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Oral history interview with Robbie Moss
- Author / Creator
- Available as
- Physical
- Summary
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Moss discusses the history of the Moss family as part of the African American community in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She describes the experiences of her family and other black and multiethnic families...
Moss discusses the history of the Moss family as part of the African American community in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She describes the experiences of her family and other black and multiethnic families, mentioning race relations and prejudices.
Details
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- Creator
- interviewed by Gretchen Lockett
- Format
- Sound Recordings
- Language
- English
- Contributors
- Publication
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- 1982
- Physical Details
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- 2 audiotape reels (approximately 90 min.) : analog, 3 3/4 ips ; 7 in. + 1 CD, 1 transcript (68 leaves ; 28 cm)
- OCLC
- ocm46388266
- Interviewee incorrectly referred to as Ruby.
- Interview also features unidentified participants.
- TAPE 1 of 2: Robbie Moss explains Moss family background, husband’s grandfather Zacharias Louis Moss established family barbershop on Copeland Avenue, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1859, Robbie Moss, born in Mississippi, 1912, move from southern Illinois to La Crosse, 1930s—Robbie Moss describes her pre-existing regional prejudice and how moving made her rethink it, husband Orby Moss, barber at the family barbershop on Copeland Avenue, La Crosse, Wisconsin, story about Native Americans selling baskets in front of Doerflinger Co. Department Store (est. 1904, 400 Main Street), downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin, adjusting to life in La Crosse, Wisconsin, informal racial segregation, World War Two (1939-1945), experience of black soldiers at Fort McCoy (previously named Camp McCoy, est. 1909), story about a former La Crosse women with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP, est. 1909) who successfully campaigned to have segregation signs removed from 3rd Street in La Crosse, Wisconsin, ca. 1940s—Robbie Moss discusses husband Orby Moss, worked at family barbershop on Copeland Avenue, La Crosse, Wisconsin, lack of diversity in La Crosse, Wisconsin, families of color in La Crosse, the Mosses, the Greens, the Wixes, and the Smiths, ca. 1930s-1980s—Robbie Moss and Linda Lizana discuss growing up in a majority white community compared to moving to a majority white community, Robbie Moss’s sister-in law (Aunt June) was born in La Crosse and moved to Cairo, Illinois, how the racial composition of someone’s hometown shapes their outlook, living in Mississippi, racial discrimination—Linda Lizana, Robbie Moss, and Gretchen Lockett describe raising black children in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Lockett’s story about sons attending La Crosse schools (ca. early 1980s), lack of diversity in La Crosse, Wisconsin—Robbie Moss, Gretchen Lockett, and Linda Lizana discuss backlash against increasing racial diversity in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Cuban immigration to La Crosse, Wisconsin, Mariel Boatlift (1980), Orby Moss, race relations in La Crosse, Wisconsin, black migration to La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1977 strike at La Crosse Telephone Company (est. 1893), prejudice against southern accent in La Crosse, Wisconsin—Linda Lizana and Gretchen Lockett describe Fort McCoy (previously named Camp McCoy, est. 1909), discrimination against blacks in the Job Corps (est. 1964, program providing job training for lower-income Americans) at Fort McCoy—Robbie Moss and Linda Lizana explain various discriminatory situations they have experienced in La Crosse, Wisconsin, including at Ford Hopkins (1936-1962, 328 Main, drugstore and restaurant), personal prejudices—Robbie Moss and Linda Lizana discuss the relationship between blacks and Native Americans in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Native Americans in Black River Falls, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, Linda Lizana attended Viterbo University (est. 1890), La Crosse, Wisconsin—Robbie Moss and Linda Lizana discuss the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP, est. 1909), a Black Methodist Church (unnamed) in La Crosse, Wisconsin, black settlement in Cheyenne Valley, Hillsboro, Wisconsin, Wildcat Mountain State Park, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Waldron family (Orby Moss’s mother’s family)—Robbie Moss, Linda Lizana, and Gretchen Lockett discusses Nathan Hill, Nathan Smith, goals of the interview, research by Dr. George Gilkey (taught history at Wisconsin State College, La Crosse, 1954-1970) on the Cheyenne Valley Settlement, Hillsboro, Wisconsin—Linda Lizana, unidentified female La Crosse native (possibly a student), Robbie Moss, and Gretchen Lockett discuss cultural differences and impressions of racial ignorance in La Crosse, Wisconsin—Robbie Moss, unidentified female student, Linda Lizana, and Gretchen Lockett discuss “mixing in” with the population of La Crosse, Wisconsin, minority student’s experiences of feeling isolated at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Robbie Moss’s granddaughter who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota,—Unidentified female student, Gretchen Lockett, Robbie Moss, and Linda Lizana reflect on questions they have encountered from the local white community, story about stereotyping in Onalaska, Wisconsin, necessity of education—Unidentified white male UW-L student (from Sparta, Wisconsin) tells story about military service during U.S. involvement in Vietnam War (1964-1975), describes his experiences with black roommate —Gretchen Lockett describes her fears about living in La Crosse, Wisconsin, ca. early 1980s—Robbie Moss, Gretchen Lockett, and Linda Lizana discuss progress towards equality in the U.S. South compared to the U.S. North in 1980s, “slick racism” (racism that is hidden under the guise of Northern progressivism)—Gretchen Lockett and Robbie Moss discuss the Mariel Boatlift (1980), discrimination against Cuban immigrants in La Crosse, Wisconsin—Robbie Moss comments on the lack of a Human Rights Commission in La Crosse, Wisconsin, lack of diversity in La Crosse, Wisconsin—Linda Lizana and unidentified female student discuss Lizana’s experience as student at Viterbo University (est. 1890), late 1960s—Unidentified black student tells story about discrimination at Viterbo University (est. 1890), La Crosse, Wisconsin —Gretchen Lockett, Robbie Moss, and Linda Lizana discuss Lillian E. Smith (1897-1966) and her perspective on gender, religion, and race in the U.S. South, St. Luke’s Church United Methodist Church (1858-2013, 1022 Caledonia Street), La Crosse, Wisconsin, creating change in La Crosse, Wisconsin TAPE 2 of 2: Robbie Moss, Linda Lizana, and Gretchen Lockett discuss black women’s experiences in La Crosse, Wisconsin, raising daughters, Viterbo University (est. 1890), La Crosse, Wisconsin, dating experiences of black women, ca. 1969 and 1982—Robbie Moss, Linda Lizana, and Gretchen Lockett describe the growing black community in La Crosse, Wisconsin, difficulties of living in a majority white community —Robbie Moss and Linda Lizana discuss black music, recording artists Peaches and Herb, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Louie Armstrong, boxer Joe Louis (Joseph Louis Barrow, 1914-1981) coming to La Crosse, Wisconsin—Robbie Moss and Gretchen Lockett talk about desolation of the black church in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Caledonia Street Methodist Church (St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 1858-2013, 1022 Caledonia Street) and Lockett’s experience with black churches in Columbia, Missouri—Robbie Moss, an unidentified female guest, and Linda Lizana talk about the employment of blacks in La Crosse, Wisconsin, story about employment discrimination during World War Two (1939-1945), Trane Company (est. 1885, 200 block 6th Street), The National Gauge and Equipment Company (1913-1959, 700 Gillette Street)—Robbie Moss, Linda Lizana, and Gretchen Lockett discuss the difficult early 1980s job market for students in La Crosse, Wisconsin with three unidentified guests (one male, two female), Robbie Moss discusses the many jobs her sons have had— Gretchen Lockett, Robbie Moss, and Linda Lizana describe Lockett’s and Moss’s son’s experiences at summer camp run by the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association, est. 1881), diversity in Lockett’s children’s schools, experiences of Lockett’s children in school, experiences of Robbie Moss’s great grandchildren in La Crosse, Wisconsin schools—Robbie Moss tells a story about her oldest son, discrimination in Racine, Wisconsin, son became an Athletic Director at the University of the District of Columbia (est. 1851)—Gretchen Lockett, Linda Lizana, and Robbie Moss discuss black experiences in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Moss family, Gretchen Lockett describes the experience of being a racial minority in La Crosse with a story about being recognized because of her blackness, experiences living in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Shorter Index: Tape 1 of 1: Ancestry - Escaping racial prejudice - Active in community - Racial segregation in La Crosse, Wisconsin - Lack of diversity - Predominantly Black community vs. predominantly White community - La Crosse African American community - Prejudice of southerners - Experience with racial prejudice - Native Americans - Black church - Racist language, racist place names - Acclimation to new community - Socializing, African Americans - Raising children, La Crosse - Racial Prejudice-Viterbo University - Lillian Smith, religion and race - Church, creating change
- Shorter index: Tape 2 of 2: Raising children, dating- Small African American community - Black music and parties- Fall of Black church, La Crosse- Lack of jobs, prejudice - YMCA camps- Small African American community, negative effects