Interview with Dameta Long, March 19, 1994

Partial Transcript: Um, interviewing Dameta Long. P.O. Box 43, Gary, West Virginia.

Synopsis: The interviewer introduces the interviewee, Dameta Long. Personal contact information has been muted in this version.

Keywords: Gary (W.Va.);Kentucky Historical Society

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: If you could, let's do our biographical information, and tell us about your grandparents and how long have they've been...

Synopsis: Dameta gives her family history and how long they have been in West Virginia.

Keywords: Chatham (Va.);coal mines;family members--grandparents;family members--parents;McDowell County (W.Va.)

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: So, uh, they raised their... what town did they live in?

Synopsis: Long tells what it was like growing up in the 50's and 60's in West Virginia and talks about her father's alcoholism. She also talks about how her family got by without him.

Keywords: alcoholism;black lung benefits;childhood and youth;Gary (W.Va.);primary education;veterans' pensions;Wilco (W.Va.)

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Uh, what year did you graduate high school?

Synopsis: She talks about graduating high school and the education she received.

Keywords: education;high school graduation;higher education

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Well, it says here by your name "health clinic". So, do you operate a health clinic?

Synopsis: She discusses working at the health clinic and what type of services they provide there. She also tells what it was like to work in the coal mines for a brief time.

Keywords: coal mines;healthcare;layoffs;McDowell County (W.Va.);pregnant women;Tug River Health Association

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: One particular thing that they're doing is called Norplants, that last for five years...

Synopsis: She talks about the different birth control options available and how she helps educate young women about pregnancy.

Keywords: birth control;Norplant;pregnancies;Tug River Health Association

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Do you see lots of difficulties in problems with alcohol and drug abuse...

Synopsis: Long talks about the different causes of being a single mother and the struggles they go through.

Keywords: alcoholism;single mothers;W.I.C.;welfare dependency

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: What do you see for the future?

Synopsis: She tells what she sees in the future for her community and what it was like before the mines closed.

Keywords: coal mines;community aspirations;McDowell County (W.Va.);U.S. Steel Mining Company

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Between whites and blacks, everybody seems to get along really well here.

Synopsis: They discuss the relationship between blacks and whites in West Virginia.

Keywords: Appalachian culture

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Well, I guess what you see for the future then..you feel hopeful?

Synopsis: Long talks about her aspirations for the community and what she sees McDowell County doing in the future. They also discuss the role that women play in changing their community. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Baptists;community aspirations;McDowell County (W.Va.);women leaders

Subjects: