Kim Williams Odom, Interview by Marina López, 13 Febrero, 2017
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- Title:
- Kim Williams Odom, Interview by Marina López, 13 Febrero, 2017
- Date:
- 2016
- Interviewer:
- López, Marina
- Interviewee:
- Williams Odom, Kim
- Description:
- Librarian and educator Kim Williams Odom was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1970. Her family moved to the Jacksonville Military Base in North Carolina when she was in elementary school. Years later, she returned to Charleston as a single mother looking for a better life for herself and her child. She started taking her young daughter to the J.L. Dart Public Library and there she met Cynthia Graham Hurd who became her boss, her mentor, and her best friend. In the interview, Williams Odom tells about her family's deep roots in Charleston and takes pride in her relatives' achievements and contributions to the community. She remembers her struggles to overcome discrimination and succeed in a hostile school environment in North Carolina and tells about her dreams to become a cultural worker. She also talks about her extended career as a public librarian, including her role in the celebration of the J.L. Dart Public Library 85th anniversary and her experience as a manager at the St. Paul's library in Hollywood. She asserts her family's and Graham Hurd's values and ideas shaped her approach to community work. Finally, Williams Odom remembers the day her friend, along with the other eight church members, was killed at Mother Emanuel AME Church. She explains her refusal to let her friend's story to be reduced and defined by the hate and racism that took her life. Instead, she chose to honor Graham Hurd's life and legacy by keeping her work alive and committing her time and energy to several local projects that accomplished that goal. Finally, she states she is taking time to privately mourn her beloved friend.
- Collection Title:
- The Charleston Oral History Program
- Contributing Institution:
- The Citadel Archives & Museum
- Media Type:
- Oral Histories
- Series:
- Charleston Workers
- Personal or Corporate Subject:
- Emanuel AME Church (Charleston, S.C.), Cynthia Graham Hurd
- Topical Subject:
- Racism--South Carolina--Charleston--History--21st century, African American women librarians
- Geographic Subject:
- Charleston (S.C.)
- S.C. County:
- Charleston County (S.C.)
- Language:
- English
- Date Digital:
- 2016-11-30
- Digitization Specifications:
- Mp3 derivative audio created with Audacity software. Archival masters are wav files.
- Format:
- audio/mpeg
- Copyright Status Statement:
- Copyright © The Citadel Archives & Museum.
- Access Statement:
- All rights reserved.
- Access Information:
- For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, Charleston, SC, 29409.
- Admin ID:
- 250064
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