Interview Transcript of Alma Reed
Interviewer: 00:01 So first, can I have you say your first and last name, and spell it out for me?
Alma Reed: 00:06 Alma. A-L-M-A. Reed. R-E-E-D.
Interviewer: 00:10 Okay. So, referring to this map right there in front of you, on this paper, do you currently, or have you lived in this area?
Alma Reed: 00:18 I’ve lived all over Minnesota.
Interviewer: 00:21 Okay.
Alma Reed: 00:21 This north side.
Interviewer: 00:22 Yeah. How long have you lived over here, over in the north side?
Alma Reed: 00:26 I got here in ’91. I lived on Lyndale and 26th for four years. I lived on 38th and Thomas for three years. I lived on 18th Street, and now I’m on Washington. I’ve been Colfax, Bryant. I lived on Bryant, down the street. Yeah.
Interviewer: 00:51 Okay. So, thinking about where you lived, over here on Bryant, when you first came to that area, what changes have you seen recently? Positive or any negative changes?
Alma Reed: 01:05 Outrageous. There was no Cub Food Store there. There was no McDonald’s. They tore down White Castle. Mervyn’s had a restaurant in it, it don’t have no restaurant no more. It done upgraded. The Murder Station ain’t so Murder Station no more. If you all remember the Murder Station? Do you?
Interviewer: 01:24 No, I don’t remember.
Alma Reed: 01:24 Do you?
Speaker 3: 01:24 I do.
Alma Reed: 01:27 Yeah, yeah, yeah. We got the mall, or a little strip mall, we got a Walgreens, that’s beautiful down there. It looks good. The north side looks good, now.
Interviewer: 01:38 Have you seen any negative changes lately?
Alma Reed: 01:41 Negative changes?
Interviewer: 01:42 Yeah.
Alma Reed: 01:44 Negative mean bad, no?
Interviewer: 01:46 Yeah, yeah, bad.
Alma Reed: 01:47 No, it hasn’t gotten worser, I don’t think.
Interviewer: 01:50 Okay.
Alma Reed: 01:52 I don’t think so.
Interviewer: 01:53 So it’s increasing. That’s not too bad.
Alma Reed: 01:55 Yeah, it’s good. It has prospered and it’s going up.
Interviewer: 01:57 Okay. What do you feel caused those changes over the years?
Alma Reed: 02:03 Oh, I don’t know. You can put a little unity in it, a whole lot of money, people come together, churches always help. And just, I don’t know, because it’s been rough.
Interviewer: 02:19 Okay. Why you feel like unity helped those changes?
Alma Reed: 02:21 Because those churches. Churches bring unity.
Interviewer: 02:24 Amen. So, we’re gathering these stories to increase the understanding between the City of Minneapolis and the community and the impact of historic discriminatory government policies and practices in areas like housing, transportation, economic development, and more. Examples
including housing, employment discrimination in the early 20th century, the war on drugs in the 1990s and more. What impact have these policies or others had on your community in general?
Alma Reed: 02:56 Housing has improved. There was a lot of housing that has improved. People got jobs now. I retired so that ain’t my problem. More people got jobs now. Money is always flowed in Minnesota. So that right there is a good thing.
Interviewer: 03:14 Okay, what impact do you feel like they have on you and your family, personally?
Alma Reed: 03:19 I can’t put no finger on that one, now.
Interviewer: 03:21 Okay.
Alma Reed: 03:21 Yeah.
Interviewer: 03:24 Okay, what changes have you seen in this community that raised the level of stress and a valid concern in our future here in Minneapolis?
Alma Reed: 03:34 The level of stress?
Interviewer: 03:35 Yeah.
Alma Reed: 03:36 Changes that have stressed me?
Interviewer: 03:38 Yeah.
Alma Reed: 03:39 I can’t. I’m not into it like that.
Interviewer: 03:40 Yeah, you’re not into it. Okay.
Alma Reed: 03:43 I’m out the way.
Interviewer: 03:44 Alright, so if you did have stress, what part do you feel like the City of Minneapolis could play to relieve that stress, if you had stress?
Alma Reed: 03:53 I don’t know. Our police force is wishy washy.
Interviewer: 04:03 Right.
Alma Reed: 04:03 So, it would just have to be those people come together.
Interviewer: 04:07 Okay. So, what gives you hope for our future in urban …
Alma Reed: 04:12 Our kids.
Interviewer: 04:12 Our kids?
Alma Reed: 04:13 Our kids and education.
Interviewer: 04:16 Alright, what part of City of Minneapolis do you feel like they could play to help our community do better?
Alma Reed: 04:24 Just keep it on the north side, baby. Keep it the north side up.
Interviewer: 04:28 Yes, of course.
Alma Reed: 04:28 Yeah.
Interviewer: 04:28 Okay. So, these last few questions are simple questions, you don’t have to dig down deep if you don’t want to. But, when you think about this area today, what impacts do you still see from these historic government policies?
Alma Reed: 04:49 Impact like what? Is it for the better or the worse?
Interviewer: 04:54 It could be both.
Alma Reed: 04:55 It’s for the better. Things have gotten much better. So, impact is good, but like I said, police force don’t help.
Interviewer: 05:06 Right. So how would you describe the relationship between the City of Minneapolis and this north side community over here and where you live now, over on Bryant? Alma Reed: 05:17 There ain’t now. There ain’t now.
Interviewer: 05:24 Ain’t no love, huh? So, what are your expectations for the City of Minneapolis, relative or related to this community? And to what extent do you trust the City of Minneapolis to deliver on those expectations?
Alma Reed: 05:37 Oh, wow. I can’t answer that. I’m too old, I’d hate to have something happen and I might be gone. I’m just hoping for the best.
Interviewer: 05:47 Alright. Do you trust the City of Minneapolis to make this north side community better?
Alma Reed: 05:54 Yeah, that’s real doable. It’s very doable.
Interviewer: 05:57 Okay, so do you feel like you could play any part in making a hopeful future for this north side Minneapolis?
Alma Reed: 06:04 I could, depending on the what’s ups. I could, yeah. Because I teach my kids and my grandkids and all of that is a part towards getting out here and watching and protesting and stuff. Sometimes I’ve done some of that but it just … You never can tell. You all just keep doing what you all are doing.
Interviewer: 06:26 Right.
Alma Reed: 06:26 And we’ll try to do what we do.
Interviewer: 06:27 Thank you. Alright. So that was the end of the interview, Alma.
Alma Reed: 06:30 Okay.
Interviewer: 06:30 Alma, right?
Alma Reed: 06:33 Alma, yeah.
Interviewer: 06:33 Alright.
