Transcript of Oral History Interview of Henry L. Allen

Dublin Core

Title

Transcript of Oral History Interview of Henry L. Allen

Subject

Boston (Mass.)
Boston Public Schools
Busing for school integration
Magnet schools

Description

In this interview, Henry L. Allen, a lifelong resident of Boston, reflects on the impact of Judge W. Arthur Garrity's 1974 decision in the case of Morgan v. Hennigan, which required some students to be bused between Boston neighborhoods with the goal of creating racial balance in the public schools. He discusses his activism efforts in support of school desegregation; his children's experiences in the Boston Public Schools during the mid- to late 1970s and early 1980s; racial dynamics in the city over the past several decades; and the current state of the city and its schools.

Creator

John Joseph Moakley Archive & Institute at Suffolk University, Boston, Mass.

Source

Moakley Oral History Project

Publisher

John Joseph Moakley Archive & Institute at Suffolk University, Boston, Mass.

Date

February 2, 2005

Contributor

Kintz, Laura

Rights

Copyright Suffolk University. This item is made available for research and educational purposes by the John Joseph Moakley Archive & Institute. Prior permission is required for any commercial use.

Relation

Moakley Oral History Project: http://moakleyarchive.omeka.net/collections/show/1

Format

PDF (Computer file format)

Language

English

Type

Oral history interview transcript

Identifier

OH-042

Oral History Item Type Metadata

Original Format

MP3 audio file
Note: Original audio recording is available for listening at the John Joseph Moakley Archive & Institute at Suffolk University, Boston, Mass.

Duration

1:00:37

Transcription

See PDF transcript

Interviewer

Ramjohn, Rhea

Interviewee

Allen, Henry

Location

Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Mass.

Time Summary

Mr. Allen’s background (education and family) p. 3 (00:30)
Involvement in school desegregation efforts p. 8 (11:43)
Community’s reaction to court’s decision p. 14 (29:00)
His family’s school experiences p. 15 (31:10)
Community dynamics p. 19 (40:45)
Impact of media p. 21 (46:47)
Reflections on his experiences p. 22 (50:42)
Final thoughts on Boston’s current educational situation p. 25 (58:05)

Files

Citation

John Joseph Moakley Archive & Institute at Suffolk University, Boston, Mass., “Transcript of Oral History Interview of Henry L. Allen,” Stark & Subtle Divisions: A Collaborative History of Segregation in Boston, accessed March 28, 2024, https://bosdesca.omeka.net/items/show/154.