Oral History Interview with Danika Riddle

Partial Transcript: --Um--so if you wouldn't mind to go ahead and give me your name, your age, and your place of birth.

Segment Synopsis: Riddle is a twenty-one year old senior at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU.) Originally from Whitesburg, Riddle attended Perry County High School and took several courses at the University of Pikeville before enrolling at EKU. Riddle gives a brief overview of her work history. Riddle worked in fast food restaurants and as a cashier at Walmart during high school. Riddle also worked in childcare facilities during the summer. Riddle currently is a tutor and mentor at the EKU Student Success Center and also works at Goodwill.

Keywords: Childcare workers; Daycare centers; Eastern Kentucky University Student Success Center; Perry County High School (Ky.); Walmart (Firm)

Subjects: Cashiers; Early life; Eastern Kentucky University; Education; Fast food restaurants; Goodwill (Commerce); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Perry County (Ky.); Tutors and tutoring; University of Pikeville; Whitesburg (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: . . . What location did you attend--uh--the protest or protests that you attended in the summer of 2020?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle attended one protest in Hazard and two protests in Lexington, respectively. Riddle was more uncomfortable at the Lexington protests because Lexington was a bigger city than Hazard and more people showed up to protest. Riddle also felt more comfortable in Hazard because it was her hometown and there were less people participating in the protest. Riddle adds that there was more police presence at the Hazard protests compared to Lexington, which made Riddle apprehensive that the police in Hazard might not understand the meaning behind the protests. Riddle assisted in driving people to the Hazard protest and shared information about the protest on Facebook. Riddle learned about the Hazard protest from a friend on Facebook and found the Lexington protest through an Instagram story.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Instagram stories

Subjects: Black lives matter movement; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-; Crowds; Facebook (Electronic resource); Fayette County (Ky.); Hazard (Ky.); Instagram (Electronic resource); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Logistics; Perry County (Ky.); Police; Protests (Negotiable instruments); Roommates; Social media

Partial Transcript: How do you feel about how the news may have played a role in--um--your participation in the protest?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle says that she mostly received information about the protests through social media, but occasionally used NPR. Riddle typically got her information about the protests from local Black Lives Matter Movement leaders based in Louisville. Riddle recalls that people in Hazard had started rumors that there would be looting during the protests, causing many people to post on social media that they would be prepared to defend their homes with firearms. Ultimately, Riddle did not see anyone standing outside of their homes with firearms to protect their properties while she was protesting.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Looting; News; NPR; Rumors

Subjects: Black lives matter movement; Fayette County (Ky.); Fear; Firearms; Hazard (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Leadership; Lexington (Ky.); National Public Radio (U.S.); Perry County (Ky.); Protection; Protests (Negotiable instruments); Television; Threats

Partial Transcript: So, what made you decide that protesting was necessary and what were your personal reasons for participating?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle wanted to protest because she felt that was one of the things she could do to help the Black Lives Matter Movement. Riddle thought that people who did not support the Black Lives Matter Movement might listen to the awful experiences that Black people have in encounters with police if enough people showed up in solidarity with the movement to protest. Riddle was more concerned about attending the protests in Lexington in part because of the violent nature of the protests occurring in Louisville at the time. Riddle says that there were curfews imposed in Louisville and some protestors were maced. Additionally, Riddle was concerned about the risk of contracting COVID-19 by attending the much larger protests in Lexington.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Mace; Passionate

Subjects: African Americans; Black lives matter movement; Blacks; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-; Curfews; Fayette County (Ky.); Hazard (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); Masks; Perry County (Ky.); Police; Police brutality; Protests (Negotiable instruments); Visibility

Partial Transcript: Moving on, how did COVID-19 impact the way that you were living your life in terms of work, school, and social life around this time?

Segment Synopsis: When the COVID-19 pandemic first began in the spring of 2020, Riddle says that she spent most of her time at home isolated from other people except for her roommate. Riddle's work and classes at EKU moved online and she was not coming into contact with relatives who had underlying health conditions at the time of the protests. Riddle felt that it was more important to protest against the injustices perpetrated by police on Black people than to stay home and protect herself from contracting COVID-19. Riddle also isolated at her home in the days after the attended the protests. Riddle also recalls that the vast majority of people were wearing masks at the protests in Lexington and Hazard, except for the police.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Isolation; Online classes; Remote work

Subjects: African Americans; Blacks; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-; Eastern Kentucky University; Education; Hazard (Ky.); Health; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Masks; Perry County (Ky.); Police; Police brutality; Protests (Negotiable instruments); Public health; Roommates; Social distancing (Public health); Work

Partial Transcript: So, what were some thoughts that you had experienced on the days before the protests . . .

Segment Synopsis: Leading up to the protests, Riddle was motivated by her rage against the injustices experienced by Blacks at the hands of police. Riddle was nervous about attending the Lexington protests because the news had depicted scenes of tension and violence occurring at the Louisville protests. At the first protest she attended in Lexington, Riddle went with her roommate and another acquaintance. Riddle was planning to go to a second protest in Lexington alone and became very apprehensive at the prospect of being a woman alone in a somewhat large city at night. Fortunately, Riddle found a friend to attend the protest with at the last minute. Riddle later ended up going to a Juneteenth celebration in Lexington alone.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Friends

Subjects: Anger; Anxiety; Black lives matter movement; Fayette County (Ky.); Fear; Hazard (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); Motivation; Perry County (Ky.); Protests (Negotiable instruments); Roommates; Safety; Women

Partial Transcript: So, before you went to these protests, did you receive any training--um--for how to--not--non-violently or safely protest beforehand, whether this was social media, through a person or--um--an actual like training seminar?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle learned from social media how to conceal her identity, since some protestors faced repercussions from their work or school from participating in the protests. At the protest in Lexington organized by Black Lives Matter Louisville, Riddle recalls that organizers wrote a phone number on the protestor's arms they could call in case they were arrested. It was also advised to bring something to rinse out your eyes in case of contact with mace. Riddle also mentions that it was suggested not to post pictures on social media that showed other protestor's faces. Riddle did not face any threats of violence while attending the protests. Riddle did see rumors on social media that white supremacist groups were going to the protests in Louisville. Riddle also remembers that some people in her hometown threatened to run over protestors if they marched in the streets, but these threats were never followed through.

Keywords: Arrests; Black Lives Matter (Organization); Black Lives Matter Louisville; Eyes; Mace; Retaliation; Rumors; Signs

Subjects: Bail; Black lives matter movement; Cities; Fayette County (Ky.); Hate groups; Hazard (Ky.); Identity; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); Masks; Perry County (Ky.); Police; Privacy; Protection; Protests (Negotiable instruments); Safety; Social media; Threats; Violence; White supremacy movements; Work

Partial Transcript: So, what was your call to action--um--not just to deem this necessary--um--but to make you get involved yourself, would you say that there was like a pivotal moment where you knew that like you had to do something?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle says that one turning point for her to participate in the protests was the killing of Breonna Taylor. Riddle had previously been aware of the issue of police brutality committed against Blacks, but the summer of 2020 protests was the first time that she had access to a protest near where she lived. Riddle explains that she heard on an NPR podcast that the protests happened at a point time when tensions were already high due to the social isolation of the pandemic. The killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd occurred during the height of the pandemic. People were outraged at these injustices, which reached a boiling point when combined with a collective sense of hopelessness due to social isolation caused people to feel they had to do something to express their discontent.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Breonna Taylor; Isolation; NPR; Tension

Subjects: African Americans; Black lives matter movement; Blacks; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-; Death; Fayette County (Ky.); Hazard (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); National Public Radio (U.S.); Perry County (Ky.); Podcasts; Police; Police brutality; Protests (Negotiable instruments); Social distancing (Public health); Suffering

Partial Transcript: . . . But do you feel like any of that has to do with the escalation between class relations right now?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle says that the disproportionate amount of police brutality committed against Blacks relates to the poverty and injustice experienced by Blacks in low-income areas. Riddle says that the economic divide between social classes is an important factor in issues that affect many people of color. Riddle believes that the COVID-19 pandemic made class relations more tense. Riddle had a friend who worked in the restaurant industry in Louisville who did not receive unemployment payments until after the statewide lockdown orders were lifted. Riddle's friend struggled to pay rent and put food on the table as a result. Riddle explains that the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd amidst the economic fallout from the pandemic caused many people to reach a breaking point. Riddle describes it as the kicking the dog effect, in which people become frustrated with one event and take their anger out on the metaphoric dog. Riddle believes that the financial stresses associated with the pandemic combined with people's anger and frustration with police brutality caused a breaking point and the protests became a way for people to release their anger.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Breaking point; Breonna Taylor; Friends; Income gap; Inequality; Injustice; Lockdowns; Tension

Subjects: African Americans; Anger; Black lives matter movement; Blacks; Capitalism; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-; Food; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Louisville (Ky.); Police; Police brutality; Poverty; Psychology; Public health; Rent; Social classes; Social distancing (Public health); Sociology; Stress; Suffering; Unemployment; Wealth; Work

Partial Transcript: How do you understand and value Breonna Taylor's life and death? Was her death uniquely motivating? If so, in what way?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle feels that the death of Breonna Taylor was a senseless tragedy and a great injustice. Riddle thought it was horrifying that police would kill Taylor, since she was an EMT who wanted to help people. Riddle says that the death of Breonna Taylor was very impactful, since it happened to a fellow Kentuckian. Riddle came to the realization that she was in a privileged position as a white woman not to have to worry about being killed by the police. Riddle recalls the circumstances (from what she recalls) behind Taylor's death. Riddle says that police were looking for someone that was not in Taylor's apartment at the time they arrived. Riddle says that the police announced their presence and entered the apartment and began shooting indiscriminately throughout the apartment, hitting Taylor with multiple rounds of gunfire as she stood defenseless in the hallway. Riddle was unsure whether Taylor's boyfriend (who was also in the apartment) was armed. Riddle was confused as to why police felt the need to resort to lethal force to handle the situation when they had gone into Taylor's apartment.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Breonna Taylor; No-knock warrants; Whites

Subjects: African Americans; Black lives matter movement; Blacks; Bullets; Death; Fear; First responders; Louisville (Ky.); Police; Police brutality; Violence

Partial Transcript: How might that idea of lethal action within someone's home contrast to the views that you may have been around growing up--um--and that in relation to any gun safety rules that maybe you had been taught . . . as a--a kid growing up in the mountains?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle says that she grew up around firearms, with at least one beside the entrance to her house in case an intruder came. Riddle recalls that the gun was rarely put away and out of reach of children, but the safety was on at all times. Riddle can see the appeal in having a firearm for self protection purposes, but does not approve of people carrying weapons around in public. Riddle says that the mindset of using firearms to protect your property is very common where she grew up in eastern Kentucky. A common trope is the idea that you may be shot if you set foot on someone else's property. Riddle is often afraid when she has to use someone's driveway to turn around in case they might try to shoot at her for entering onto their property. Riddle also recalls learning to keep the firearm pointed towards the ground, keep the safety on and not to put her finger on the trigger unless she was prepared to shoot.

Keywords: Gun safety

Subjects: Early life; Firearms; Hazard (Ky.); Hunting; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Perry County (Ky.); Property; Protection; Safety; Self-defense; Weapons

Partial Transcript: --Um--were there other lives or deaths that were also meaningful to you . . .were there other names that you had heard?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle says that the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd made an impact on her decision to protest. Riddle became a bit saddened when she realized that the killing of George Floyd was getting more visibility than Breonna Taylor's case. Riddle believes that more attention was directed towards the killing of George Floyd because he was a man. Riddle is sad that the names of so many Black victims of police brutality never get any attention. Riddle often finds it overwhelming to remember the names of every police brutality victim, but that does not mean she cares less about their stories.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Breonna Taylor; Elijah McClain; George Floyd; Sandra Bland; Trayvon Martin

Subjects: African Americans; Anger; Black lives matter movement; Blacks; Death; Grief; Names; Police; Police brutality; Visibility; Women

Partial Transcript: So, are you or were you involved with BLM or other organizations around the time of the protest?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle was involved with Black Lives Matter through participating in a protest that the Louisville branch of the organization held in Lexington. Riddle says that the protest organized by Black Lives Matter Louisville was much more organized than the first Lexington protest she attended. Riddle says that the organizers led people in chants and discouraged people from engaging in any type of violence or unpredictable behavior. Riddle is no longer directly involved with the Black Lives Matter organization, but still follows the leaders of BLM Louisville on social media. Riddle believes that the primary goal of the BLM organization is to advocate for the Black community, who have faced centuries of injustice and oppression because of the color of their skin.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Black Lives Matter Louisville

Subjects: African Americans; Black lives matter movement; Blacks; Chants; Fayette County (Ky.); Hazard (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Perry County (Ky.); Protests (Negotiable instruments); Social media

Partial Transcript: . . . That Blue Lives Matter contrasts to Black Lives Matter. --Um--why do you feel like that is a thing and what do you feel like might be wrong or right about that?

Segment Synopsis: In Riddle's opinion, the sentiment of Blue Lives Matter is worse than the idea that all lives matter. Riddle views Blue Lives Matter to be an attempt to minimize the goals of BLM. Riddle says that police can also choose a different career, while race is permanent. Riddle adds that people who espouse that blue lives matter show that they do not understand the goals of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Riddle says that it is markedly clear that police lives matter in the sense that they power and privilege.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Blue Lives Matter

Subjects: African Americans; Black lives matter movement; Blacks; Identity; Police; Power; Privilege; Race

Partial Transcript: So, there was a saying that kept coming up around the protests of 2020 and--um--that saying was defund the police. So, when you hear the words defund the police, what does that mean to you?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle believes that the concept of defund the police is reallocating funds for police departments to other branches of government. Riddle says that the budgets of police departments are astronomically high and it is evident that the police have too many responsibilities and pressures to adequately perform the current functions of their jobs. Riddle explains that the widespread problem of police brutality in police departments is a symptom of mismanagement and indicates the need to redistribute police department funds, so that the money might be better used elsewhere.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Defund the Police; Lawsuits; Local government

Subjects: Black lives matter movement; Federal government; Money; Police; Police brutality; Pressure; Responsibilities; State governments; Violence

Partial Transcript: Did participating in the protests of 2020 impact your relationship with friends, or family or your community in any way?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle says that she unfollowed many people on social media and others unfollowed her after she participated in the protests. Riddle had a lot of conflict with her conservative mother over her decision to protest. Riddle says that her mother's only news source is very biased information from Facebook. Riddle has tried to make it clear to her mother that the intent of the protests was to stand up for people who are dying at the hands of police. Riddle says that her grandparents are more tolerant of different ideologies than her mother. Riddle thinks it is because so many people in her mother's age range are easily manipulated by disinformation on Facebook that changes their opinions on issues. Riddle finds it interesting that people in her mother's generation diametrically oppose what Riddle's generation wants to accomplish and they cannot articulate why these ideas incite so much anger. Riddle shares that her grandmother would be more inclined to comment on her BLM social media posts about how God loves everyone, while her mother would say that all lives matter.

Keywords: Bias; Black Lives Matter (Organization); Ideologies--Political; Media; Misinformation

Subjects: African Americans; Black lives matter movement; Blacks; Conservatives; Death; Facebook (Electronic resource); Fayette County (Ky.); Generations; Grandmothers; Grandparents; Hazard (Ky.); Influences; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Liberals; Louisville (Ky.); Morals; Mother; Perry County (Ky.); Police; Police brutality; Protests (Negotiable instruments); Social media; Tolerance; Understanding

Partial Transcript: But, it's weird to see the difference between two people who were raised in the same area, but someone who perhaps has more access to being manipulated.

Segment Synopsis: Riddle believes that her mother and grandmother have different political opinions because of her mother's susceptibility to being manipulated through disinformation on Facebook. Riddle finds it strange that her mother is so opposed to Riddle protesting when she participated in labor strikes while working at a hospital. Riddle says that her grandmother was a Democrat until Riddle's mother questioned her on it. Riddle's grandmother thought that the Democrats were the party for the working class. Riddle's mother and grandmother both had to raise their children in poverty. Riddle says that her mother seems not to realize that all working class people on either side of the political spectrum are fighting for the same issues. Riddle adds that her mother may feel a threat to her privilege when Blacks are trying to fight for equality through BLM.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Cycle of poverty; Politics; Strikes

Subjects: Black lives matter movement; Democrats; Facebook (Electronic resource); Generations; Grandmothers; Hazard (Ky.); Hospitals; Influence; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Labor unions; Mother; Perry County (Ky.); Poverty; Privilege; Republicans; Substance abuse; Tolerance; Work; Working class

Partial Transcript: Do you feel like the media was accurately detailing the events and the attitudes of protestors?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle feels that the media coverage of the protests focused too much on the violent behavior of some protestors rather than the root causes of their anger and frustration that prompted them to take these actions. Riddle does not follow mainstream news media outlets, but recalls that her family was very concerned about her safety when attending the Lexington protests. Riddle did not witness any widespread violence in Lexington like the instances reported at the Louisville protests. Riddle feels that the police showing up in riot gear created an environment that almost encouraged violence.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Family; Media

Subjects: Black lives matter movement; Fayette County (Ky.); Fear; Hazard (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); Perception; Perry County (Ky.); Police; Police brutality; Protests (Negotiable instruments); Safety; Violence

Partial Transcript: What outcomes did you wanna see from these protests?

Segment Synopsis: Riddle wanted one of the outcomes of the protest to be that justice would be sought for the victims of police brutality. Riddle also wanted people to have empathy for the cause of the Black Lives Matter Movement, especially people in southeastern Kentucky. Riddle briefly discusses Breonna's Law, which banned the use of no-knock warrants statewide in Kentucky. Riddle wishes that BLM protests were still a regular occurrence. Riddle thinks that issues of police brutality in the U.S. have not been resolved. Riddle says one of the things that has changed since the protests is that Donald Trump is no longer president. Please note that the interview audio abruptly cuts off at the end of this segment.

Keywords: Black Lives Matter (Organization); Breonna Taylor; Breonna's Law; Donald Trump; No-knock warrants; Outcomes; Southeastern Kentucky

Subjects: African Americans; Appalachia; Black lives matter movement; Blacks; Empathy; Hazard (Ky.); Justice; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Perry County (Ky.); Police; Police brutality; Protection; Protests (Negotiable instruments); Safety; Understanding