Title: Oral History Interview with Willa V. Robinson, January 14, 2004. Interview U-0014.
Identifier: U-0014
Interviewer: Maynor, Malinda
Interviewee: Robinson, Willa V.
Subjects: North Carolina--Race relations--20th century Robeson County (N.C.)--Race relations African Americans--North Carolina--History--20th century Civil rights--North Carolina African Americans--Civil rights--North Carolina Civil rights movements--North Carolina--History--20th century Civil rights movements--North Carolina--Robeson County Robeson County (N.C.)--History--20th century African Americans--North Carolina--Robeson County
Extent: 01:16:04
Abstract: This interview reveals a variety of responses to the integration process in one southern town. Willa V. Robinson describes the integration process in Maxton, North Carolina. Robinson, who grew up poor in this small town in eastern North Carolina, attended all-black schools, and her children were among the last students in the area to attend segregated schools. The Maxton area has a significant Native American population, but their presence did not seem to complicate the integration process or many whites' response to it. Some whites responded by burning down a black school, but most simply pulled their children from public schools. The legacy of this flight is underfunded public schools.