Interview with Michael Middlebrooks, April 19, 2022

Partial Transcript: Ok, today I am here with Mr. Michael Middlebrooks. Did I pronounce your name correctly?

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks is introduced and thanked for participating in the Oral History Project

Partial Transcript: What I'd like for you to start off telling me about is a little bit about yourself. Where you were born, name, parents, family and then we'll get to uh other things a little later.

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks lists the schools that he has attended throughout his life and mentions his work at Georgia Power. He also briefly recalls when schools integrated.

Keywords: Athens Technical College; Burney-Harris High School; Busing; Cedar Shoals High School; H.T. Edwards; Hilsman Middle School; Integration; Lyons Middle School; Oconee Street School; Rezoning; Springfield Massachusetts; University of Georgia

Partial Transcript: Um give me some events that happened from elementary school and then bring it on up.

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks discusses his early struggles in elementary school and being classified as illiterate because he disliked reading out loud. He then details the disparities between resources provided to Black and integrated schools as well as the effects of rezoning on his school placement.

Keywords: East Athens Elementary School; Hilsman Middle School; Integration

Partial Transcript: So, was it kind of equal then or were you still one of the minorities?

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks recalls his expulsion after not attending school because of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He mentions the protest that followed and his experiences with racism after King's death. He explains the significance of Clayton Street to the Athens civil rights movement.

Keywords: Barnett Shoals Road; Civil rights activists; Ebenezer West Church; Hosea Williams; House of Blue Light; Kress's; Martin Luther King; Recreational sports; Rev. Joseph Lowery; Rev. Ralph Abernathy; Woolsworth

Partial Transcript: So now let's go to high school. Tell me some events that happened uh- good, bad, ugly, nice.

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks explains how Black students were not encouraged to attend college after high school. He talks about employment opportunities for Black people at plants and their unwillingness to hire those attending school.

Keywords: DuPont Water Solutions; Factories; Financial aid; General Time Corporation; HOPE; Military; Power station; Work study

Partial Transcript: Now- uh you mentioned at one point- well what made you come back to Athens after you went up North?

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks describes his time living up north after his parents' separation. He explains the discrimination he faced because of his southern accent. He then recalls the games that he played as a child and the types of resources he used to play these games with. Middlebrooks discusses the pools that were available to him due to segregation.

Keywords: Dupont lake; Integration; Lakeside; Legion pool; New Town; Oconee river; Springfield, Massachusetts; Stegman Hall; Tate Student Center; University of Georgia

Partial Transcript: Went through high school- communities. From my understanding there were a lot of Black communities in Athens a while back that are no longer there. Yeah. Can you tell me about some of them?

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks recalls which parts of Athens that were predominantly Black areas. He details his experiences going to Hot Corner and the Black-owned businesses that existed there at the time. He emphasizes the significance of the Morton Theatre within the Black community.

Keywords: Black-owned businesses; Broadacres; Brooklyn road; Callaway Corner; East Athens; Finley Street; Hancock Corner; Homer Wilson; Milledge avenue; Morton Theatre; New Town; Parkview; Peter street; Public housing; Rocksprings; Segregation; Taxi services; Vine street; Wilson's Barber Shop

Partial Transcript: That time period, what impact do you think that has on your life now?

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks reflects on the impact that his father's work had on his views on higher education. He discusses how this has effected his attitude towards his children and shares their current careers. He then introduces his wife and describes the details of how they met.

Keywords: Cedar Shoals High School; Chester Middlebrooks; Garbage collection; Lyons Middle School

Partial Transcript: Now I wanted to know about your family, but you just touched on something. Tell me your different jobs that you had.

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks describes all the various jobs that he had throughout his life. He talks about his first job working on his father's trash truck and the jobs he held throughout grade school. He also mentions that he had to work before and during college to pay for his tuition.

Keywords: Benson's Bakery; DECA; DuPont; Firestone Tire Company; Geogia Power; Nathaniel Ball; Prime Time; Rent a kid; University of Georgia; Virginia Walker; Walker Park

Partial Transcript: We're going to go back just a little to you applying for UGA. In what year did you- I applied-I applied for UGA in Fall of '75- '74 yeah.Take that back

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks explains the difficulties that he faced while attending the University of Georgia as a Black man who was not an athlete. He also emphasizes the Black social life that existed on campus.

Keywords: Jan Kemp; black fraternities; fraternities

Partial Transcript: Ok.. I'm going to go- We're going to go back in time almost to the first part of the interview. What part did the church play in the community?

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks explains the significance of the church for getting together with family members and educating the youth. He describes the church as a place for organizing and holding meetings.

Keywords: High Shoals; Martin Luther King Jr.; Oconee county; civil rights movement

Partial Transcript: Ok.. We- anything you want to add We're coming close to the end, if there's anything you want to add

Segment Synopsis: Middlebrooks reflects on his life in Athens. He talks about his philosophy on parenting and gives life advice.