Themes:
Subjects:
Ruthie Smith-Wilkes, Willie Mae Smith, Thurman Smith
Date of Creation or Publication:
8/4/2022
Creator
Meda Okelo
Donor
Ruthie Smith-Wilkes
Willie Mae Smith
Thurman Smith
Language
English
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Interview of Thurman Smith, his wife Willie Mae and their daughter Ruthie Smith-Wilkes by Meda Okelo. Topics include: growing up in Arkansas; migration from Arkansas to East Palo Alto arriving in 1959; East Palo Alto in 1959; starting a hauling business; raising children in the 60’s; economic development in the 60’s; buying a house in 1966; working construction at Stanford University; community activities in the 60’s and 70’s including involvement in the Neighborhood Watch Club; working with Omowale Satterwhite at Community Development Institute (CDI) to give kids purpose and get them off street corners; working with Clinton Windom and the youth doing landscaping at CDI; Mrs. Smith working as elevator operator at a hotel; vision for East Palo Alto in 50 years; and other topics.