Dublin Core
Title
Lakeland Storytellers, Maryland Day, 1 to 2 p.m.
Subject
Lakeland History and Life
Sports in Lakeland
Segregation and Bussing
Education
Interactions with the University of Maryland
Trainwreck and train track culture
Description
This is an interview conducted during Maryland Day, 2011. The interviewees answer questions on topics of sports in Lakeland, segregation outside of the community, bussing and integration of the school system, Lakeland's interaction with the University of Maryland, and raising children within the community.
Creator
Dept. of American Studies, University of Maryland
Source
Maryland Day Events, 30APR2011
Publisher
Dept. of American Studies and Lakeland Community Heritage Project
Date
April 30, 2011, 1 to 2 p.m.
Contributor
Dept. of American Studies and Lakeland Community Heritage Project
Rights
[no text]
Relation
[no text]
Format
MP3
Language
English
Type
[no text]
Identifier
[no text]
Coverage
Lakeland, City of College Park, Prince Georges County, Maryland; Early to mid 20th Century
Contribution Form
Online Submission
[no text]
Posting Consent
[no text]
Submission Consent
[no text]
Contributor is Creator
[no text]
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Kristin Britanik
Interviewee
Mrs. Pearl Lee Campbell Edwards and Mr. James W. Edwards III
Location
Driskell Center Gallery, Cole Fieldhouse, University of Maryland, College Park
Transcription
This is an interview of James W. Edwards III and Pearl Lee Campbell Edwards by Kristen Britanik. It opens with and introduction of the interviewees and their connections with Lakeland and them thanking the students of the University of Maryland for conducting the interview. James is a second generation Lakeland resident while Pearl is a fifth generation resident.
The First question, what stories did your parents tell you about Lakeland, proved to open up discussion of the University of Maryland and raising children. James remembers his parents talking a great deal about how if the University wanted to expand then Lakeland is the “path of least resistance.†Pearl told a story about how her parents met which includes how her father proved to her maternal grandmother that he was suitable because he came to the door to ask for her as opposed to staying in the car.
Next Kristin asks about how Lakeland interacted with the surrounding communities. James describes instances of sports related interactions when black and white boys would play ball together and got along quite well but black boys from other communities would not play against Lakeland but rather join their team. Pearl describes instances of going into the general store in College Park and a dentist in Washington and being served after the white customers and how she was shocked that this still happened in a large city such as Washington.
The interviewees are then asked about places in Lakeland that were special to them. Pearl references the beauty of the homes, the safety of Lakeland from racism and crime, and how the children would play games and sports freely throughout the community. James told stories of how the boys would build grass huts and once that there was a train wreck in Lakeland that was covered up as hazardous but in fact spilled a large amount of bottled beer that the beer company did not want pilfered.
Next they were asked to explain Lakeland to someone who may not be familiar with it. Pearl describes how Lakeland was unique because it was very tight knit and people would often help each other, although she emphasizes that those in need must ask. James reiterated that it was a self-sufficient community and it was by no means urban because there were livestock and gardens and chores associated with that.
The conversation then shifted to the community’s relationship with the University of Maryland. James’ father did not work at the university, but rather was an undertaker. Pearl’s father was a groundskeeper at the university and she recalls that he would have to shovel snow at two in the morning if there were a snowstorm. She attended a couple courses at the university in order to get her teaching degree, her father demanded that she get and education.
They were then asked how Lakeland dealt with segregation and its challenges. James then describes Lakeland as insulated from racism and their choice in movie theatres so that they may go to a more black friendly establishment in order to avoid such segregation. Pearl, as a child, noted how here parents were a victim of degradation when they ventured outside Lakeland.
The conversation then shifted to the desegregation of schools. James did not attend a desegregated school, or bussing, because it was too young at the time. Pearl then describes how her previous five generations attended school in Lakeland as did she until 10th grade when she was bussed to Fairland Heights High School. James then adds that if children started at Fairland Heights they were given the choice to stay there but some children chose to attend the newly desegregated white school. Pearl goes on to describe her experiences with desegregation as a teacher during that time. James then tells about how he brought friends from other schools to Lakeland and they couldn’t believe how insular and safe it was, also he compared his education to their as the time and could not tell much of a difference.
Kristin then brings up the Evergreen Rule and asks what they would want people to know about it. James recalls that his mother was very upset and wondered intensely about what was going to happen to Lakeland. He describes how his and other people’s hearts were broken by the displacement of families and that they were not allowed to build the kinds of houses they wanted to build. The conversation shifts back to education with Pearl talking about the traumatic experience of bussing as opposed to walking to school in Lakeland and how the teachers in Lakeland, with minimal resources, made sure the students learned the material and attests to their excellence. James then seconds the excellence of their teachers and how they were moved to other schools in the county and also did outstanding work there. He laments that Lakelands excellent athletes were spaced out during bussing which took away from Lakelands’s community recognition.
The interviewees are then asked what they remember most about growing up in Lakeland. James recalls that there was almost no crime that the fear of the train tracks was strictly enforced. He also recalled that the entire community knew when the high speed train was coming every day and that this aura of child raising existed around that event. Pearl recalled hearing the university marching band practice and how they were taught several sports such as croquet and badminton, among other things.
They are then asked what memories mean the most to them. James remembers the community’s insistence that they were not from College Park, but Lakeland. Pearl recalled being hired to sell newspapers and how she rode her bike around the entire community and learned everyone’s names and how it was insisted that she greet all her elders accordingly no matter how many times she passed them.
Finally Pearl and James are asked to share one last favorite story or memory. Pearl recalled working as an assistant at the university physics department and how one of the professors complimented her on her intelligence in reading data reports to graduate students. James has fond memories of how there were livestock to eat and sell, rabbits to the university for experiments notably, and all the wild and garden vegetables and fruits were available to them. Pearl then adds how it is now an overpriced niche market for “organic†food while back then it was common.
The First question, what stories did your parents tell you about Lakeland, proved to open up discussion of the University of Maryland and raising children. James remembers his parents talking a great deal about how if the University wanted to expand then Lakeland is the “path of least resistance.†Pearl told a story about how her parents met which includes how her father proved to her maternal grandmother that he was suitable because he came to the door to ask for her as opposed to staying in the car.
Next Kristin asks about how Lakeland interacted with the surrounding communities. James describes instances of sports related interactions when black and white boys would play ball together and got along quite well but black boys from other communities would not play against Lakeland but rather join their team. Pearl describes instances of going into the general store in College Park and a dentist in Washington and being served after the white customers and how she was shocked that this still happened in a large city such as Washington.
The interviewees are then asked about places in Lakeland that were special to them. Pearl references the beauty of the homes, the safety of Lakeland from racism and crime, and how the children would play games and sports freely throughout the community. James told stories of how the boys would build grass huts and once that there was a train wreck in Lakeland that was covered up as hazardous but in fact spilled a large amount of bottled beer that the beer company did not want pilfered.
Next they were asked to explain Lakeland to someone who may not be familiar with it. Pearl describes how Lakeland was unique because it was very tight knit and people would often help each other, although she emphasizes that those in need must ask. James reiterated that it was a self-sufficient community and it was by no means urban because there were livestock and gardens and chores associated with that.
The conversation then shifted to the community’s relationship with the University of Maryland. James’ father did not work at the university, but rather was an undertaker. Pearl’s father was a groundskeeper at the university and she recalls that he would have to shovel snow at two in the morning if there were a snowstorm. She attended a couple courses at the university in order to get her teaching degree, her father demanded that she get and education.
They were then asked how Lakeland dealt with segregation and its challenges. James then describes Lakeland as insulated from racism and their choice in movie theatres so that they may go to a more black friendly establishment in order to avoid such segregation. Pearl, as a child, noted how here parents were a victim of degradation when they ventured outside Lakeland.
The conversation then shifted to the desegregation of schools. James did not attend a desegregated school, or bussing, because it was too young at the time. Pearl then describes how her previous five generations attended school in Lakeland as did she until 10th grade when she was bussed to Fairland Heights High School. James then adds that if children started at Fairland Heights they were given the choice to stay there but some children chose to attend the newly desegregated white school. Pearl goes on to describe her experiences with desegregation as a teacher during that time. James then tells about how he brought friends from other schools to Lakeland and they couldn’t believe how insular and safe it was, also he compared his education to their as the time and could not tell much of a difference.
Kristin then brings up the Evergreen Rule and asks what they would want people to know about it. James recalls that his mother was very upset and wondered intensely about what was going to happen to Lakeland. He describes how his and other people’s hearts were broken by the displacement of families and that they were not allowed to build the kinds of houses they wanted to build. The conversation shifts back to education with Pearl talking about the traumatic experience of bussing as opposed to walking to school in Lakeland and how the teachers in Lakeland, with minimal resources, made sure the students learned the material and attests to their excellence. James then seconds the excellence of their teachers and how they were moved to other schools in the county and also did outstanding work there. He laments that Lakelands excellent athletes were spaced out during bussing which took away from Lakelands’s community recognition.
The interviewees are then asked what they remember most about growing up in Lakeland. James recalls that there was almost no crime that the fear of the train tracks was strictly enforced. He also recalled that the entire community knew when the high speed train was coming every day and that this aura of child raising existed around that event. Pearl recalled hearing the university marching band practice and how they were taught several sports such as croquet and badminton, among other things.
They are then asked what memories mean the most to them. James remembers the community’s insistence that they were not from College Park, but Lakeland. Pearl recalled being hired to sell newspapers and how she rode her bike around the entire community and learned everyone’s names and how it was insisted that she greet all her elders accordingly no matter how many times she passed them.
Finally Pearl and James are asked to share one last favorite story or memory. Pearl recalled working as an assistant at the university physics department and how one of the professors complimented her on her intelligence in reading data reports to graduate students. James has fond memories of how there were livestock to eat and sell, rabbits to the university for experiments notably, and all the wild and garden vegetables and fruits were available to them. Pearl then adds how it is now an overpriced niche market for “organic†food while back then it was common.
Original Format
MP3
Duration
53:47
Bit Rate/Frequency
[no text]
Time Summary
[no text]