Trotter Dammond Preacely, "Peggy" Margaret

Metadata

Abstract

An oral history with Peggy Preacely for The Women, Politics, and Activism Since Suffrage Project sponsored by California State University, Fullerton. Peggy Preacely was a civil rights activist in the south and northeast during the 1960s -1970s and in California into the present day. The purpose of this interview was to understand how women define their political activism. Specifically, this interview talks about Preacely’s upbringing in Pittsburg and Harlem; describes her family’s history of activism, including her parents and great uncle, William Monroe Trotter; recalls her educational background and studies at Hunter College, Boston University, Simmons College, Berkley College of Music; talks about her personal involvement in the Civil Rights Movement including: sit-ins, freedom rides in Crisfield, Maryland, North Carolina and the Mississippi Freedom Summer; describes her involvement with SNCC and what it was like to attend their workshops; discusses her work with improving voter literacy in Lee County, Georgia; reminisces about her ancestors: William and Ellen Craft; talks about her involvement with the Anti-War movement and trip to the Soviet Union with Women Strike for Peace; describes being involved with the Anti-Draft Movement in Boston, MA; describes her contribution to the book Hands on the Freedom Plow; explains why she joined Black Women Organized for Action in San Francisco; recalls meeting her husband and how she balanced her roles as activist and wife; shares about current social involvement including involvement with the African American Network for Violence Free Relationships/Interval House and work to combat human trafficking; explains why it’s important to preserve black history; discusses her work with the Black Women’s Health Project in Los Angeles; compares leadership styles between men and women; explains why it’s important for women to be involved in activism; shares advice she gives to young people; talks about how her faith affects her activism; and finally, reflects on her life as an activist.