Bridges Digital Archive: Audio and Video Recordings

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Document Type

Oral History

Publication Date

2-27-2018

Abstract

Carolyn Tillman interviewed couple Reginald and Rene Webb, a pair from Southern California. To start, Reginald tells his background, starting with being born in Indiana and living there and in Texas, moving to Los Angeles, being raised by his grandmother, her being a domestic worker, and joining the United States Coast Guard after attending high school. Following his work in the Neighborhood Adult Participation Program, the difference in politics led to him working at a McDonald’s where he would eventually get a high position. The conversation is then focused on René, who talks about being born in Massachusetts. She, and her mother, moved to California to reunite with her father and obtain an education. After a cousin of hers introduced Reginald to her, they were tricked on a blind date and eventually stayed together ever since. The topic circulates back to Reginald, who explains how he was able to start as a McDonald’s trainee to a manager then a regional vice president in the 1980s. René also mentioned that she worked hard in studying accounting, working as an accountant and auditor. She, unfortunately, had to leave work due to being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Reginald then talks about his pro-Black beliefs while working and being involved. During the time that Angela Davis was being searched for, Reginald was followed by the authorities and many others were under surveillance. Reginald saw how much of a struggle the Black McDonald’s employees had to face and opened as many opportunities as he could, such as bringing an affirmative action officer to find solutions. Later on, Reginald left his position at McDonald’s and the couple bought locations, becoming franchisees. There is also the time when Reginald met Ratibu Jacocks, one of the main people who spearheaded the Archiving Black History in the Inland Empire Project program. From then on, he became involved in the Westside Action Group. Tillman asks about the Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement, which was created to help the local Black community with the helpful properties of economics, business, and capital. This involves talking about the different financial classes within the Black community and how each class’s financial circumstances affect their children’s education. The interview then ends with the couple advising younger generations about the future. Particularly, they advise having a goal and sticking to it, loving yourself, moving forward, having a guide and core values, being united, getting things done, and seeking to solve obstacles.

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