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Transcript of interview with Joel Coombs by Claytee D. White, February 22, 2014

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Narrator

Date

2014-02-22

Description

Joel Coombs was raised in an interracial upper middle class family. Born in Newport News, Virginia, his parents relocated and separated when he was young. Joel's white father went on to marry a black woman by the name of Delores. Many of Joel's friends thought that Delores was just hired help, as coming from an interracial home in Las Vegas in the 1970s was considered extremely rare. Joel recalls having to tell his peers on more than one occasion that Delores was his mom and not his maid. His fondest family memories include rock collecting and going to the gun range. Joel became a cheerleader and ran track in high school and college. He recalls attending Valley High School amidst racial tensions, racism, and prejudice. His recollections concerning high school lockdowns and race riots reveal the underlying social issues that once plagued Las Vegas, Nevada. Another major social problem that negatively impacted the lives of Joel's peers was drug abuse, as drugs were easily available at Valley High School and at Bishop Gorman in the 1970s. As an interracial couple Joel's parents were at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement. He recalls participating in the protests as a child and landing on the front page of The Post. In regards to jobs, prior to building and designing roofs and floors at Truss Plant, Joel worked as a jeweler and as a land surveyor. Growing up in an interracial home in Las Vegas helped to shape him into the hardworking, socially aware, and innovative man he is today.

Digital ID

OH_00267
    Details

    Citation

    Joel Coombs, 2014 February 22. OH-00267. [Transcript] Oral History Research Center, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.\n

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    Language

    English

    Format

    application/pdf