Soundbites from the Sandra Paul Miller Audio Interview by Sharlene Luke

SOT 1: Sandra Paul Miller was sprayed with water by a fire truck just because she was picketing

SOT Sandra Paul Miller :30

In: We went down Amelia Street 

Out: I enjoy the water 

SOT transcript: "We went down Amelia Street, and I can remember one day when I came out to march, we went down Amelia Street, and that was very exciting you know when your in things you don't fear your life, but it was fearful. I remember when the um, the fire truck came, and when the fire truck came the fire truck started squirting the water out on us, and I thank God it was a hot summer day because you know like you said no fear I enjoy the water."

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SOT 2: A man tried to to run Sandra off of the sidwalk and cursed her and other people with her/She and other young people spent the night in jail

SOT Sandra Paul Miller :42

In: Then later on we went down 

Out: the night in jail

SOT transcript: "Then later on we went down Russel Street, and I remeber one particular day when I was marching, uh we were marching in front this loan company, and I remeber this man came out and he was trying to run us off the sidewalk, but they always told us don't take matters in our hands go and get you know the higher authorities, and I remeber that day when he came out he started cursing us and runnign in front the business, and what we did we just went back and we got some of the fellas. And then another occasion I remember, we went to jail, and I was in that group of people that went to jail, and we spent the night in jail."

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SOT 3: Sandra Paul Miller did not go to the SC State Campus on the night of Feb 8th 1968 because her mother would not let her protest anywhere at night 

SOT Sandra Paul Miller :40

In: Ms. Miller were you on 

Out: that happened to him 

SOT transcript: "Ms. Miller were you on the campus the night of Feb 8th?" "Ok now, it just so happens that night my mother wouldn't let me out because it was night but I just missed it. But other than that, but I can say I remeber Mr. Middleton. He was our classmate at Wilkinson High School, and it was a very very sad day, I mean it was sad ya know, and he was a nice fella, basketball player, outstanding everything. But it was just one unfortunate thing that happened to him."

Click here to listen to this soundbite

Click here to listen to a radio style wrap of Sandra Paul Millers experiences with protesting

A Big Day Remembered by Sharlene Luke

 

In December of 2021, my family and I traveled to Trinidad and Tobago to spend my Christmas break with our extended relatives. I was really looking forward to December, 25^th while in Trinidad. It felt good to see my relatives in the Caribbean after 2 years, even though we all had to wear masks and do our best to not stay in the same house for long. In my eyes, it was a blessing to even see them in person again. I am blessed to say that no one had Covid-19 at the time of our visit, so that kept spirits high during our family vacation. Before my family even thought of planning a trip for the Caribbean, I was afraid to go back because I did not want to feel sad thinking about my grandmother who passed away in Trinidad 2 years ago.

 

A few days after my family and I arrived, I started to miss her when I mainly focused on all the pictures of her in her house. Knowing that I would never see her walk through her own house again or be able to talk to her broke my heart all over again. This is why I am glad to belong to such a great family because they kept my mind focused on the positive things in life, such as relatives who are still around, and the fact that Covid could not stop us from traveling to the Caribbean. Christmas day at my grandfather’s house was wonderful.

 

When the rest of my relatives arrived, my cousins and I sat around the dinner table for lunch, and I really enjoyed their company. My grandfather decided to play his harmonica for the family, and it sounded amazing. One of my cousins named Darriel also decided to play a song for the family. He used his sousaphone to play a Christian song, and all my relatives clapped their hands when he finished playing. He played it beautifully, and it made me love the musical side of my family even more than I already did.

 

On Christmas evening, some of my cousins, aunts and I decided to play a few games. We played Pictionary and Heads Up, and we all had a fun time. It was especially funny when some could not guess the correct answer for either a hand drawn picture or a random word. Christmas day in Trinidad was truly an awesome one, and I would not trade my family members for anything in this world. 

 

Click here to listen to my favorite day

 

                A beautiful top view of Trinidad 

Canons in Tobago that were used by the French soldiers who would fight against British soldieres in the 1800s.

Heres a picture of a gorgeous sunset on the plain ride back to America. Thankfully, my parents and I had a safe flight back home.