{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/n00zp3z02z/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Oral history interview with Clara Benson"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/212/original/LOHI_aviarybanner2.jpg?1741032082","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2/28/22"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["Clara Benson, born in the Philippines and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, is an activist who has worked with groups like Girls Rock Charleston, the South Carolina Youth Action Project, and Black Lives Matter Charleston."]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["Copyright Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture"]}},{"label":{"en":["Access Note"]},"value":{"en":["For more information contact the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, 125 Bull Street, Charleston, SC 29424."]}},{"label":{"en":["Access Statement"]},"value":{"en":["All rights reserved."]}},{"label":{"en":["Interviewee"]},"value":{"en":["Benson, Clara"]}},{"label":{"en":["Interviewer"]},"value":{"en":["Brown, Millicent E., 1948-"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject - Topical"]},"value":{"en":["Black lives matter movement","African Americans","Activism","Political participation","Community organization"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject - Personal or Corporate"]},"value":{"en":["dÕBaha, Muhiyidin, 1985-2018","Moye, Muhiyidin, 1985-2018","Scott, Walter, 1965-2015","Curnell, Denzel, 1995-2014","Mother Emanuel AME Church (Charleston, S.C.)","Girls Rock Charleston (Charleston, S.C.)","South Carolina Youth Action Project"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject - Geographic"]},"value":{"en":["Charleston (S.C.)","North Charleston (S.C.)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject - Geographic County"]},"value":{"en":["Charleston County (S.C.)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Contributing Institution"]},"value":{"en":["Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture"]}},{"label":{"en":["Media Type"]},"value":{"en":["Oral Histories"]}},{"label":{"en":["Resource Locator"]},"value":{"en":["AMN 1168.001.009"]}},{"label":{"en":["Digitization Specifications"]},"value":{"en":["Mp4 derivative audio and video created using Davinci Resolve. Archival masters are mp4 files."]}},{"label":{"en":["Date Digital"]},"value":{"en":["2022"]}}],"summary":{"en":["Clara Benson, born in the Philippines and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, is an activist who has worked with groups like Girls Rock Charleston, the South Carolina Youth Action Project, and Black Lives Matter Charleston."]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["Copyright Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Lowcountry Digital Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Lowcountry Digital Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/212/original/LOHI_aviarybanner2.jpg?1741032082","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/291/376/small/clara-benson.mp4_1757954989.jpg?1757954990","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - clara-benson.mp4"]},"duration":2904.191,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/291/376/small/clara-benson.mp4_1757954989.jpg?1757954990","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-cofc.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/291/376/original/clara-benson.mp4?1757954987","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":2904.191,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["clara-benson.docx [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=0.0,0.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nMy name is Clara Benson. I was born in Olongapo City, Philippines. I was raised in Charleston, South Carolina from the age of six, and I'm currently a theologian. I attend Emory's Candler School of Theology, and my work is at the intersection of faith and public health.   \n\n ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=0.0,23.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nOkay, very good. We're glad to have you with us, glad to have you as part of this project. We are zeroing in on a timeframe in Charleston that's being rather broadly defined as 2014 to actually to the present, and we know that some of those years you were still here in Charleston, and we're just interested in hearing from you about the kinds of things that you were involved in. These were pretty heady times, you know? And we'd like to hear from your vantage point how you found yourself involved in the community, and we’ll, we'll dice it up a little bit more later, but might you just sort of start with where you were, say in your development, in the 2014 timeframe? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=23.0,103.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nIn 2014 I was just moving back from Charlotte. I believe I had moved there very briefly for about five or six months. At the time I was a makeup artist and I was in retail management. And I had started to, to get an interest in politics and how it was affect people locally. Of course, this was the era of, you know, what was happening with Trayvon Martin and a lot of these injustices. And especially I would see it on Twitter from people on the ground, and I was very interested in how to like, get into it? Or how to contribute? But I didn't really know how to do that. So I was kind of in that space where I wanted to help, but I wasn't really sure how, and that's kind of where I found myself in 2014. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=103.0,156.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWhich is really, I think rather indicative of a number of young people at that time. You know, they’re hearing about what's going on, and know that they're moved by it, but don't know what to do with it. So, how did you then start making those connections? What, what steps did you find yourself taking? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=156.0,185.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nWell, it was very interesting that I moved back to Charleston the day that Walter Scott was murdered. Either the day of or the day before, and I knew that Black Lives Matter had a presence in Charleston because I knew someone named Mousey, and Mousey was a part of the organization at that time. And so I essentially, I just asked her, I was like, \"Where is the next meeting? I want to show up, I want to do something. I don't know how I can help, but however I can help, I want y'all to use me.\" And so, I ended up going to my first Black Lives Matter meeting, and it was at the port in a large conference room. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=185.0,233.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nI'm sorry. Explain that for us, you said at the fort?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=233.0,237.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nAt the port, like where the Longshoremen meet downtown. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=237.0,243.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nLongshoremen's Association building. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=243.0,245.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nYes ma'am. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=245.0,246.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nOkay. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=246.0,246.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nSo it was in that building and…there was like a media presence, there was a lot of people, because of course it was a hot topic with Walter Scott being murdered. And it seemed like there was a lot of confusion as to what was happening, or what was going to happen, and who was in charge and all of these things. But I introduced myself to Muhiyidin, who seemed like he was a leader at that time, and just kind of got connected. And I told him, \"Keep me in the loop.\" And I just joined in from there. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=246.0,284.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nTalk for a little bit about what you called “the confusion?\" And it's not to be unexpected. It's just— tell us how you perceived what that confusion was all about? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=284.0,304.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nIt felt to me as though, like when you were to go to school and you got a pop quiz and you were unprepared, it seems as though— again, I don't know how long they had been organizing before I got there. I didn't know what the leadership structure was, but I got the feeling that they didn't either. They didn't really have set principles, or a set executive team, or titles, or roles for anyone. And so, they seemed a bit disheveled, and it came across to me as though, maybe you guys need help organizing your organization. Which, you know, I guess that happens. But that's the way that it came across to me. Is that it was just, nobody really knew what they were doing, everybody was just all hands in the pot.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=304.0,359.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWere there others in the room, if you will, like yourself who were showing up out of curiosity? Out of just concern? Were there other people coming in, like you, just kind of moved by this tragedy? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=359.0,383.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nYeah, there were a lot of people who were coming in and moved by it. But they were coming in, I think because they wanted answers, and they wanted to be led, not necessarily to be a part of the problem solving. They wanted to know, \"What are you going to do about it?” I— I'm not sure if that was very helpful, but people seemed to be coming because they wanted answers. And, you know, nobody had answers. And throughout my experience with— you know as the Black Lives Matter meetings continued, there were less and less people because it seemed like they were dissatisfied with the fact that we didn't know what to do, or— and we had no answers to give them. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=383.0,429.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nInteresting. For those of you who stuck with it and showed up repeatedly, even if the group got smaller, what then, what then evolved? Did the confusion settle down at all? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=429.0,450.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nIn my experience, no. It didn't. There was still no structure to what was happening. It was extremely disorganized. I think it was well-meaning people, but well-meaning people without a direction and purpose, it's just confusion. So, in my experience, no. It didn't get any better. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=450.0,480.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nSo, are you saying that people then started just sort of doing their own thing? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=480.0,490.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nYeah, and it was— it’s like doing a group project without having defined roles. Two people are doing the same thing, and don't realize that they're doing it, and now you have confusion in that, and then there's people who are going to meetings or being in front of the press, and nobody's aware of what's being said or why it's being said. So it was just, a lot of just confusion. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=490.0,519.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nYou must have learned a lot about what not to do? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=519.0,526.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nYes, yes. It was a primer on how not to organize, for sure. Yeah. [Laughter]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=526.0,533.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nSo- ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=533.0,536.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nIt was- ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=536.0,538.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nI'm sorry, go ahead. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=538.0,542.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSONI think for me it was— there was no set foundation. That's what it seemed as though, I mean, even down to the fact that they were using the Black Lives Matter name, but they had no idea who the founders were. They didn't know what the guiding principals of Black Lives Matter were. They couldn't tell you, they couldn't tell you, they had no idea. And so it was very easy for there to be confusion when you're going under a name that you have no idea what it even stands for, which made it easy for others to come in from the outside and add to the confusion. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=542.0,583.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nSo, what did you then decide to do? I mean, you’re, you’re concerned, you're interested, you want to support, but then you're aware that it's kind of muddled. What strategies then did you take? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=583.0,601.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nI just told him, \"This is my skillset. I'm good with words. I can help you to craft emails or get flyers or whatever it is.\" I was like, \"But I'm here to just lend what I have to whatever y'all need.\" But there wasn't really a defined need. So, it was just constantly changing. So sometimes it was driving Muhiyidin places, or just going to city council meetings and— or going to protest. It was very all over the place for me. So essentially I just, I lended myself however I could get in because I just, I wanted to be of service. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=601.0,656.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nAnd it's understandable that there was a frustration on your part because it was not better organized. But let me just say, showing up at city council meetings is still showing up, or showing up at a demonstration is still showing up. Can you tell us a little bit of your experiences in either of those kinds of spaces? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=656.0,686.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nSure. I had never protested before. I had never been to a city council meeting. So, all of those were brand new experiences for me, it was scary. And I'm not sure what word I should use. It wasn't pleasant. It wasn't a pleasant experience, because I quickly realized that the people who were in charge, City Council and the politicians and even other activists, like seasoned activists, they didn't take us seriously. They kind of laughed us off, and that didn't feel good either. And protesting without any kind of plan for like, \"What if we get arrested? Like, what do we do? Who do we call?\" All of that, because it was so disorganized, it was very scary for me. But I still showed up and I just prayed that nobody got arrested or hurt, to be honest. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=686.0,766.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nTell us a little bit about those interactions let's say with the political structure at City Council meeting, even if somewhat ill defined, what were the activists saying to city council members? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=766.0,789.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nWe wanted an oversight board. We wanted police accountability. We wanted a civilian oversight of the police to be able to say that we don't want this police person who has a history of abuse to be policing our neighborhoods. City Council did not want to do that at all. At all. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=789.0,815.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nI'm sorry. Sorry, Clara, I'm sorry. I just realized, are we talking North Charleston City Council? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=815.0,822.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nNorth Charleston, yes. Yes, ma'am, it was North Charleston. And I remember that after that first meeting, I remember that Muhiyidin stood up and told the mayor that his time was up, and he had to be escorted out. That was a time. But, also I remember the North Charleston police followed me home after that. And I lived in West Ashley on a dead end street. And so it was very obvious that they had followed me home, and it was very intimidating because it was just something I wasn't prepared for. I thought that being involved civically was something that should be done. And so I didn't expect the kind of repercussions that came from that. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=822.0,877.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nMore part of your learning curve, I guess? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=877.0,882.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nYeah, unfortunately. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=882.0,885.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nDo you remember what the responses were specifically from council members and other political figures? I mean, was— did they engage the issues at all, or did they just say, \"Y'all, get out of here?\" ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=885.0,905.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nI know that people had time to speak. I don't remember, I think it's two or three minutes were the public was allowed to give their comments. I don't remember exactly what was said. I don't remember exactly what they said. There's a lot that I don't remember about that time, I think I blocked it out. But I remember it wasn't helpful and there wasn't really any interest in a solution. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=905.0,938.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nTalk a little bit, then, about outside of those structures, are the crowds building when demonstrations are held? Are more people, different people joining in? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=938.0,957.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nThere were less people every time. After the murder of Walter Scott, people seemed galvanized, they wanted to express their outrage and they wanted to do something. But over time there was just a handful of us. Yeah, it was pretty much the same people every time. And if something were to happen, like there was a shooting downtown or something of that nature, people would come out initially, but then it would taper off to the same people. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=957.0,996.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nSo then let's talk about your reaction to all that. You're showing up, you're being supportive, you're taking care of what's yours and assignments that you feel you can handle. What then happens as time goes on? After Walter Scott there will be other instances and ultimately we get to Emmanuel. Can you just take us fast forward a little bit? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=996.0,1027.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nSure. I started becoming a little bit bitter. Because I didn't feel as though I was being supported by the people I was trying to support. As far as the group I was trying to organize with, I had started organizing with groups from project south. I had started organizing and being in contact with people who worked at Highlander, the Highlander Center in Tennessee. And I realized I was like, they're principled organizers. And that was something that I was realizing that my current group was lacking. And so as I learned, I was doing my best to articulate that and to try to make us better and they were not interested, so that wasn't great. \n\nAnd I think it really came to a head when Emmanuel, when the Emmanuel shooting happened. Because I lived in Ashleyville, so I was five minutes away. I remember picking up Muhiyidin. I drove to North Charleston to grab him and go down there. So within 30 or 40 minutes of it happening, he and I, we were on the street. And to make a long story short, I realized in that moment that the people that I was organizing with him for, they really did not care about me. And it didn't seem like they cared about women in general. There was no sense of protection, because at the time Dylann Roof hadn't been caught. It's hot. It is extremely hot. Most of us had been out there since it happened and we were out there until 2, 3:00 AM, and people were dehydrated. So I said, \"Well, maybe someone should get water.\" And they said, \"Yeah, you can go do it.\" \n\nAnd so, thankfully another organizer, Brandon, a Jewish man said, \"Well, I'll walk with you.\" Because at the time there were no lights on downtown. They had turned out all of the lights. And so I walked to the CVS by College of Charleston and bought as many bottles of water that I could to bring it back. And I remember all of the men just taking the water out of my hands and then they left. And I remember I was just standing there like, \"Wow, okay, thank you.\" \n\nAnd when it came time, I started having a panic attack and I said, \"Well, I have to go to the hospital.\" No one walked me to my car and it was dark. My car was blocks away. And I remember thinking in that moment, I was like, \"I can't do this anymore.\" I'm giving a whole lot. I don't feel like I'm getting any support. I don't feel like people are actually caring about me outside of what I'm giving to them. And that was an issue for me. And so that was kind of the end was near for me, as far as organizing was concerned. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1027.0,1246.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWere there other, especially women who were expressing the same thing to you that they were going through, some of the same reactions? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1246.0,1258.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nThere were a couple, at least within our group. We were doing the bulk of the work as far as actual intellectual labor or being places and doing things. We were doing that. And we weren't being credited. We weren't being supported. I remember we got like $10,000 in donations after, I think, was it a Walter Scott or Emanuel? I'm not sure which one, but we had gotten influx of donations from people on the internet wanting to support. And I remember asking, I was like, \"Do you think that we could get gas cards or something?\" I'm not asking for a salary. I'm just wondering if we can have gas cards, we're going all over the county. And they said, \"No.\" The men were like, \"No.\" And so I believe they bought cameras so that they could watch the police. \n\nAnd I remember there was a pair of glasses that had a camera in it that was bought. Instead of allotting a $100, $200 to make sure that we were okay, they decided to get cameras with the donation money. So it was little like, maybe that's not little, but things like that, I think really showed us where the priorities were and that we were not important unless we were performing labor for them. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1258.0,1354.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nAnd you say that was about it for you as far as the organizing part, you then went on to do what? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1354.0,1367.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nI then went on to organize with Girls Rock Charleston with their summer after school program that they did on the east side, which was amazing. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1367.0,1379.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nTell us a little bit about that? Why don't you tell us a little bit about that? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1379.0,1382.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nSure, so it was a after school program. We ran it on the east side of Downtown Charleston. It was for black, primarily black girls, focused on black girls and trans girls, queer youth, I believe from the ages of 13 to 16. And essentially what we did was we taught them organizing. We taught them political education and music education. They formed their own bands. They were able to write their own music. And at the end of the summer they performed that music for their community. They learned how to do different kind of arts. Some people learned how to knit. Some people, they painted or whatever it was, they learned how to screen print T-shirts, sell their own merchandise, things like that. So it was a very rewarding experience for me. It was challenging, but it felt like it was very rewarding as well. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1382.0,1448.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nAnd Girls Rock is being supported by who? Was it- ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1448.0,1459.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nThat's a good question. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1459.0,1460.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWas it an outgrowth of some other organization? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1460.0,1465.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nNot to my knowledge. Well, Girls Rock Charleston was part of the Girls Rock kind of family. So there were other Girls Rock camps across America, but I believe now they're called the South Carolina Youth Action Project. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1465.0,1483.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nSo this spoke certainly more to your spirit in terms of your needs for some kind of centralized structure, a sense of organization, if you will? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1483.0,1499.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/54","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nYeah. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1499.0,1501.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/55","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWhat's going on- ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1501.0,1502.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/56","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nI met my mentor. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1502.0,1505.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/57","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nI'm sorry, go ahead. You met your ... ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1505.0,1508.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/58","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nI met my mentor during all this, Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson. She at the time was with Project South. And right now I think she's the executive director at Highlander. I met her along with people like Maurice Mitchell and Thenjiwe Harris at probably my second Black Lives Matter meeting, because they had come to support and I latched onto them. And so by this time that I was working with Girls Rock, I was doing my best to learn everything that I could from them, so that I could be a better organizer. But I realized that I had a lot of, I think healing to do from my experience and I needed to take a step back, because I wasn't going to be productive. And I also, I couldn't make a living. I wasn't able to pay my bills with all of this community work that I was doing. And so I kind of had to take a step back and figure out what it was that I needed and how I could contribute while also filling my own cup first. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1508.0,1581.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/59","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nI'm certain that the participants in Girls Rock Charleston got a lot out of those experiences. To what extent do you think it had any lasting impact or continued to have lasting impact in the Charleston community? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1581.0,1606.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/60","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nIt's my hope that the participants at the very least realize that there were people who cared about them. And more, not just what they could do, but for who they were as people. And I hope that they took that sense of being valued into other areas of their life. I hope that they're taking that with them. I'm not really sure what the lasting impact outside of the participants would be. But I do believe that they at the very least felt heard, they felt seen, and they were valued and they become organizers or anything like that. I do believe that that will have a lasting impact, no matter what they do. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1606.0,1660.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/61","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWell, certainly they were introduced to the concept of advocacy? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1660.0,1666.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/62","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nAbsolutely. I don't, I think that they knew about it before, but I think that we helped them get language to express it. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1666.0,1679.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/63","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nLet me ask you, because you did spend from your early youth time in Charleston. Help us understand what you think the dynamics were at this time? There's been Denzel Curnell murder. There's been Walter Scott. There's been Emanuel. There's been the flag controversy. I mean, there's been this demand for police accountability. You’re viewing, a lot of things ramping up in Charleston, give us, be philosophical for a minute, tell us about a community that's being faced with these kinds of challenges? Who's in, who's out, who's paying attention, who's not? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1679.0,1740.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/64","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nI think everyone is paying attention. Whether or not they're acting on what they see in a way that's visible is another thing. I think that there are definitely people that are invested in the white power structure in Charleston, whether or not they're white or black or anything. People in Charleston are tired. Black folks in Charleston are tired. I think they've been tired. And so I definitely don't judge anyone for not taking action, being in the streets and doing these things. People have to make a living. They have to live in those communities. And I definitely understand that, but I think that people are just tired and they want to be able to leave a life as peacefully as possible. And I think that that has led to a lot of this pacification that you see in Charleston, especially after the major tragedies, people are angry, but it's just something that happens. What can we do about it? And they'll bring up the time like, \"Remember when we tried to go and do such and such and they shot us down? Almost lost my job over that. I can't do that anymore.\" \n\nPeople are just tired and they want to be able to live a life as peacefully as possible. And it seems as though, especially the black community in Charleston, most people aren't inclined to fight back at this point. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1740.0,1859.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/65","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nYou find that to be different from other cities you've lived in? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1859.0,1868.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/66","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nA little bit. Charleston is different and I'm not sure if I can put my finger on why. I don't know if it's because we're so nice, or because we're so hospitable or anything like that. I've lived in Orlando. I've lived in Charlotte, I've lived in Raleigh, Durham. And people there are not afraid to say what's on their mind. They're not afraid to make waves if they want to make waves mostly. And it's not like that in Charleston, at least from my experience. Because even if you started out like that, I don't think that you stay that way. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1868.0,1915.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/67","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nHow old were you when you left the area? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1915.0,1922.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/68","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nI was 20— 24, 23, somewhere around there. Early 20’s, yeah. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1922.0,1941.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/69","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nAnd I'm just curious about having had those experiences here. Do you have any thoughts of returning to the area? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1941.0,1954.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/70","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nNo. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1954.0,1956.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/71","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nYeah. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1956.0,1958.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/72","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nCharleston is— not only because of that, but Charleston has just changed. It has so violently changed that every time I go home, barely recognize where I am. And there are less and less people that look like me, that look like family. And it does not feel the same. There's no downtown Charleston without black folks. There are barely any black folks in downtown Charleston. So I really don't have any want to be back there. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1958.0,1997.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/73","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWhat about the growing, well not only larger population, but the seemingly more vibrant population of North Charleston? Is there anything attractive or attracting about this North Charleston that is to be the largest city in the state? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=1997.0,2027.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/74","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nNo, no, not at all, because I lived in North Charleston briefly before I left Charleston. The Charleston area and the way that black folks are being pushed out of North Charleston, the way that poor folks are being pushed out of North Charleston, I have no interest. And also the traffic is absolutely terrible. There's no way. If I wanted to pay that much to live somewhere with that kind of traffic, I would go to a major city that had better infrastructure. So there's nothing about North Charleston that attracts me, except for the black folks. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2027.0,2074.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/75","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nSo you check in every once in a while? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2074.0,2078.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/76","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nYeah, I'll check in and I'll go buy Nigel's and Black Diamond Lounge and Blue Note or wherever it is that my friends are bartending. And I'll pop in every once in a while, just to say hi, but it's a day trip. It makes me sad to be there. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2078.0,2099.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/77","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nAnd we really appreciate your honesty with that, because obviously for this project we're talking to a number of people who are still committed to the area. But I think it's important to hear from people like you who say, \"I think I have to take my talents elsewhere.\" ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2099.0,2121.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/78","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nYeah, I equate it to heartbreak. I feel like Charleston has really broken my heart in a lot of ways. It's like I love it so much that I would love to be of service, but I have to be of service from farther away. I have to love Charleston from farther away. And I definitely commend anyone who stays and fights and works there, because they need good people. I'm just not one of those people, unfortunately. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2121.0,2153.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/79","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWell, your honesty is important. We've been saying to some of our other interviewees, well, two things. What is it that you want someone hearing your words down the line, years from now, young people or people period, who want to know of the thinking of this timeframe of this period in a city that has been experiencing so much and getting a lot of national attention for it? What are the kinds of sentiments that you would like to leave for the record that you have this opportunity really to document? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2153.0,2220.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/80","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nThey're never as alone as they think that they are in organizing spaces. That they're elders. And even if we don't know who they are, it's our duty to find them and to learn from them so that we don't repeat mistakes. That was one of my biggest takeaways from this. And I think that the sentiment was that even though we may have been a little disorganized, we were very earnest and everyone didn't get along, but we all wanted liberation. And so, like a dysfunctional family, we could only go as far as we could go with what we had. But it doesn't mean that we didn't care. We definitely were there because we truly believed that we could make a change. And I think if we were better equipped, we could have made a lot more headway than we did. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2220.0,2290.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/81","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nI'm wondering, you mentioned the fact that you're never alone and that there are elders, if you will, who are there for you. To what extent do you think your peers reached out to older heads, if you will? I won't say older and wiser, but I will say others who were perhaps more experienced? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2290.0,2326.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/82","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nTo my knowledge I don't think that they did. I do remember that there were a few times where we tried organizing with people who were a part of maybe the NAACP and things of that nature, but it didn't seem like our politics aligned. I think we were a bit too radical, and so that didn't work out. But as far as I know, there was nobody reaching out to elders. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2326.0,2354.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/83","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nOr reaching out to youth? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2354.0,2358.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/84","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nOr reaching out to youth, yeah. I didn't know of anyone in the area who was older who had done the work. I know that my grandfather was kind of on the outskirts of movement. He knew a lot of people, he frequented the Avery and he was involved with the local organizing council of elders and things of that nature. But even though he was my grandfather, I didn't even consider that he was somebody that I should have reached out to about things like this. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2358.0,2402.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/85","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nIf you were either writing a primer on this, or if you were in a situation where you were asked to do some of this same organizing work again, what are the things that would be done differently? What would help with that chaotic situation that you found yourself in? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2402.0,2435.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/86","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nFind your lane and stay in it. We all have many talents. Just because I can bake a pound cake it doesn't mean that I have to bake cakes for the entire hood. I have to find my lane in this work, which sometimes takes time. But, you figure out what you do, what you can do well and what you can do sustainably, and you do that. It helps you. It helps the community you serve because you're not over giving, you're not overexerting yourself. And you're giving the best of what you have. And so finding your lane and staying in it and allowing other people to occupy lanes, you don't have to do everything. I don't need my doctor changing my tire. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2435.0,2491.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/87","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWhat about this concept of service to community? Because you said you found that with all the disagreements you felt that people were earnest. Is there a way to teach earnestness to peers and those coming behind you? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2491.0,2520.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/88","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nTo teach earnestness? That's a good question. Just to show up, ready to do the work. To show up for the right reasons. Not to be seen, but because you want to be of service to people. Kind of checking your ego at the door, because when you go into this work, you realize it's not about you. And we also realize that the things that we fight for, we may never see, it may be our children. So you're in it for the long haul. So really being honest about why you're there, honest with yourself and honest with the people that you want to organize with, I think is a great way to begin that journey, to really being earnest about what it is that you say you want to do. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2520.0,2580.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/89","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nIs that a strategy that you would imagine can be used in the future when it comes to commitment to community development or whatever? I mean, is there a place for saying what you just said on the front end? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2580.0,2605.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/90","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nHmm, I would hope so. I would hope so, but I also understand that this is a very, I don't want to say popular. What's the word? This is a very easy way to get media attention is to be radical in this kind of way. And so I think it can be very attractive to people who do have egos, who do want to be seen. And so I would hope that in the future we would have many earnest people willing to work across the table and work with each other, not necessarily worried about themselves, but really putting the community first. But, I also recognize that the people that are attracted to this kind of light may not always be those kind \n\nof people. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2605.0,2666.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/91","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nYou were very specific about the conflicts, the gender conflicts that you saw, experienced and whatever. To what extent do you have hope or some kind of faith that that is being grappled with within the black liberation movement? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2666.0,2696.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/92","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nI think we're better poised today to address it than maybe we were 30 years ago. Women's liberation in general is a lot more talked about. Feminism and womanism is a lot more talked about, so it's not as taboo, it's not as strange. And so I do think that we're better poised now to address those kinds of things, without it being a subject that's going to be blown out of proportion or something that's going to end relationships and destroy organizations the way that I believe that it has a lot of times in the past. So I think that we're way better poised now to make those kinds of changes going forward. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2696.0,2751.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/93","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nWhat are you most hopeful about or feeling most optimistic about these days with the continued work that you're doing? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2751.0,2762.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/94","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nMan, I have hope in these kids, the generations behind me, I get so excited because these kids- ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2762.0,2772.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/95","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nYou are all of how much now, how old now? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2772.0,2777.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/96","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nI'm about to be 34. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2777.0,2779.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/97","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  MILLICENT BROWN\n\nOkay, go ahead. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2779.0,2784.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/98","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"  CLARA BENSON\n\nBut the world has changed so much. Even from the time where I was in high school I didn't even know any gay people. I had never seen an outwardly feminine man. So when you think about how much the world has changed since the year 2000 and how this new generation has come up with access to a lot of things that we did not have. A lot of things that we took for granted. I'm very excited for the young of people that are coming up behind us. I think that they are our greatest hope, to be honest. It gives me a lot of joy to see them just advocating for themselves, advocating for their peers. So yeah, that brings me a lot of hope. \n\nMILLICENT BROWN","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2784.0,2836.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/99","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":" \n\nOkay. Is there anything else that you'd like to say as we close out that you want to have on the record for a Charleston oral history project that may be heard in the future? What are your last thoughts that you would like to leave with us? \n\nCLARA BENSON","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2836.0,2866.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376/transcript/84159/annotation/100","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":" \n\nThat organizing is a marathon and not a sprint. That organizing is something that can be done in any lane, in any profession. Liberation work can be done, no matter if you are in healthcare, if you're in the military, it doesn't matter. There's always work for us. There's always liberation work for us to do. And so I hope that in the future, and even now that people take that into consideration, especially when the question is raised, \"What can I do to help my community?\" There's always something that can be done. \n\n  ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3440/collection_resources/160064/file/291376#t=2866.0,2904.191"}]}]}]}