UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM

Interview #1049
WRIGHT, JACQUELINE TURNER

(a) WRIGHT, JACQUELINE TURNER (1930 -    )
(b) Widow of local African-American Civil Rights Leader, James C. Wright
(c) Lived in Madison, WI since 1958
(d)Interviewed: 2009 (2 sessions)		
(e) Interviewer: Kathryn M. Simmons 
(f) Index by: Kathryn M. Simmons
(g) Length:  Initial Interview (recording 2 parts) 51 minutes and 31 sec.; Follow-up interview was 58 minutes and 24 sec. Total length of combined interviews:  1 hours, 49 minutes , 55 sec. 

Abstract:  In her two July/August 2009 interviews with Kathryn M. Simmons, Jacqueline Wright detailed her reflections and memories of her husband and her involvement in the community. The interviews cover Mrs. Wright’s early childhood and family background; her time at Wilberforce University and her courtship by Mr. Wright; her interest in community activities and involvement; and her observations of racial progress in the Madison community.  Mrs. Wright also talks about strategies she has used to help her over difficult periods in her life and the importance of being involved in your community, through voting, understanding community issues and helping others.   This interview was conducted for inclusion into the UW-Madison Oral History Program and hopefully distributed to the Madison community at large in either the Madison Public Library collections and/or the Wisconsin State Historical Library. 

First Interview Session (July 25, 2009): Digital File

Time	Questions/Keywords	Summary/Keywords	
00:00 	Continued Pre-Interview	Detailed information about the narrator, Mrs. Jackie Wright	
14:50 	Interview begins	Introduction	
15:15	How did you meet JCW?	Meeting with husband at Wilberforce when she first arrived on campus and her thoughts that he might be professor, since he seemed older;  Early courtship and contrasts between she and JCW’s background	
20:13	Wilberforce	AME Church School vs. Central State University and how students intermingled	
22:40 	(Phone rings)	Interruption in discussion

00:00 (different recording track)
	Remainder of AME discussion	AME holdings and how school supported by members contributions, i.e. grandmother	
00:49	Reasons for leaving school	JCW’s return to South Carolina and family responsibilities; beginning ministry and Mt. Moriah Church; marriage	
03:05	Early years of marriage	Early marriage; transition to living in the South; racial attitudes and restrictions; segregation and adjustment	
04:52	Years in Camden, SC	MLK teachings and burning churches; meetings at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and its burning and rebuilding; living in one household	
07:28	Return to Wisconsin	JCW’s desire to finish school; establishing residency and working at VA Hospital	
08:56	Living with in-laws	Both JCW’s parents ill, mother bedridden

Time 
	Questions/Keywords	Summary/Keywords	
09:34	JCW’s first visit to Milwaukee	Mrs. Wright’s parent’s house, business and rooming house; JCW surprised by number of people with free access to home and  realization that Mrs. Wright liked that kind of openness to community. 	
11:51	Continued openness in Camden, SC and elsewhere	Invitations made to students attending Mather Academy  in Camden community to the house and dinner; “Grand Central Station”.  Open invitation to African students and how people stayed in touch with her family; 	
15:04	Parental influence	Kids in neighborhood often came to her house, even after she left home; mother jovial optimistic and inclusive	
17:04	Difficult periods in her life	Raising teen-agers, being diagnosed with osteoarthritis when young;  attitude	
19:30	What has helped you through these difficult periods?	 Developing prayer life through use of son’s diary and its effect on her attitude and appreciation for life.  How she encourages others. 	
24:49	Who encouraged her?	Early influences in her life, grandmother and the first black teacher she had. Need for African Americans to have role models	
27:52	Any involvement in women’s organizations?	Mother’s affiliation with different organizations, influence of YMCA while growing up; and mother’s desire to involve her in various events. 	
29:03	How did you get to meet people since you weren’t interested in joining groups?	Being a beautician helped since she met lots of people; got to know their needs; likened it to being a counselor/bartender and people sharing information. 	
30:16	What different ways?	Resources – ie. Looking for jobs, selling or buying houses, making nursing home visits, matchmaker	
Time 
	Questions/Keywords	Summary/Keywords	
32:01	Early community efforts 	Neighborhood Club formation, forerunner of EOC; volunteers, ie. Blossom Maiden and Maggie Davis;  grassroots efforts which complemented her husband’s efforts	
33:12	Volunteer projects 	Building the church with Rev. Dawson and Ed Alexander and then their willingness to help in building beauty/barber shop
	
35:50	Southern educational effect on Madison community	Black teachers needing to update credentials; met a lot of  professional people 	
37:02	Role as a pastor’s wife	Her mother’s interpretation of role; how her grand-child sees her role; sits on Mothers’ Board at Mt. Zion	
38:50	Effect of health on her outreach efforts	Arthritis and nursing homes, communication despite physical limitations 	
39:43	Family Influences	Grandmother’s spiritual leadership; living together in same household as a child	
41:19	Story of grandfather’s death	When Mrs. W’s mother was 12 years old, visit by KKK and how she actually saw the shooting; never exhibited bitterness.  Eventual move from MS to Arkansas to Wisconsin

Second Interview Session (July 30, 2009): Digital File

Time 
	Questions/Keywords	Summary/Keywords	
00:00 	First voting experience	Related her first experience and advice she was given before going to vote in the South; importance of the voting process	
5:03	Interest in Voting Process	Her father’s influence  Her political leaning and why she is concerned about Women’s movement	
07:03	Reaction to most recent election	When Obama announced candidacy and her fears for his safety.  What she prayed for him to be given. 	
09:32	Effect of Urban Renewal/re-location on she and  JCW	Saw it as chance for improving neighborhood and progress; able to purchase their own property for business; 	
15:04	Building the Beauty/Barber Shop	Volunteers from community	
16:40 	Getting a loan	Being turned down by several banks initially and how Mr. Fass vouched for JCW at his own bank.	
18:53	How did Black people purchase homes?	Some prominent African Americans (i.e. Carson Gulley) were able to do so.  Influence of Harris Brothers construction on community; Wrights bought their home on land contract; most lived in South Madison. 	
22:39	What is her role as member of various community and church  boards?	Working with elderly, youth services, and church; Discussion about Quaker Housing and community/church involvements beginning with Rev. Dawson.	
25:39	JCW’s tenure as full-time Pastor at Mt.. Zion	Rev. Dawson’s involving him, especially in mediation type of roles; presence in community and trust by members; happiest time of his professional life; doing what he wanted to do. 	
Time 
	Questions/Keywords	Summary/Keywords	
27:48	Destiny	Mrs. Wright’s belief in JCW’s eventual prominence  from time of marriage.  Saw her role as a helpmate	
29:54	Contrast to her parents’ partnership	Her mother the ambitious one and her father, although industrious, was led by Mrs. Wright’s mother	
32:29	Her view of her role	He was the one earning money for household; her role to take care of children;  Nor did she have energy to do anything more.  Difficulty after he died adjusting.	
35:04  	Effect of health problems	 Dr. Callaway identification of health problem and how she was always in pain; didn’t affect her too much emotionally.
	
36:20	Reason for going to college?	 Parents’ not educated, but was mother’s decision and drive that led to her attendance at Wilberforce. .  “I want Jackie to rub her head against the college wall”.  Her admonition to parents nowadays – i.e. ….” Not to “rub” their heads, but finish college”.  Believe it was her mother’s wish for herself, not necessarily Mrs. Wright’s wish.  	
39:57	Black teachers coming to Madison	Young teachers from the South and how she became connected. 	
	(phone interruption)		
40:41	Continued discussion re: young teachers from the South	How the teachers interacted with Mrs. Wright; their needs primarily for goods and services familiar to African Americans. 	
43:32	Continued invitations to former Madison residents, visitors and strangers	Families visiting, African students, former residents, etc. Lack of fear in inviting them to stay in her home.	
47:13	Adjustments since JCW’s death	Big adjustment with day to day management of finances and  being responsible for everything.  Learned to do some things, but also given help from church members and community	

Time	Question (Keywords)	Summary (Keywords)
	
50:49	What led to your getting Human Rights Award?	Started after Anthony Brown became EOC Director and community picnics.  Feelings about combining Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunities Commission into single office, Department of Civil Rights. 	
54:31	Anything else?	General feeling of well-being, connection with church and people in the community