Oral History Interview with Suzanne Post, June 23, 2006. Interview U-0178. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
Audio with Transcript
Listen Online with Text Transcript
(Requires QuickTime and JavaScript)
Transcript Only (38 p.)
HTML file
XML/TEI source file
Download Complete Audio File (MP3 format / ca. 196 MB, 01:47:27)
MP3
Abstract
Though she is best known for her work in helping eliminate race-based segregated education in Louisville and launching Louisville's Metropolitan Housing Coalition, Suzanne Post insists that her most important work centered on women's rights. After the 1975 court-ordered busing that merged and desegregated Jefferson County and Louisville City schools (she was president of the ACLU in Kentucky, which filed the desegregation suit), Post realized how much gender inequality still existed in these same newly desegrated districts. She organized volunteers to monitor Louisville's Title IX violations. Eventually, the federal government sent an outside monitor, which caused administrators to make a few concessions. Post reflects on how class issues divided the women's movement and ultimately prevented it from being as effective as it could have been. One of her biggest struggles, she says, was to get the ACLU to recognize a feminist agenda. After leaving the ACLU, she became the director of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition, and she found that her agenda balanced well with the concerns of the housing advocates. Post reflects on what she sees as economic and racial injustices brought about by urban renewal programs. Along with the resegregation of downtowns, Post worries about the destruction of community structures that provide support to poorer income families. Post retired when she developed lung cancer. Though she acknowledges the progress that has been made in civil rights, Post laments that much work remains to be done. She hopes that people remember her commitment to eradicating injustice and credits the women who surrounded and supported her.
Excerpts
Post helps enforce the 1975 busing order
Post becomes aware of gender-based injustice in the school system
How Post worked to create lasting changes to correct inequalities in the schools
When Post realized she was a feminist
Post considers why she is remembered more for her work for housing and race equality instead of feminism
Post's struggles to get the ACLU to recognize feminism's contributions
Individual liberal interest groups functioned in Louisville, but there was no liberal community
The 1977 International Women's Year Conference
Why Anne Braden was unconcerned about feminism
Divisions in the women's movement and what feminists have yet to accomplish
Post describes her work with the Metropolitan Housing Commission
The economic and racial injustices perpetrated by urban renewal programs
Post retires from the Metropolitan Housing Commission because of her health
Injustices that still need to change
Post hopes that people remember her commitment to eradicating injustice
The support Post got from the women around her
Learn More
Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
The Southern Oral History Program transcripts presented here on
Documenting the American South undergo an editorial process to remove
transcription errors. Texts may differ from the original transcripts
held by the Southern Historical Collection.
Funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this title.