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Oral History

Joseph Fearrington and Clementine Self - On home, community, World War II, and Civil Rights

Interviewed by Hudson Vaughan on April 21, 2011

"Yeah, we the longest living on this street. We lived here longer than anybody."

- Joseph Fearrington

The interview begins with Mr. Fearrington's stories of how he came to Graham Street, then navigates back to earlier years of his life on the farm. Significant time was given to his experiences in WWII. The interview then turned to discussion about the construction of homes, early years in the area post-war, reflections on work and family life, and elements of pride in the journey to this point. Mrs. Clementine Fearrington Self joined for parts of the narrative, chiming in with questions and stories, especially related to her part in the local Civil Rights struggle.

Joseph Fearrington and Clementine Self - On home, community, World War II, and Civil Rights

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Oral history interview of Fearrington, Joseph conducted by Hudson Vaughan on April 21, 2011 at Chapel Hill, NC. Processed by Staimpel, Jacob.

Citation: Marian Cheek Jackson Center, “Joseph Fearrington and Clementine Self - On home, community, World War II, and Civil Rights,” From the Rock Wall, accessed September 13, 2026, https://fromtherockwall.org/oral-histories/joseph-fearrington-and-clementine-self.

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In this Oral History

Clementine Self

"I've heard so many people in my generation say, "I don't want my children to go through what I had to go through," and I keep asking them, "What did you go through?" Everything that I went through, I appreciate. I mean, I don't know what I didn't have. If I didn't have it, I don't miss it, but I…

Joseph Fearrington

"When I came out of the service in January 1946, I got a little work with my father over on Broad St. and another place, a couple more houses, and I decided I’d start mine. And so I had the timber cut to build this house, to frame it. .. . And that white house down there where them cars are parked?…

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