Interview with Reann Saunders Falireas, July 8, 2006

Interview Summary

Reann Saunders Falireas attended the University of Kentucky beginning in 1976 and graduated in 1981. In this interview she discusses her family background, what her family did for fun, and the value her family placed on education. She talks about her early education in Jefferson County, Kentucky and talks about race relations in the integrated schools.

Falireas says she attended UK for one year, but then her mother asked her to transfer to Western Kentucky University to be with her sister. Falireas says she did not like the atmosphere at WKU and transferred back to UK after one semester. She talks about the atmosphere at UK for Black students, and tells several stories about specific incidents of discrimination. She talks about her social life on and off campus, and describes her first week at the university. She talks about her life since graduation, living in Indonesia and Greece and raising her two children.

Interview Keyword

African American Alumni African American families African Americans African Americans--Social life and customs. College environment College integration Discrimination in higher education Minorities in higher education Prejudices. University of Kentucky University of Kentucky Alumni University towns

Interview LC Subject

African American college graduates--Kentucky African American college students--Social conditions African Americans--Education (Higher) African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington Falireas, Reann Saunders Falireas, Reann Saunders--Interviews Race discrimination Race relations Racism University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.