Paula Brittian
Paula Brittian - On her dad's work as a contractor, her activism, and living in Chapel Hill
"[There’s] just a lot of history here, and a lot of people just died out or sold out, and I think it’s sad. I think it’s really sad because we don’t have anything anymore, so I was like, 'You know what? They are not taking my house, okay? [Even] if I had to live in a tent,' [laughter] I do what I got to do"
- Paula Brittian
Ms. Paula Brittian discusses growing up in Chapel Hill, her family dynamics, and goes into detail about her father being a beloved, long-time contractor. Her father, Paul, worked on a lot of houses and buildings in Chapel Hill including for many neighbors, UNC, and even built their family’s house. He hired Black men who were formerly in prison to work for him. She also talks about owning two houses, one in Atlanta and one in Chapel Hill, although she has lived in Chapel Hill for 40 years. While her children and grandchildren live elsewhere now, it’s clear that Ms. Brittian, her late husband, and Chapel Hill have greatly influenced their family. Lastly, Ms. Brittian recalls her involvement in the local Civil Rights Movements. Along with her brother-in-law, she founded the local chapter of the NAACP and she played a big role in demonstrations and activism leading to desegregation.
