Suzie Medina and Melba Scott Oral History
Item
Title
Suzie Medina and Melba Scott Oral History
Identifier
2024.006.002
Type
Oral History
Description
Longtime Eastside Riverside residents Suzie Medina and Melba Scott discuss their life experiences growing up in the Eastside community and its changing nature today. They begin by first detailing their family histories of moving to Eastside before discussing school degradation in Riverside public schools and the Freedom Schools they attended as children. They discuss the racism and discrimination they experienced during this time, but highlight the strong multiracial community support and solidarity networks that Eastside experienced. Later on they detail the changes that took place in the Eastside community, with many new residents moving in without connection to the community and its support system, in addition to the growth of gang activity. Further, they discuss the failures of nonprofits and other outside organizations to support the Eastside in their refusal to listen to resident needs. They also highlight the role of Lincoln Park as a central Eastside community site for celebrations and activities throughout the oral history. They discuss Eastside locations such as the Eastside bungalows, Hollows and Green Hollows, and March Air Force base’s and other industries’ roles in the area. In closing, they conclude by sharing stories of racial segregation and discrimination at Riverside’s Mission Inn.
Subject
Prohibition
School Segregation
Segregation
Racism
Racial/Ethnic Discrimination
Home Ownership
Immigration
Bracero Program
Domestic violence
Activism
African American history
Air Force
Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Baseball
Bracero Program Housing
Local Businesses
Catholicism
Childhood
Civil Rights Activism
Communion
Eastside Settlement House
Discrimination
Education
Kaiser Steel
Klu Klux Klan (KKK)
Mexican American History
Migration
Norton Air Force Base
San Bernardino Valley College
Watts Riot
Spatial Coverage
Riverside (Calif.)
San Bernardino (Calif.)
Temporal Coverage
1960s-present
Date
December 12th, 2023
Contributor
A People's History of the I.E.
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Rights
Duration
02:51:08