Ollie Parham reflects on her work and advocacy during the years of the Obama presidency, and discusses her encounters with members of the Obama administration, including those surrounding the introductory remarks she delivered before Obama's speech on payday lending at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama, in March 2015. Parham describes her upbringing, education, and career in Ala bama, and recounts her experience with payday loans and consumer credit. She describes problems associated with limited financial literacy and predatory lending practices, and provides details about her advocacy and outreach on related issues through the Alabama National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Parham also tells stories of her recruitment by the White House to introduce Obama at Lawson State, her interactions with the president, and her participation in a White House-led roundtable discussion on predatory lending. Also discussed are Parham's memories of Obama's election in 2008, her experiences at his presidential inaugurations in 2009 and 2013, and her wide involvement in community organizations and civil society associations
Presidents--United States; Payday loans--United States; Payday loans--Law and legislation--United States; Consumer credit--United States; Consumer credit--Law and legislation--United States; Financial literacy--United States; Predatory lending--United States; Predatory lending--Law and legislation--United States; Parham, Ollie; Obama, Barack; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2022
Physical Description
31 pages
Note (Biographical)
Ollie Parham introduced President Obama before a speech he delivered about payday and predatory lending at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama, in March 2015. In addition to numerous other community and civic roles, Parham has served as the economic development chairperson for the Alabama National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Note
Interviewed by Nicole R. Hemmer on August 19, 2022. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Ollie Parham, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023