

Being a part of numerous activities there it helped my personal growth. I had 00:56:00mixed emotions in the process because for some reason I had the idea of coming back home getting into politics. When I had initially thought about my major, of course, it was political science. However, as I participated in various events and I was not only involved on the campus, I was also involved in the community as a student.

HUNTLEY: What kind of involvement with the community did you have?

CHRISTBURG: I was involved in.Well, first of all being a member of the student government there really gave me an opportunity to meet several people in the community on all levels. In the community there was the community action agency 00:57:00and they had different programs. I started off with a system of tutoring some of the kids. In city hall they had various programs. I had become a member of the NAACP chapter there. I started working with young people and it really became a pet peeve in a sense and ultimately I changed my major. I decided that I wanted to go into social work. As I completed my college education I decided that I would return home with the possibility of still having some interest in politics. However, as I had grown older and as I had become more involved in a 00:58:00sense with becoming more knowledgeable with politics, I decided I didn't think that at that time that would be something that I would be interested in, but I did know that I was interested in youth. I was more of a youth advocate than anything else. So, I took that interest and with the talents and skills that I had, I decided that I wanted to develop a youth program. As I had come to Montgomery in 1980 to further my education I really started looking at that in my final Keep Production, which K-E-E-P is an acronym for Keep Entertainment Everyday People.

My whole concept with that idea was to really focus and concentrate on the less 00:59:00fortunate youth and reach out to them to help build self- esteem and to use their talents, their God given talents that they had to help motivate them and building self-esteem. I had no inkling how I would really do that, but I mobilized a group of young people in Montgomery. The first event was a talent show. I organized that particular talent show and went out to several different projects or poor housing areas and I recruited some kids who had various talents and also in some other areas. As a result of that show, particularly being my 01:00:00first time doing it, it was very successful, and I decided that I would do another one. As a result of me continuing to do that, with the idea and vision that I had, [[people] were focusing on me, it really escalated quickly than I had anticipated. So, now after 17 years the worthiness of that program has been proven. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with hundreds of young people from all walks of life in building self-esteem, as well as providing various workshops, which has encouraged them to go on and finish high school, as well as college. Even today I still have that program.

HUNTLEY: Was that a part of Alabama State?

CHRISTBURG: No, it's not a part of Alabama State. This is something I started doing prior to being a part of Alabama State.

HUNTLEY: How is it funded?

CHRISTBURG: Self-sufficient. There were many opportunities for me to become incorporated, but I decided that based upon the way in which the program was being handled I had the support of many businesses and parents through the years and I wasn't quite stable in terms of me holding on to that program as long as I have. When the idea of becoming incorporated was being handed down to me, I just wasn't comfortable with that idea at that time. The program has survived 01:02:00well-being self-sufficient. We have to...anything that we do we have to go and get the funds for it. However, we in many instances with various things that we wanted to do, particularly with workshops and bringing resources in or even putting on various shows, we've had a lot of support from the community.

HUNTLEY: This program has been in force since 1980?

CHRISTBURG: Since 1980.

HUNTLEY: Did you work with that program full-time prior to getting, going on board with....

CHRISTBURG: I did. I was employed at Alabama State in 1991. Prior to that time, my attention was basically given to KEEP Production.

HUNTLEY: Now what do you do at Alabama State?

CHRISTBURG: I'm the coordinator of student activities. My job is basically to 01:03:00coordinate and manage various student activities for the student body. I work in conjunction, not only with the student government association, but also with various committees of the university and with Ms. Alabama State University.

HUNTLEY: Have you had the opportunity to share your experiences growing up with students at Alabama State? If you have what has been the reception?

CHRISTBURG: I've had many opportunities to share my experiences with students. As much as over the years you get new to students to come in and old ones to go out. Most of it has been a big surprise. There are students there now who come to me on a regular basis whenever they hear about the book cause I don't make 01:04:00the point to advertise the success of my book. It's not so much because I'm modest about it. It's just that I feel that at some given point the students will recognize the fact that I was a part of that movement. That is being to happen more and more. I've had the opportunity to speak to the student body on three occasions. However, in various classroom settings with various instructors I get the opportunity to sit and talk with them. That alone helps spread the news as my experiences as a child. Sometimes it's amazing to them. They want to sit down and really want me to go in depth with them. One of the things that I encourage them to do is to first read the book and then come ask me questions.

Oftentimes when I have the time I will sit and entertain questions. Right now, with this book being 15 years old, the book is still alive. I'm very thankful for that. There have been many opportunities that have been prevailed for me to again speak to young people across the country. A lot of times when you're doing that and then focusing on your personal life and your job a lot of emphasis is not placed in your own community. Even though I have had the opportunity to speak to a number of students at various elementary, junior high, and high schools in Montgomery, I'm still waiting for the opportunity to reach out more 01:06:00to other students. I do have other plans to speak to students at Alabama State University. As a matter of fact, I will be speaking in February on three occasions.

HUNTLEY: Is the book in paperback yet?

CHRISTBURG: Yes, it is.

HUNTLEY: Have you had any opportunity to speak here at the Institute?

CHRISTBURG: This is my first opportunity.

HUNTLEY: We'll have to get you back and have some program around what you're doing. I want to thank you for taking the time out of your schedule, because this obviously is a piece of history that every child should know because what it does it gives other people the strength, cause even at the age of seven that 01:07:00you had the audacity to question the status quo. I think you should be commended for it. So again, thank you for coming.

CHRISTBURG: Thank you so very much for inviting me.