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["Rev. Ronald English of Charleston, West Virginia was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1944. He grew up in the community surrounding the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Atlanta and his family was close with the family of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. English is a graduate of Morehouse College and served as ministerial assistant to Drs. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sr. He delivered a prayer at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Rev. English was called to the First Baptist Church of Charleston in 1972 where he served for 21 years. He now serves as an interim minister in Charleston and is a consultant in healing and restorative justice.In this interview with state folklorist Emily Hilliard and American Friends Service Committee West Virginia Economic Justice Project director Rick Wilson, Rev. English speaks about his relationship with Dr. King, his work as a pastor and community leader in Charleston, and his mindfulness practice."]%

1. Transcript of oral history of Rev. Ronald English

Identifier:
4224.EnglishRonald.IntTranscript.9.4.19
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Rev. Ronald English
Date:
2019-09-04
Creator:
English, Ronald
Contributor:
Wilson, Rick, Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
African Americans--Appalachian Region, Charleston (W. Va.), Racism, Civil rights movements, Mindfulness (Psychology), King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968, African American Baptists, Restorative justice
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)
["Rev. Matthew J. Watts is the Senior Pastor of Grace Bible Church on Charlestons West Side. He was born outside of Mt. Hope, West Virginia in Fayette County and is an alumni of West Virginia Institute of Technology. In this interview he speaks about the West Sides history as the former site of five slave plantations, his congregation and church neighborhood, the West Side Community Development Plan and Charleston Urban Renewals plans for the West Side, police brutality in Charleston, and the dismantling and destruction of the Triangle District in Charleston. Rev. Watts was interviewed by producer Aaron Henkin with Emily Hilliard and Wendel Patrick as part of the Out of the Blocks podcasts two episodes on Charlestons West Side. Learn more: https://wvfolklife.org/2020/01/17/out-of-the-blocks-podcast-highlights-charlestons-west-side-west-virginia-folklife-hosts-listening-party-february-12/"]%

2. Transcript of oral history of Rev. Matthew J. Watts

Identifier:
4224.WattsMatthew.IntTranscript.11.22.19
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Rev. Matthew J. Watts
Date:
2019-11-22
Creator:
Watts, Matthew J.
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily, Patrick, Wendel, Henkin, Aaron
Subject:
Urban renewal, African American religious leaders, School integration, Charleston (W. Va.), African Americans--Appalachian Region, Segregation in education, African Americans--History, Racism, Police brutality--United States
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)