Linda (Wells) Clarke ‘71

Transcript

Interviewer: Sara Slager (SS)

Narrator: Linda Clarke (LC)

SS: I was thinking a little bit too about your experience at Simmons and you mentioned that you were one of the founders of the Black Student Organization, I was wondering if you could talk a little bit more about just like what that experience was like?

LC: Well, I don't know that there was a Black Student Organization I really don't remember. I've been out of school a long time (laughs). But. There may have been a Black Student Organization, but I think because of the time-timing that we were there it was just revitalized or energized or I don't know you know um. And we were just you know very active or I think we we met together regularly. And it was a sisterhood you know, like um. Well, personally I didn't belong to any sororities or anything like that, but it, but the Black Student Organization was a sisterhood for us, and then you know, we would do social events and then you know. Work on other things and trying to get Black studies courses and some Black teachers and. It was just a place to come and and talk about you know what was what was going on and and our shared interests. You know, I remember writing an article for the Simmons um News or I forget what it's called, but it was it had to do with the Olympics and they were can condemning the Black athletes who had raised their fists on the on the podium you know and. And I had written this little blurb in in their defense, and so you know that that was good memories from those days too.

SS: I'm curious to hear a little bit more about your experience like writing the 10 Demands and sort of how that came to be?

LC: Well, you know I mean it wasn't just us this was happening across across the country and um. We just were trying to put together what we felt was lacking at at Simmons what we felt should be, you know that would make Simmons more inclusive um and. So you know, as I mentioned before it was it was things about, I think there might have been a thing about a Black Student Advisor, about recruiting some Black professors and you know, making some changes to the curriculum um courses, African American studies. Because those things you know didn't exist. So those were um. You know it's just like okay there's a few of us on this campus now (laughs) unless you know what we want to be acknowledged, heard, included you know um. And and and respected for our contribution.