Dorothy Bolden oral history interview, August 31, 1995

Item — othertype: Oral History

Identifier: L1995-12-03

Staff Only

Dorothy Bolden oral history interview

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Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Christine Lutz: Bolden discusses her background—childhood in the African American community in Atlanta during the Great Depression, her faith, marriage, and children. She also talks about the effects of World War II on her family—loss of all male relatives. She discusses racial violence during the 1950s and 1960s. Regarding inter-racial episodes Bolden states, “They [whites] did some awful things to you, you know, to make you want to fight them.” An important aspect of Bolden’s life is her involvement in the civil rights movement—Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Ku Klux Klan, and Women’s rights. She also had a leading role in organizing domestic workers c.1968 (Domestic Workers Union) and speaks of the problems with other unions. Finally, Bolden discusses her part in trying to save historic Vine City.

Dates

Creation: August 31, 1995

Creator

Bolden, Dorothy (Interviewee, Person)

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

Dorothy Bolden was born during the 1920s in Vine City, Georgia. She attended Washington High School through the eleventh grade. Bolden served as an Atlanta domestic worker for 41 years. She became politically active in the 1960s, and founded the National Domestic Workers Union in 1968. She also served as vice-president of the Black Women Coalition of Atlanta, and worked for both the State and National Departments of Labor.