Code,501001
Subject,Blanche Kirven
Date,6/15/2010
Interviewer,Michelle Epps 
Abstract,"Blanche Kirven recounts her experience during the Hough Riots. She talks about what incident started the riots. She discusses what it was like for the people stuck within the National Guard barricade and how she helped organize people to keep kids occupied during this time of uncertainty. She discusses how people banded together to change the neighborhood after the riots ended. Mrs. Kriven also briefly mentions that the Hough Riots spilled over into the Glenville neighborhood, but were two separate situations. Mrs. Kriven goes on to describe the Hough Neighborhood before and after the riots. "
Special Notes,
minutes:,1:01:25
0,Introduction
1,"Lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin when she was fifteen. Discusses why her family left Youngstown, Ohio. "
2,Talks about going to college and being exposed to notable African American figures such as Mary McLeod Bethune.
3,Discusses what her experience was after she graduated from college.
4,"When she moved back to Cleveland she applied at the Phyllis Wheatley Association, but soon realized that Jane Edna Hunter was a ""different"" type of person from herself."
5,Went on to apply at the Cleveland Board of Education.
6,"Recounts a story where a child refers to African Americans as ""N*****"" and her response."
7,
8,Stayed with her best friend's parents when she moved to Cleveland.
9,Living on Ansel Road when the Hough Riots took place. She describes the neighborhood prior to the riots.
10,
11,Lived between Wade Park and Chester overlooking Rockefeller Park- the apartment only rented to professionals at this time. 
12,Was married and had children during this time period. Talks about working with a neighborhood center. 
13,"Talks about what happened to start the Hough Riots, mentions whinos were abundant in the neighborhood."
14,"A wino went into the bar to dilute his alcohol to make it last longer. He asked for some water and the bar tender said not to give that ""N*****"" any water. After that the bar was destroyed and the bar tender went belly up."
15,Describes the perimeter the National Guard sectioned off. Talks about needing identification to enter the Hough neighborhood to bring necessities to the people in the neighborhood. 
16,Talks about how the problem became increasingly compounded as the riot continued.
17,Talks about how innovative people can be to make it through adverse situations. Talks about the children in the neighborhood.
18,Discusses how Hough became so overcrowded.
19,Talks about the causes of semi-literacy in the population. 
20,Describes the overflow of the riot into Little Italy and Glenville. 
21,Talks about busing children to different schools as an aftermath of the riot. 
22,Discusses how the younger population resorted to fighting as a way to deal with problems with racial relations. 
23,Talks about Carl and Louis Stokes. 
24,"Talks about Fannie Lewis and her work with ""model cities."""
25,"It is important to show people you are not afraid. There was no place to shop, people stole from the grocery stores and even other people's homes. "
26,There were no jobs and talks about where they got money to survive. 
27,Talks about the neighborhood after the riots.
28,Mentions the Black Panthers and how they became involved in the neighborhood. 
29,
30,"Talks about an attempt to take over a school in the neighborhood after an incident where a teacher called a student a ""N******."" "
31,She called the parents and the intervened to keep the school from being taken over. 
32,Talks about where she shopped prior/during the Hough riots. 
33,Discusses how she was able to recruit parents for field trips and other school activities. 
34,"Talks about the renewal of Hough, becoming a community."
35,Recounts a story of an incident where a child needed to be taken to the hospital.
36,Talks about going to Washington to negotiate for funds for the schools. 
37,Problems getting fresh milk and vegetables in the neighborhood.
38,Discusses helping parents when their welfare checks were stolen.
39,Talks about St. Paul's Episcopal Church setting up libraries for the schools.
40,"Talks about the importance of human kindness and it's effects on changing the community. Talks about ""scare tactics of ethnicity"" being the problem of the city of Cleveland."
41,
42,"Recounts being the only African American in the high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Talks about her neighborhood being a ""backyard neighborhood."""
43,Talks about the National Guard leaving Hough and then moving to Glenville. Recounts a story in which she had to walk Carl Stokes to his door because he was afraid. 
44,Talks about how the riots spilled over into Glenville. Discusses the reaction of the National Guard. 
45,Discusses fears of having black neighbors. 
46,Talks about not being invited to activities that have predominantly white audiences. 
47,Describes how buildings were burnt to the ground. The Ku Klux Klan was involved with the National Guard. 
48,"Talks about how the National Guard came from all over the U.S., including the south where they have KKK sympathies. "
49,"Conversation paused due to interviewee needing to move her car, recording resumes during a conversation between Mrs. Kirven and Mrs. Magri."
50,Talks about going to the Art Museum to see free movies and going to the Health Museum. 
51,Discusses going to the zoo.
52,Talks about the Garden Center and discusses the Cultural Gardens.
53,Discusses the African American garden in the Cultural Gardens. 
54,"Talks about the Cultural Gardens as a ""pacifier"" to keep different ethnic groups happy. "
55,Recounts working with different ethnic groups. 
56,Discusses the Phillis Wheatley Association. 
57,Talks about her daughter attending Camp Mueller and other camps.
58,Discusses her children going to college and moving out of state to work. 
59,
60,
61,End