- Date:
- unknown/unknown
- Main contributors:
- Lied, Sally A. (Sally Alicia), 1939-
- Summary:
- This recording is a reflection and analysis of Sally Lied's time in the VISTA program. Recorded after she decided to discontinue her participation, she thoroughly dissects her experience and ruminates on the most salient moments of the three week trip. She discusses surface level topics such as the assignment of her group, living conditions, the family they stayed with, the role of cars and TV, the monitoring of phone calls and mail, some of the group activities and sessions, and how the education process would have been structured had she continued with the program. However, as the recording continues a much deeper reflection occurs on her experience mostly relating to racial tension and intersectional poverty, ways of organizing and uniting impoverished people as well as the difficulties of this work, adapting to southern culture during her time in Newnan, why poor people will likely remain poor, her own personal problems with the VISTA program, where the VISTA program works and where it doesn't, as well as the inability of the program to address both the problems of racism and poverty. Primarily, this recording discusses racial and class divides and the systems in place that keep racial groups at odds with each other. It provides insight as to contemporary social, economic, and political problems in the south. It seems as though Lied has prepared notes that she is presenting to a group of people who may be considering the VISTA program themselves. Side 2 appears to be a continuation of the lecture in side 1.