The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke
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| Repository: | The HistoryMakers |
| 1900 S. Michigan Avenue |
| Chicago, Illinois 60616 |
| (312) 674-1900 |
| info@thehistorymakers.com |
| http://www.thehistorymakers.com |
| Interviewer: | Julieanna Richardson |
| Videographer: | Scott Stearns |
| Title: | Video Oral History Interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke |
| Dates: | July 23, 2001 |
| Abstract: | (ABSTRACT) |
| Quantity: | 5 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials. |
| Identification: | A2001.005 |
| Language: | The interviews and records are in English |
In the course of her long public service career, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke has made significant contributions to improve the quality of life for minorities, women and the poor. Burke's college education began at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1949. She transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, in her junior year. In 1956, Burke received her J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School, graduating in the top third of her class. In law school, when Burke was refused admission to the women's law society, she and two Jewish female law students started a rival organization. She also played a key role in organizing a legal defense team for those charged in the Watts Riots in 1965 and was soon appointed by the governor to the McCone Commission to investigate the causes of the riots.
Burke's political career began in 1966 with her election as the first African American assemblywoman, representing the 63rd Assembly District of California. She served for three terms. Throughout her tenure in the California legislature, she was an ardent supporter of prison reform, childcare, equal opportunities for minorities and women, and education. Burke grew frustrated with the unresponsiveness of the state legislature and successfully campaigned for a seat in California's 37th Congressional District. This gave Burke the distinction of being the first African American female elected to the U.S. Congress from California.
Currently, Burke serves as Los Angeles County supervisor for the Second District, a position she has held since 1992. As a member of the Board of Supervisors, Burke has focused her efforts on improving the lives of children, encouraging economic development and improving transportation in Los Angeles.
Burke has amassed numerous distinctions and honors throughout her public service career. She became the first African American female to serve as chairperson of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in 1993. She was vice chairperson of the 1972 Democratic National Convention, past chairman of the L.A. Federal Reserve Bank and vice chairman of the 1984 U.S. Olympics Organizing Committee. Time named Burke one of America's 200 Future Leaders, and she was selected Woman of the Year by both the Los Angeles Times and UCLA.
Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®
This life oral history interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke was conducted by Julieanna Richardson on 2001-07-23 in L.A. County, Hahn Hall of Administration, Los Angeles, CA and is recorded on 5 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Yvonne Braithwaite Burke's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.
Restrictions on Access
Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.
Restrictions on Use
All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.
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| This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms. |
| Contributors: |
| | Burke, Yvonne Braithwaite |
| | Richardson, Julieanna |
| | Stearns, Scott |
| Persons: |
| | (PERSONS) |
| Corporate Bodies: |
| | (CORPORATE BODIES) |
| Family Names: |
| | Burke |
| Places: |
| | (PLACES) |
| Subjects: |
| | (SUBJECTS) |
| Document Types: |
| | Video oral history interview |
| Titles: |
| | The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke |
Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.
Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.
The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, July 23, 2001. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.
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Video Oral History Interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, Tape 1, July 23, 2001, TRT: 00:30:06.
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| Yvonne Brathwaite Burke gives great detail into the history of her family. Through some interesting stories she tells how her parents met and eventually ended up in Los Angeles, California. She mentions some hard times the family went through including a union strike and racial discrimination. Nonetheless, Brathwaite Burke managed to have a fruitful childhood as she was constantly involved with a number of lessons, educational programs and family outings. Education is a strong topic that Brathwaite Burke mentions frequently as she explains her journey through the ranks of education. Also well covered is the social climate in Los Angeles during her childhood. She gives many details and tells stories that give one insight into what the city was like, especially for a young African American girl. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, Tape 2, July 23, 2001, TRT: 00:29:09.
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| Yvonne Brathwaite Burke meets attorney Loren Miller at age fifteen and is greatly impressed by his scholarly attitude. This meeting solidifies her decision to become a lawyer. She attends the University of California at Berkeley for her undergraduate studies and tells of some hard times she had adjusting to college life. Her positive personality and attitude for nothing less than full success get her through this period. Brathwaite Burke speaks on some of the jobs she held while in college. In particular, her experience as a model brings out some humorous as well as some racially significant stories. With the help of her mother's genius idea, she is accepted into the University of Southern California's Law School even though the school does not usually accept African-Americans. After some interesting years at USC Brathwaite Burke graduates and accepts a job with the State of California. Even though she faces barriers of gender discrimination she makes great strides at the beginning of her career. After a short segment on the meeting of her first husband, Brathwaite Burke explains why she left her job with the State of California to pursue other avenues of law. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, Tape 3, July 23, 2001, TRT: 00:30:00.
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| After a short conversation describing a painting on her office wall, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke comments on the confusing year 1968. She talks about the hardships she encountered then and wonders if society is falling apart before her eyes. Her campaigns for the California legislature and Congress are discussed in great depth and she tells numerous stories of people she met along the way including Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Barbara Jordan. Once elected to Congress, she experiences Washington D.C.'s media backlash towards her but forges ahead in a great effort to make her Congressional career successful. Throughout, her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement is touched upon. From her opinion on the importance of lawyers in Civil Rights to dealing with the various organizations at the time, Brathwaite Burke's experience in the movement is exceptional and her insight thought-provoking. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, Tape 4, July 23, 2001, TRT: 00:30:08.
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| Besides being one of the only African American women U.S. Representatives, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke is also the only one with a child. She speaks of the adjustments she needed to make when she went to Congress. While there, she puts a great deal of effort into leading the Congressional Black Caucus and is highly successful in getting their foundation financially off the ground. Equally important she takes laws such as Affirmative Action and brings them to into the public eye, usually passing these bills with ease. Brathwaite Burke reaches many milestones but never takes any for granted. As she looks at the situation that African Americans are in at the present time she is amazed at the variety of opportunities. However, she is concerned with the future of African Americans in politics. She believes that the role is still an extremely worthy and necessary job, although she doesn't see the motivation in the younger generations that she hoped she would. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, Tape 5, July 23, 2001, TRT: 00:28:46.
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| We get an idea of what Yvonne Brathwaite Burke is like outside of the office as she speaks of some her other interests and hobbies, some of which she enjoys with her husband. Continuing in the non-public vein she discusses her hopes for her children and reveals that she would like to see her daughter Autumn run for office one day. We then get a clear sense of why Brathwaite Burke has been so successful in life as she explains her attitude that she can do anything she sets her mind to. And her attitude has rubbed off on others. In describing her legacy she is proud to say that she has influenced others into reaching their dreams in life. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke narrates photos that span her career. Photos include the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Henry Kissinger and many others. |