Mary Helen Washington interview, 11 December 2024

The interview with Mary Helen Washington focuses on her childhood and early life in Cleveland, Ohio, her education, and her experiences with segregation. She describes growing up in a working-class Black family, her parents' migration to Ohio, and the importance of neighborhood-based recreation due to limited formal opportunities for Black children at the time. She discusses attending Catholic schools, where she experienced a racial and social divide between her predominantly white academic environment and her Black social life. Washington reflects on her time at Camp Mueller, a summer camp run by the Phillis Wheatley Association, detailing her excitement, the types of activities available, and the social dynamics between different groups of campers. She describes her admiration for the camp's staff but also recounts her attempts to run away. The interview also touches on Cleveland’s racial segregation, particularly in education, employment, and recreation, as well as her family’s outdoor activities and experiences in parks.