T. Harry
Williams Center for Oral History Collection
INTERVIEWEE NAME: Oliver Mack 4700.0316
IDENTIFICATION: Party to suit
which led to admission of African American undergraduates in 1960s.
INTERVIEWER: Mary Hebert
PROJECT: LSU History
DATE(S): 29 July 1993 FOCUS DATES: Mid to late 1960s
ABSTRACT:
Tape # 445
Family
background; mother attends LSU graduate school; childhood in South Baton Rouge;
attends McKinley High School; public schools integrated during Mack's senior
year; transfer application to Baton Rouge High rejected; harassment of African
American students who attended predominantly white schools; interest in math
and science; remembrances of influential high school teachers; desire to attend
LSU; parents stress importance of college; becomes member of NAACP class action
suit that demands that African Americans be allowed to attend LSU as
undergraduates; expediency of court proceedings; did not actively participate
in civil rights movement; does not encounter significant harassment at LSU;
receives scholarships to help pay for college; begins working during sophomore
year to help cover expenses; works part time for Louisiana Department of
Highways; lives with parents during college; active in air force ROTC at LSU;
recalls favorite professors at LSU; recollections of David Duke at LSU;
concentrates on academic pursuits in lieu of socializing and many
extra-curricular activities; gets married during college years; takes permanent
position at Exxon after graduation; called to active duty in air force; does
not encounter significant discrimination at Exxon; current community
involvement; son's decision to attend Southern instead of LSU.
# of CASSETTES: 1 TOTAL
PLAYING TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes
#
PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 59
RESTRICTIONS: The interview
may be used only with permission of interviewer until Jan.1, 2005.