Walter Allen Sr. interviewed by Fred Smith, 20 September 2016

Walter Allen Sr. interviewed by Fred Smith, 20 September 2016

Smith, Fred

Allen, Walter,Sr

9/20/16

Walter Allen, Sr. was born and raised in Allendale, South Carolina. He graduated high school in 1947 and attended Claflin University, a historically black college in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Allen played trumpet in the 36th Army Band during his service in the Korean War. After military service, Allen moved to Athens, Georgia, where he was the band director at Athens High and Industrial. Allen also worked as an assistant principal at different schools as the Athens' school system during the desegregation period.

Walter Allen, Sr. grew up in Allendale, South Carolina, in the era of Jim Crow. The area was a close knit farming community, and Allen recalls learning principles of responsibility and discipline from his parents, neighbors, and teachers at Allendale County Training School, an all-black public school. While he also took classes on agriculture and home economics, Allen valued his music education most highly. Because of widespread discrimination, Allen saw and experienced many racially-motivated injustices during his school years, which became a factor in his advocacy for black music education, which he promoted by establishing free after school music programs throughout the state of Georgia. In the interview, Allen chronicles his own music education, beginning in primary school and extending through his time in college, the military, and band directing.

Interviewed by Fred Smith.

Music--Instruction and study

Music--Instruction and study--Georgia

Georgia

Digital Library of Georgia

moving image

http://purl.libs.uga.edu/russell/RBRL379AMP-029/ohms