Joan Trumpauer Mulholland
The
“She Stood for Freedom” Interview
with
Kam Williams
Legendary
Civil Rights Icon Reflects upon the Past as Prologue
During the 1960s, Joan attended many demonstrations and sit-ins, she protested at a Woolworth's lunch counter, and she participated in several organized marches, including the March on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Though she was threatened, arrested, and mocked, she held true to her promise to make the world a better place for everyone. "Anyone can make a difference," she says. "It doesn't matter how old or young you are. Find a problem, get some friends together, and go fix it. Remember, you don't have to change the world...just change your world."
Here, Joan talks about “She Stood for Freedom,” an illustrated biography about her co-written by her son Loki and Angela Fairwell.
Kam
Williams: Hi
Joan, thanks for the interview. I want to begin by thanking you for
your commitment to the Civil Rights Movement and for the sacrifices
you made, risking not only your education and career, but life and
limb.
Joan
Trumpauer Mulholland:
Thank
you, Kam.
KW:
How
does it feel to have your son, Loki, write a book about you?
JTM:
It's
his project, and I'm in a supporting role for his efforts to reach
young people about what has gone before and to inspire them to shape
a better future. What is past is prologue.
KW:
What
message do you hope people will take away from it?
JTM:
That
they, too, can make a difference.
KW:
What first interested you in the Civil Rights Movement?
JTM:
I'd
realized since grade school that segregation and prejudice were
wrong. This was students my age trying to peacefully change things.
KW:
Do you
think you might have been a little naive about how difficult it would
be to change the minds of white Southerners
JTM:
No.
I AM a white Southerner--these were my people. I'd grown up amongst
them. I knew how they felt.
KW:
How
hard was it for you to adhere to SNCC, Dr. King and Gandhi's
philosophy of non-violence in the face of the hostility with which
you were met?
JTM:
Non-violence
was a no-brainer, in keeping with Christianity..."Turn the other
cheek," "Love thy neighbor," etcetera. And I'm a
Christian. Besides, if you fought back, you were hopelessly
outnumbered and could be arrested for assault and battery.
KW:
How did
you feel when you were imprisoned on Death Row in Mississippi?
JTM:
Death
Row had great intimidation value, and the guards made sure you knew
you were at their mercy--no reporters, lawyers only up from Jackson
once a week, and so forth. On the other hand, it was certainly
roomier, cleaner, more comfortable than the Hinds County Jail, and
the food was better.
KW:
What
was it like being white but attending a black college and pledging a
black sorority?
JTM:
I
was always a "minority," so college was nothing new. At
first, some of the students were a bit uncertain about me, but when I
returned for the second, I was just one of the crowd. Had to eat that
old cafeteria food and study like everyone else.
KW:
Who
loved you unconditionally during your formative years?
JTM:
My
grandmothers.
KW:
AALBC.com
founder Troy Johnson asks: What was the last book you read?
JTM:
Almost
finished Vilhalmur Stefansson's 1942 book, "Greenland."
KW:
What is your favorite dish to cook?
JTM:
Red
beans and rice. My five sons would ALWAYS eat it, and some still ask
for it when they come to visit.
KW:
What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your
footsteps?
JTM:
Pick
your issue, find a few like-minded folk, and just DO
IT--non-violently.
KW:
Thanks
again for the time, Joan, and congratulations again on “She Stood
for Freedom.”
JTM:
My
pleasure, Kam.
To
order a copy of “She Stood for Freedom,” visit:
To
order a copy of “She Stood for Freedom,” picture book edition for
ages 4 to 8, visit:
No comments:
Post a Comment