doi:10.7916/d8-47sy-5468Oral history interview with Joycelyn Boyd Jerome, 2000Jerome, Joycelyn Boydoral historiesmixed materialCivil rights movements--History--20th century.--United StatesCivil rights demonstrations--United StatesDiscrimination in employment--United StatesUnited States Race relations 20th centuryJerome, Joycelyn BoydCongress of Racial Equality. New York (Harlem) ChapterIn this interview with Sheila Michaels, Jocelyn Boyd Jerome discusses a range of topics: her childhood, her family, race and democracy in the United States, her employment history, job scarcity for Black Americans, and her involvement with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Jerome recounts her childhood in Nashville and in New York City; she recalls her experience attending predominantly white schools, and the split that occurred between white and nonwhite children as they entered high school. She discusses her family's frequent moves between the Lower East Side, Greenwich Village, and Harlem, describing Harlem and Church of the Master as places where she felt most at home. Jerome recounts her decision to begin working after high school instead of attending college immediately. She describes an experience that revealed how difficult it was for Black women to be hired as typists. Jerome recounts her introduction to CORE by Ralph DiGia, based on her interests in social justice. She worked for CORE and participated in protest activity on the weekends. Jerome discusses the dynamics of CORE's Harlem office on 125th Street, where she worked until shortly before her daughter's birth. Jerome discusses the importance of the Freedom Rides to CORE's stature in the Civil Rights Movement. She recounts how she met her husband, Fred, and the challenge his assumed affiliation with the Communist Party raised within CORE, an avowed anti-Communist organization. Jerome explains her decision not to vote or participate in voter education programs and her disillusionment with American democracy and the lack of accountability that elected officials feel towards African Americans. Lastly, Jerome discusses relocating to San Francisco for eight years due to for Fred's job, starting in 1967