Oral history with Ms. Vera Penney Gong

              Oral history with Ms. Vera Penney Gong
F341.5 . M57 vol. 748, pt. 1
Funding for this project provided by The Mississippi State Legislature, The Mississippi Humanities Council, The Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Southern Mississippi.
This transcription of an oral history by the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage of The University of Southern Mississippi may not be reproduced or published in any form except that quotation of short excerpts of unrestricted transcripts and the associated tape recordings is permissible providing written consent is obtained from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. When literary rights have been retained by the interviewee, written permission to use the material must be obtained from both the interviewee and the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Ms. Vera Penney Gong was born on May 19, 1950, in San Francisco, California. At the age of eight, Ms. Gong’s father immigrated to the United States from China. In 1954, he moved his wife and children from San Francisco to Mississippi. As a child, Ms. Gong spent most of her time either in school or working in the grocery store owned and operated by her parents in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The store was located in a segregated, all- black community, and Ms. Gong and her family resided in their living quarters at the back of the grocery store.
As she was growing up, Ms. Gong was part of a large Chinese population in Clarksdale; she attended a Chinese church as well as Chinese school in the summer to learn Chinese language and culture. During her childhood, Ms. Gong suffered some personal experiences of being the target of racism.
In 1969, Ms. Gong entered Delta State University as a freshman and earned her degree. She began working in a clerical position in the registrar’s and admissions office; currently she is coordinator of graduation and commencement there.
Table of Contents
I. Childhood
II. Chinese work ethic
III. Chinese community
IV. Personal experiences of racism
V. Delta State University, 1969
VI. Intolerance destroys business
VII. Changes in Delta State
VIII. Impressions of Cleveland, Mississippi
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