Listen Online with Text Transcript

Download Complete Audio File (MP3 format / ca. 103 MB, 00:56:37)

Mozilla/Firefox: Right click and "Save Link As..."
Internet Explorer: Right click and "Save Target As..."

HTML file

XML/TEI source file

At the time of this interview, Ray Spain was the principal of Bertie High School, the only high school in Bertie County, NC. Here, he describes his management style and the challenges of his job. Spain, who took his position well after school desegregation, does not believe the process affected him, but he does think that by placing black and white candidates in competition for jobs, desegregation made it more difficult for black principals to find positions. Spain's limited commentary on race in education means that this interview may not be useful for scholars of desegregation and its legacy. Those interested in learning about a principal's job will find plenty of useful material.

This interview is part of the Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007), a collection of over 4,000 interviews housed at the Southern Historical Collection.

Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection

Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews

African American high school principals--North Carolina