Geraldine Crawford Bennett, Toni Breaux, and Willie Elliot Jenkins oral history interview conducted by Joseph Mosnier in Bogalusa, Louisiana,

Geraldine Crawford Bennett, Toni Breaux, and Willie Elliot Jenkins remember their mother and sister Gayle Jenkins, a leader of the civil rights movement in Bogalusa, Louisiana. They discuss their family history, how the family became involved in the movement, and Willie Jenkins' court case to integrate the public schools. They recall being protected by the Deacons of Defense and Justice, marching in local rallies, and memories of their late brother Don, who was also involved in the movement.

Recorded in Bogalusa, Louisiana, on May 28, 2011.

Civil Rights History Project Collection (AFC 2010/039), Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Copies of items are also held at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (U.S.).

Geraldine Bennett Crawford lived in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and worked as a maid and a nurse. She was the sister of civil rights activist Gayle Jenkins.

The Civil Rights History Project is a joint project of the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of individuals who participated in the Civil Rights movement.

Toni Breaux was born April 10 1947 in Bogalusa, Louisiana, to Gayle E. Expose, who later married Monroe Jenkins. Her siblings were Don Duan Expose and Willie "Chuck" Jenkins and she is the niece of Geraldine Bennett. She married Michael Harry Melton, Sr. in 1971 and Roger Breaux II in 1990 and had 3 sons. She attended Dillard University, BA; Southeastern Louisiana University, M.Ed. and worked as a teacher.

Willie Elliot Jenkins was born December 7, 1952 to Gayle E. and Monroe Jenkins with siblings Willie "Toni" Expose and Don Duan Expose. He was the nephew of Geraldine Bennett. He participated in the Civil Rights Movement in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and integrated the public schools.

In English.

Finding aid http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/eadafc.af013005

bennett geraldine crawford interviews breaux toni hicks robert jenkins gayle jenkins willie elliot bogalusa voters league deacons for defense and justice civil rights movements louisiana bogalusa discrimination in employment school integration bogalusa la event place filmed interviews oral histories civil rights history project us civil rights history project american folklife center geraldine crawford bennett toni breaux willie elliot jenkins joseph mosnier film video history interview high resolution race relations african americans library of congress

01/01/2011

Library of Congress

https://www.loc.gov/

Public Domain