| Description | An interview with Marcia GREGORY, a single woman with no children, who is a Visiting lecturer, born in Birmingham and now living in Birmingham. Marcia GREGORY’s father was a Retired baker, born in Jamaica and her mother a Clerical work born in Jamaica. Abriged transcipt is as follows:
'MARCIA GREGORY MS2255/2/103 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
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My name is Marcia Gregory. My date of birth is 7/2/1967 and I was born in Birmingham. Has 3 sisters
48” I went to Hobmoor Primary School….I was one of two black families who attended that school….even from schoolkids of that age I did get the name calling and it was at primary school that I witnessed my first racial incident….
2.07 Enjoyed school but always considered too quiet and timid.
2.41 A particular teacher helped Marcia to develop at Oldknow School in Small Heath, which no longer exists.
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Story about the teacher.
1.10 Describes playing in the area where she lived.
1.48 I would say that I was a latchkey kid….because both my parents had to work….
2.30 I wasn’t born in South Yardley, I was born in Handsworth….I came to South Yardley when I was 5…
3.30 Reflects on changes in South Yardley.
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Continues to describe South Yardley.
1.45 My parents are from Jamaica…. Wants to find out more about her parents' history. Father was a baker for many years. Came over to England in the 1950s.
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In 1980 I hadn’t been allowed to go to town on my own because it was deemed too violent…so when I finally did it was a scary experience…Describes the experience.
1.40 Describes the school youth club. Breakdancing.
4.27 Describes school uniform.
05
Continues to describe school uniform. Story about buying shoes as a child.
50” Feels that she was a doormat at school running errands for friends.
1.50 I remember another play we did was Rama and Sita….I suppose that was my first acting experience….
2.36 Auditioning for the Birmingham Youth Theatre.
3.48 Describes the Youth Theatre in the mid 80s.
06
Continues to describe being in the Youth Theatre.
45” I left school when I was 16.
1.00 Not impressed by the school sixth form so decided to go elsewhere.
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I went to a sixth form college but I didn’t stay there….I had a habit of studying for 2 years, not taking the exam and then moving again…I was a capable student, I just didn’t have the courage to take the exams at the end because I thought I would fail…..I did that from when I was 16 to 19…
1.05 Becoming involved in sports at the age of 19. I was the ambassador of women for weight training….
3.26 Describes signing on at the dole office.
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Birmingham Youth Theatre has now disbanded.
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When I was 14 or 15 I was going into clubs where you had to be 21 and over…Back then it was called The Powerhouse… Describes the club scene.
4.29 Borrowed mother’s clothes occasionally to go out at night.
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1.06 Contrasts clubbing then with the present day.
1.58 Wasn’t aware of a drug culture in the mid 80s.
3.45 Felt comfortable going out at night in the 80s.
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Describes Hurst Street.
1.15 There was a scheme called the YTS Youth Training Scheme….I was on the adult version….to learn how to type, use a computer…and I’m forever grateful….5 days a week….
2.40 Found a job in Smethwick doing clerical work.
4.10 Attended a local college or 2 years doing Media studies and English.
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Went to Derby University.
I’m one of these people who’d always seen university for brainy people…I was convinced I didn’t have any….I got in through clearing… Details what clearing involves.
1.59 I went on a course called Visual Cultures…it was pure coursework… Describes the course content.
3.30 Type of students who attended Derby University. The difficulties of being a mature student.
4.37 It was rough being at university…What I suppose you’d call middle-class people….
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Story about fellow student’s racist views.
47” On my course I was the only black…. How the tutors dealt with black issues.
3.57 Story about encountering a group of men in the street who dressed as skinheads.
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Continues....
1.00 Student accommodation at university.
3.12 I moved above a hairdresser’s shop…I overheard the husband tell his wife he wasn’t happy with a black person living there….
15
University course trip to Barcelona where she discovered the Black Madonna.
1.16 I haven’t got religious beliefs as such…. Describes the church attended as a child.
3.13 As I’ve got older I’ve seen the atrocities carried out in the name of religion and I can’t quite get my head around it…Do I believe there’s someone up there? If I do she’s female….
4.46 I’ve always been one of these people concerned about equality….
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Reflects on beliefs and how she became politicised at university.
1.39 When I finished university and came back to Birmingham, one of the first things I did was to enrol myself on a black history course at Handsworth College….I graduated in 1995….I should’ve been taught this at school…. Describes the course.
3.38 Joined a writer’s group. Performed poetry at Central Library, MAC….
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50” Involved in RSL Broadcast as a volunteer. Presented an article on Winson Green.
3.31 Has taken up playing the saxophone.
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I come under the title of VT which is a visiting lecturer…. Details different courses taught and the satisfaction of teaching.
4.30 Story about a film seen at the Electric Cinema about death and memories.
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Continues…...
1.15 Reflects on relationships.
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I don’t have that maternal instinct…
29” I’ve got a bee in my bonnet about mobile phones. I must be the only person who doesn’t have one…..Gives reasons why she doesn’t want to own one.
2.14 I’m getting into computers…I’m a bit annoyed that at school girls were not encouraged…. Completed computer courses. Uses email.
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Political views regarding being a black woman.
2.25 Stereotypes about black women.
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58” Story about shopping.
1.46 Story about being on a bus the day the Stephen Lawrence report was published.
3.51 Views on Birmingham.
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Black History Month…if that’s the best they can do I’m not impressed….it’s like a token gesture….
Would like to write a short story and be published.
ENDS. |