Amanda Hollowell oral history interview, 2017-07-15

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: My name is Erica Hague and I'm interviewing Amanda Hollowell for Georgia State University's Women's March Oral History Project.

Segment Synopsis: Amanda Hollowell discusses her family's and her own political views and activities, and talks about the difference between activism and advocacy. She describes her career as an organ-donation educator.

Keywords: Georgia's WIN List

Subjects: Political participation

Partial Transcript: AMANDA HOLLOWELL: So in California, everyone's pretty much like, "Yeah, whatever, you know, like do you."

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell talks about her first time participating in activism, in support of affirmative action. She discusses organizing the Savannah Women's March in January 2017, including selecting speakers and coordinating through a steering committee.

Keywords: Georgia's WIN List; Local marches

Subjects: Affirmative action programs--Psychological aspects; Women's March, Savannah, Ga. (2017)

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: So, obviously you had sort of mixed feelings from the start about it.

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell discusses why she was initially resistant to the Women's March movement, and what she appreciates about the way it evolved. She talks about needing women to get more involved in politics.

Keywords: Pantsuit Nation

Subjects: Women's March, Savannah, Ga. (2017); Women--Political activity

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: So, what were your expectations before and were those met?

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell talks about tension and anxiety she experienced leading up to the march in Savannah. She talks about encouraging people to connect with existing organizations and activists rather than trying to start from scratch. She describes combating fatigue and overwork from being heavily involved in activist work.

Subjects: Political participation; Trump, Donald, 1946-; Women's March, Savannah, Ga. (2017)

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: So you mentioned that you are a single mother, and you have a son?

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell talks about having her son participate in political activism from a young age, and being glad that he has been exposed to sides of life that most children don't see. She talks about trying to protect him and instructing him on how to behave as a young black man to keep him safe.

Subjects: African American teenage boys--Social conditions; Mothers and sons; Youth--Political activity

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: So do you see -- you talked about, a little bit about people sort of getting activated and getting ignited to do more.

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell talks about various political campaigns she has worked on since the march. She talks about wishing Democrats were less hesitant to proclaim a liberal ideology.

Subjects: Democratic Party (U.S.); Sanders, Bernard; Women--Political activity

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: Do you think that social media had a big impact in the turnout of the march here, or in the -- in the future of activism?

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell talks about the role of social media in activism in general and in the January 21st marches, both positive and negative.

Keywords: Fake news

Subjects: Social media

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: So, the day of the march. You talked a little bit about the speakers that you had and that you organized.

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell talks about chants, signs, and pussy hats at the march. She describes the charged atmosphere at the march, and a conversation she had with her mother the morning of the march.

Keywords: Chants; March speakers; Protest signs; Pussy hats

Subjects: Political participation; Women's March, Savannah, Ga. (2017)

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: Were your friends and other family members supportive too, or -- ?

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell talks about her friends and family's supportive attitudes toward the march, and talks about her feelings about how local marches fit into the larger march movement.

Keywords: Local marches

Subjects: Political participation; Women's March on Washington (2017)

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: Was law enforcement an issue here in Savannah?

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell talks about the supportive attitudes of law enforcement toward the march, and their stated purpose of protecting the marchers from people who didn't agree with their message.

Keywords: A Day Without A Woman; Counter-protesters; Police presence

Subjects: Police; Political participation

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: You -- I'd like to talk more about the Day Without a Woman because I think that was something that I participated in and I feel very strongly about --

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell talks about planning an event for A Day Without a Woman along with fellow local activist Coco Papy.

Keywords: A Day Without A Woman

Subjects: Feminism; Political participation

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: Do you have any advice for folks that are considering to go to a march or participate in an activity in the future --

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell offers advice for would-be marchers to not have preconceived notions and to do whatever they can to support the mission of the march. She offers similar advice to those who are interested in running for office--be yourself, but listen to more experienced people.

Subjects: Political participation

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: Do you have any other sort of fears for the future?

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell expresses her enthusiasm and hopefulness for the 2018 gubernatorial race in Georgia.

Subjects: Presidents--Election; Women--Political activity

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: It's, did any part of the march surprise you?

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell discusses being surprised by the large turnout at the Savannah march, and by how many speakers agreed to appear. She talks about the large amount of media coverage the march received.

Keywords: News media

Subjects: Press; Women's March, Savannah, Ga. (2017)

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: Is there anything else that you'd like to talk about, about activism, about getting involved --

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell discusses her desire to "turn Georgia blue."

Subjects: Democratic Party (U.S.); Elections

Partial Transcript: ERICA HAGUE: Just -- I asked this in another interview but with Savannah being below the sea level --

Segment Synopsis: Hollowell discusses preservation and community investment efforts in Savannah.

Subjects: Climatic changes; Historic preservation