YBOR 70
Page 58

L: The late Marion Anderson.

P: Roy Wilkins?

L: Roy Wilkins was a fighter who became director of the National Association for
 The Advancement of Colored People. He visited Tampa and many other places.
 He was just one of those civil rights fighters who were very, very positive, upfront
 and who was ready to take on anybody or any organization that was anti-black.

P: Did you know him pretty well?

L: Fairly well. Very positive, very forceful, very forthright.

P: Could he be a little irritating?

L: He could be. He would not back up too easily. He was a very forthright
 individual.

P: Did you like him?

L: Very much. I liked him. As I grew and matured, I began to see what they were
 about, what they were fighting for and I became certainly indoctrinated and
 desired to be a part of that.

P: Any memory of a conversation you might have had with him or experience you
 might have had?

L: No, only about NAACP and his work, but I do not remember anything very
 specific and encouragement to stay in the fight. Even after this incident here, he
 encouraged me to stay on board.

P: When they shot at you, in other words?

L: Yes.

P: Did he call you on the phone?

L: Many calls. He called. Thurgood Marshall called.

P: Yes, Thurgood Marshall, that is another one. Did you know him?

L: Yes, I knew Thurgood.


P: How?