Viola Boyd oral history interview 1, 2004 March 9

Viola Boyd describes her life as an African American woman during segregation and the civil rights movement. Mrs. Boyd describes Matthews, North Carolina, and in particular the Crestdale neighborhood where she lived and grew up. She speaks frequently about her husband Sam Boyd, describing his various jobs and involvement in the community. Mrs. Boyd also describes how she became a beautician and talks about beauty parlor culture. Addressing the subject of civil rights, Mrs. Boyd recounts her memories of Ku Klux Klan activities in Matthews and Charlotte, and her son Harvey Boyd's involvement with protests in the area.