Interview with John Clay
Dublin Core
Title
Interview with John Clay
Subject
Civil rights; Civil rights movements; Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement; Educational change; Diversity in the workplace
Description
This interview is with John Clay, the 2016-2018 President of the Wooster-Orrville branch of the NAACP. Topics of conversation include the work of the local NAACP chapter and local, regional, and at large civil rights concerns.
Creator
Lang, Abigail
Clay, John
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
2018-11-08
Contributor
College of Wooster Libraries, Feminist Pedagogy in Action
Rights
Format
Mp3
Language
eng
Type
Sound
Identifier
John Clay Interview.mp3
Coverage
College of Wooster; Wooster, Ohio; Wayne County, Ohio; Wooster-Orrville
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Abigail Lang
Interviewee
John Clay
Location
College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio
Transcription
John Clay Interview
Edited by Abigail Lang for clarity
[00:00:00] Abigail Lang: Hello, this is Abigail Lang. It is November 8, 2018 and I am here interviewing John Clay as part of the Campus and Community collaboration project. Hello, John.
[00:00:13] John Clay: Hi, Abby.
[00:00:15] AL: My first question today is what local organization are you part of?
[00:00:19] JC: I am with the Wooster-Orrville NAACP Unit #3208.
[00:00:25] AL: Alright, could you tell me a little bit about that organization? And what it does?
[00:00:30] JC: Yes, the NAACP here in Wayne County is a civil rights organization… That is open to anyone. We fight for people who have civil rights issues.
[00:00:51] AL: Okay, and what is your role in the organization?
[00:00:55] JC: I am the current president.
[00:00:57] AL: Could you tell me about the history of the--this chapter of the organization?
[00:01:03] JC: Well, this local NAACP started sometime in the mid-sixties. I’m not exactly sure of that date. The first president was Jack Harris and [the organization] has been in existence since that time.
[00:01:18] AL: Okay, and has your group ever worked with groups at the College [of Wooster]? If so what projects and how did the collaborations go?
[00:01:27] JC: Yes, we have worked with the College. That’s been something we have been trying to do more of. This past year we were stakeholders in the AMRE [Applied Methods Research Experience] Project and it was concerning returning citizens to Wayne County. Two wonderful students helped us put together a database so that we have access to the names of felon friendly companies, companies that will hire felons. There was more work done in that, but that’s it in a nutshell.
[00:02:00] AL: Has the organization collaborated with other local organizations in the past?
[00:02:05] JC: Absolutely. We worked with the Concerned Citizens Committee during the time of the KKK recruitment here in Wayne County. The NAACP actually led that drive, led that committee. We… helped organize the rally downtown on the square in August 2017 I believe it was. Just to let the KKK, or I should say the ‘Invisible Empire’ know, that hate was not welcome here in our community.
[00:02:40] AL: And presently does the organization have any working relationships with other local organizations?
[00:02:46] JC: Well, I guess I should say that yes we-- presently, we are working with the Wooster city school systems. We helped spearhead a diversity taskforce for the Wooster city school systems to try to hire [a] more diverse certificate [of] teachers into the school system. We also have taken a good hard look at curriculum, hiring, and retention. We have also helped collaborate with the diversity task-force on the classroom climate. We’ve worked with the Wayne County commissioners on a Tuskegee airmen exhibit that was here this past May. We are working with the group, and I don’t have a lot of details cause it’s still in the fledgling state, to help erect a monument for Charles Follis, who is a Wooster College, past Wooster College student, and the first professional black American football player.
[00:03:52] AL: And so you already mentioned that, but does the organization have any more upcoming events?
[00:04:01] JC: Yes, we just had our, Freedom Fund rally, which went on just as the college students were coming back to school, so we really didn’t get a lot of participation from the College, but it was a grand event. We had over 200 people in attendance at Kittredge Hall. We also are preparing for our annual Martin Luther King [Jr.] Day celebration and we have collaborated with the College for their MLK celebration that goes on here. And currently that’s what we have going on. We still have to do our planning meeting for the year and we have elections going on right now so that’s taking up quite a lot of time an energy.
[00:04:51] AL: And I know that’s been another source of collaboration between the college and the NAACP in particular with the MLK day panel[s], the lectures, and... yeah, just with the MLK day panels.
[00:05:07] JC: I have actually spoke[n] at the opening ceremony two years ago.
[00:05:14] AL: And--
[00:05:15] JC: Oh, we’ve also had college singers and the group I’m trying to think… golden?
[00:05:23] AL: Shades of Gold?
[00:05:24] JC: Shades of Gold, helped with our community choir two years ago at our MLK celebration.
[00:05:30] AL: And can you speak at all to any history of collaboration with the Wooster College Campus chapter of the NAACP?
[00:05:46] JC: Actually, I really can’t. Due to the fact that I’m the president of the adult branch and I have no jurisdiction, for lack of a better word, over that. I do think about how we can engage young people and drum up some interest in the NAACP, but currently no, I have no other information.
[00:06:15] AL: Alright and would you like to be involved with any other local organizations at the College in the future? Do you have any particular initiatives in mind?
[00:06:29] JC: Well, currently… we are still trying to sort out the data we received from the AMRE project last year. I don’t have a current initiative, but it’s still early and we like working with the college. We like building solid relationships in our community. And the college is obviously, is a big part of the community.
[00:06:54] AL: Of course, and is there any conscious effort to make the NAACP a more LGBT+ friendly space or is there any particular queer or feminist perspective that it includes in the efforts or ways that they support the LGBT community?
[00:07:15] JC: The Wooster-Orrville NAACP is a civil rights organization. We will help and defend to the best of our ability anyone who comes to us with their-- after they have had their civil rights violated. We currently have several LGBT members that belong to the Wooster-Orrville NAACP. And to that regard they put their input in just as any other human being would. And it’s taken that way, not with any animosity or remorse towards their lifestyle or their sexual orientation. It-- personally, that’s none of our business and we don’t focus on that. But anyone that comes to us, we’ll help them. Little green men can come to us and (both laugh) we’ll help try to preserve their civil rights if it’s all possible.
[00:08:12] AL: Course, And what-- How does the organization make an impact in the greater Wooster community?
[00:08:21] JC: Well, Wooster is-- has a lot of diversity in it currently. We try our best to build those solid relationships to be out in the public and seen and known that we’re here an willing to help. We try to engage people to join our organization and help in that social justice fight, which is ongoing.
[00:08:49] AL: And what are some obstacles or challenges that your organization is currently facing?
[00:09:00] JC: Since I wrote this down, I’m gonna say it. (laughs) We’ve-- I’ve had big struggles in engaging our mayor to stand up for civil rights and to support us. Also, it’s been difficult, it’s been a challenge engaging our youth in our community to become involved in civil rights. I’m not sure… I’m at a loss on how to do that so I’m open to suggestions. Also, you know, one of the obstacles is the stereotypical, conventional thinking that people have, that we have to have a label, you know? Abby, you’re white and I’m black and people feel that they need to call each other that. The challenge that I’ve tried to address is that we are all human beings and until we can get to that point, I think there’s always gonna be a struggle and racial indifference. So, that’s been a big challenge also. And you know, there are people that are older in our organization that grew up in a specific way. And trying to convince people to be open to change is always a huge obstacle.
[00:10:17] AL: And is there anything else that you would like to mention about the NAACP?
[00:10:23] JC: I am close to wrapping up my first two year term as president and am going to go forward and try to do it again for another couple of years, another two year term. Since the 2016 election for our unit and other elections at that time our membership grew, probably by, almost half. We grew immensely, we now have over 100 members in our unit and the goal is, and it’s an open-ended goal-- is to have as many people help increase our membership numbers as possible. And as I said, and that includes anyone.
[00:11:12] AL: I don’t think I have anymore questions for today. Thank you for coming and speaking with us.
[00:11:19] JC: You’re welcome Abby, it was my pleasure.
Edited by Abigail Lang for clarity
[00:00:00] Abigail Lang: Hello, this is Abigail Lang. It is November 8, 2018 and I am here interviewing John Clay as part of the Campus and Community collaboration project. Hello, John.
[00:00:13] John Clay: Hi, Abby.
[00:00:15] AL: My first question today is what local organization are you part of?
[00:00:19] JC: I am with the Wooster-Orrville NAACP Unit #3208.
[00:00:25] AL: Alright, could you tell me a little bit about that organization? And what it does?
[00:00:30] JC: Yes, the NAACP here in Wayne County is a civil rights organization… That is open to anyone. We fight for people who have civil rights issues.
[00:00:51] AL: Okay, and what is your role in the organization?
[00:00:55] JC: I am the current president.
[00:00:57] AL: Could you tell me about the history of the--this chapter of the organization?
[00:01:03] JC: Well, this local NAACP started sometime in the mid-sixties. I’m not exactly sure of that date. The first president was Jack Harris and [the organization] has been in existence since that time.
[00:01:18] AL: Okay, and has your group ever worked with groups at the College [of Wooster]? If so what projects and how did the collaborations go?
[00:01:27] JC: Yes, we have worked with the College. That’s been something we have been trying to do more of. This past year we were stakeholders in the AMRE [Applied Methods Research Experience] Project and it was concerning returning citizens to Wayne County. Two wonderful students helped us put together a database so that we have access to the names of felon friendly companies, companies that will hire felons. There was more work done in that, but that’s it in a nutshell.
[00:02:00] AL: Has the organization collaborated with other local organizations in the past?
[00:02:05] JC: Absolutely. We worked with the Concerned Citizens Committee during the time of the KKK recruitment here in Wayne County. The NAACP actually led that drive, led that committee. We… helped organize the rally downtown on the square in August 2017 I believe it was. Just to let the KKK, or I should say the ‘Invisible Empire’ know, that hate was not welcome here in our community.
[00:02:40] AL: And presently does the organization have any working relationships with other local organizations?
[00:02:46] JC: Well, I guess I should say that yes we-- presently, we are working with the Wooster city school systems. We helped spearhead a diversity taskforce for the Wooster city school systems to try to hire [a] more diverse certificate [of] teachers into the school system. We also have taken a good hard look at curriculum, hiring, and retention. We have also helped collaborate with the diversity task-force on the classroom climate. We’ve worked with the Wayne County commissioners on a Tuskegee airmen exhibit that was here this past May. We are working with the group, and I don’t have a lot of details cause it’s still in the fledgling state, to help erect a monument for Charles Follis, who is a Wooster College, past Wooster College student, and the first professional black American football player.
[00:03:52] AL: And so you already mentioned that, but does the organization have any more upcoming events?
[00:04:01] JC: Yes, we just had our, Freedom Fund rally, which went on just as the college students were coming back to school, so we really didn’t get a lot of participation from the College, but it was a grand event. We had over 200 people in attendance at Kittredge Hall. We also are preparing for our annual Martin Luther King [Jr.] Day celebration and we have collaborated with the College for their MLK celebration that goes on here. And currently that’s what we have going on. We still have to do our planning meeting for the year and we have elections going on right now so that’s taking up quite a lot of time an energy.
[00:04:51] AL: And I know that’s been another source of collaboration between the college and the NAACP in particular with the MLK day panel[s], the lectures, and... yeah, just with the MLK day panels.
[00:05:07] JC: I have actually spoke[n] at the opening ceremony two years ago.
[00:05:14] AL: And--
[00:05:15] JC: Oh, we’ve also had college singers and the group I’m trying to think… golden?
[00:05:23] AL: Shades of Gold?
[00:05:24] JC: Shades of Gold, helped with our community choir two years ago at our MLK celebration.
[00:05:30] AL: And can you speak at all to any history of collaboration with the Wooster College Campus chapter of the NAACP?
[00:05:46] JC: Actually, I really can’t. Due to the fact that I’m the president of the adult branch and I have no jurisdiction, for lack of a better word, over that. I do think about how we can engage young people and drum up some interest in the NAACP, but currently no, I have no other information.
[00:06:15] AL: Alright and would you like to be involved with any other local organizations at the College in the future? Do you have any particular initiatives in mind?
[00:06:29] JC: Well, currently… we are still trying to sort out the data we received from the AMRE project last year. I don’t have a current initiative, but it’s still early and we like working with the college. We like building solid relationships in our community. And the college is obviously, is a big part of the community.
[00:06:54] AL: Of course, and is there any conscious effort to make the NAACP a more LGBT+ friendly space or is there any particular queer or feminist perspective that it includes in the efforts or ways that they support the LGBT community?
[00:07:15] JC: The Wooster-Orrville NAACP is a civil rights organization. We will help and defend to the best of our ability anyone who comes to us with their-- after they have had their civil rights violated. We currently have several LGBT members that belong to the Wooster-Orrville NAACP. And to that regard they put their input in just as any other human being would. And it’s taken that way, not with any animosity or remorse towards their lifestyle or their sexual orientation. It-- personally, that’s none of our business and we don’t focus on that. But anyone that comes to us, we’ll help them. Little green men can come to us and (both laugh) we’ll help try to preserve their civil rights if it’s all possible.
[00:08:12] AL: Course, And what-- How does the organization make an impact in the greater Wooster community?
[00:08:21] JC: Well, Wooster is-- has a lot of diversity in it currently. We try our best to build those solid relationships to be out in the public and seen and known that we’re here an willing to help. We try to engage people to join our organization and help in that social justice fight, which is ongoing.
[00:08:49] AL: And what are some obstacles or challenges that your organization is currently facing?
[00:09:00] JC: Since I wrote this down, I’m gonna say it. (laughs) We’ve-- I’ve had big struggles in engaging our mayor to stand up for civil rights and to support us. Also, it’s been difficult, it’s been a challenge engaging our youth in our community to become involved in civil rights. I’m not sure… I’m at a loss on how to do that so I’m open to suggestions. Also, you know, one of the obstacles is the stereotypical, conventional thinking that people have, that we have to have a label, you know? Abby, you’re white and I’m black and people feel that they need to call each other that. The challenge that I’ve tried to address is that we are all human beings and until we can get to that point, I think there’s always gonna be a struggle and racial indifference. So, that’s been a big challenge also. And you know, there are people that are older in our organization that grew up in a specific way. And trying to convince people to be open to change is always a huge obstacle.
[00:10:17] AL: And is there anything else that you would like to mention about the NAACP?
[00:10:23] JC: I am close to wrapping up my first two year term as president and am going to go forward and try to do it again for another couple of years, another two year term. Since the 2016 election for our unit and other elections at that time our membership grew, probably by, almost half. We grew immensely, we now have over 100 members in our unit and the goal is, and it’s an open-ended goal-- is to have as many people help increase our membership numbers as possible. And as I said, and that includes anyone.
[00:11:12] AL: I don’t think I have anymore questions for today. Thank you for coming and speaking with us.
[00:11:19] JC: You’re welcome Abby, it was my pleasure.
Duration
00:11:22
Files
Collection
Citation
Lang, Abigail and Clay, John, “Interview with John Clay,” WGSS at Wooster: Past, Present, and Future , accessed May 6, 2024, https://woosterdigital.org/wgssatwoo/items/show/135.