Code,999148
Subject,Cynthia Harris Allen
Date,9/29/2018
Interviewer,"Mark Souther, Toni Berry"
Abstract,Cynthia Harris-Allen talks about growing up in the Mt. Pleasant area of Cleveland Ohio.
Tags,"Literary Cleveland, Mt. Pleasant, Cleveland, Shaker Square"
Special Notes,
minutes:,
0,Intro. Cynthia Harris-Allen born 1946; grew up in Mt. Pleasant on E. 132nd st.; six siblings; Her mother was a stay at home mom.
1,"Father was a bricklayer, discusses his work, mentions he was one of the 1st African Americans in the Bricklaying Union."
2,Contiunes discusses father's work; talks about subtle [racial] resistance.
3,More discussion of black builders; Talks about living in a two family home.
4,"Mentions her aunt and uncle lived upstairs, there was about 10 kids in the house; mentions the neighborhood was about 70% white, 30% black at the time; had an idyllic childhood; Attended Robert Fulton Elementary, Alexander Hamilton Junior High, John Adams High school; mentions Lafayette school."
5,"Talks about Shaker Square- ""our hangout""; Reiterates carefree childhood, mentions riding the bus alone at 6 or 7 years old; Mentions Dairy Delite."
6,"Mentions the Mt. Pleasant Library, says the area used to be full [of businesses, etc.]; Talks about the Shaker Square Colony Theater."
7,"Mentions ""they didn't know what they would face when the got older""."
8,Mentions ethnically diverse store in the immediate area; Talks about father's music.
9,Mentions of the jazz band.
10,cont.
11,cont.
12,[11:50] Talks about going trick or treating in Shaker Heights.
13,Mentions Bicycle Jungle; [13:39] Talks about changes in the 60's- Brown vs. the Board of Education.
14,cont.
15,cont.
16,"Mentioned brother who died 2 years ago, ""Jer"" story; ""Black white people""."
17,Talks about the advent of civil rights.
18,"Went to college for about 6 weeks, was bored; went to work in finance and insurance; owned a craft store on 139th and Cedar."
19,Talks about being a volunteer tutor; wrote a book- The Cricket Cries.
20,Talks about childrens books; talks about working at Bank of America 2004-2008.
21,cont.
22,"Returned to education, enrolled at Tri-C at age 62."
23,[interviwer change] Lives in South Euclid now; left area at 22; did come back to area to visit; mentions her old house is gone.
24,[interviewer changes back] 130th- Dairy Delite memories.
25,cont.
26,cont.
27,Mentions skating rink at Woodhill Park; Luke Easter basketball players.
28,"Reiterates that ""we laughed more than we cried"" growing up."
29,"Mentions being ""shielded"" as a child."
30,end.