Esmont Oral History Project
Interview of William N. Rush by Mieka Brand on April 25, 2002
William Rush, who was born and raised in Esmont, shares his experiences
from early childhood, when he was forced to quit school and work on a
farm in order to help support his family, through early adulthood, when
he saved up money from his railroad job to buy a two-toned Packard in
an effort to gain the attention of his future wife (Louise Rush), and
into adult life, as he had children and worked for the Virginia Department
of Transportation. Mr. Rush shares his experiences of life in a rural
community during Jim Crow, highlighting the long-term damaging consequences
of racial segregation, but also describing a level of familiarity between
rural African Americans and White Americans living in "the country," a
familiarity aided by their remoteness from prying governmental eyes.
Listen
to the Interview - Part 1 (47 minutes long): 28.8K 56.6K Other
Listen to the Interview - Part 2 (50 minutes long): 28.8K 56.6K Other
Read the transcription of the interview
View Photo Gallery
Esmont Oral History Project: Building Digital Communities, Race and
Place: African American Community History, Albemarle County, Virginia.
Prepared by the Virginia Center for Digital History, Charlottesville,
VA, 2001-2002.
Project Information | History
of Esmont | Segregation
and Racism | Oral History Home
|