Oral history of Levi Phillips and Justin Phillips

Identifier:

4224.PhillipsLeviPhillipsJustin.AudioInt.11.22.19

Title:

Oral history of Levi Phillips and Justin Phillips

Date:

2019-11-22

Creator:

Phillips, Justin and Phillips, Levi

Contributor:

Henkin, Aaron and Hilliard, Emily

Description:

Levi Phillips, 68 at the time of the interview, is a former basketball player from Charleston, West Virginia. He grew up in public housing in the Triangle District neighborhood and currently lives on Charlestons West Side. Levi was on the first all-Black integrated basketball team at West Virginia University, and played professional basketball with the Baltimore Bullets and the Philadelphia 76ers (his teammates were Wes Unseld and Julius Erving).Justin Phillips, 39, is Levis son, who was also a high school basketball player in West Virginia. He owns Fun Fitness and lives in the South Hills neighborhood of Charleston, WV. Justins son was a high school state champion West Virginia basketball player like his grandfather.Levi and Justin Phillips were interviewed by producer Aaron Henkin with Emily Hilliard 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/Learn more about Levi Phillips career at WVU:https://wvusports.com/news/2020/12/1/mens-basketball-phillips-basket-a-part-of-wvu-coliseums-golden-history.aspxhttps://wvusports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/levi-phillips/12290

Subject:

Basketball, African American basketball players, Urban renewal, Charleston (W. Va.), School integration, African Americans--Appalachian Region, and Interracial friendship

Rights:

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Location:

Charleston (W. Va.)

Format:

audio/wav

Language:

English

Source:

A&M 4224, West Virginia Folklife Program Collection