Joy McGhee Interview

TYRONE DARDEN: Welcome to another episode of 300 Voices in 300 Days. I'm your host, Tyrone Darden, and this is TAAN TV, The African American Network. I'm here with one of our 300 Voices, Miss Joy McGhee. We'll give her about 30 seconds to introduce herself, and then we'll get right into the interview.

JOY MCGHEE: Hello, I am Joy McGhee, very happy to be a proud member of the San Antonio community. Living on the east side. I live in the Jupe Manor Neighborhood Association, and I'm President of the Eastern Triangle Community Coalition, which encompasses about 17 neighborhoods that are primarily east but a few southeast, Districts Two and Three. I'm also a very vibrant business owner. I do technology training and consulting, also some motivational speaking and personal development as well. And I'm also very happy to be a mother of four and six grandchildren in my abode.

DARDEN: I think that was probably the best introduction that we've 00:01:00had. So, she gets the best introduction award for 300 Voice in 300 Days. No, but with that being said, I know you personally, and I know you do a lot of things in the community. You did say you know, you're a mother, you're a grandmother. I've known you to be an advocate, as well as an activist, a mentor. So, this should be a very good interview. And hopefully, our viewers enjoy. So you said your Homeowners Association President?

MCGHEE: Well.

DARDEN: I'm sorry, Neighborhood Association President.

MCGHEE: Well, I was up until I think a year before last. Yes.

DARDEN: Gotcha. Yeah. But you are active in.

MCGHEE: In Jupe Manor. Yes. But Eastern triangle is a community coalition. We have a big community plan.

DARDEN: Gotcha.

MCGHEE: that the community came together and put together, and so we're making sure that that plan gets implemented. So, I'm the president of that.

DARDEN: President of the.

MCGHEE: Eastern Triangle Community Coalition

DARDEN: Eastern Triangle, that's a lot. Say it one more time so we 00:02:00can get it.

MCGHEE: Eastern Triangle Community Coalition.

DARDEN: Okay, excellent. So just thinking about our communities and thinking about plans for our communities. In your opinion, you know, you you've been around for a little while you've seen some things. What role has African Americans played? If not in the entire San Antonio? Just in your little; your

part of San Antonio. What role have we played in the development, the empowerment and just the overall greatness of these communities?

MCGHEE: Okay, well. Oh my goodness. So, I was at the mayor's Housing Policy Taskforce this morning. And definitely, when you hear people speak about the east side you know what they said?

DARDEN: What did they say?

MCGHEE: Pride. They said people have pride. And so that's one thing that I definitely can admire that the leadership over, you know, these many, many years have instilled within us is a sense of pride over our community. And I have so many people that I look up to that work hard, making sure that things 00:03:00happen for us on the east side, because, as you well know, we, here on the east side have suffered over the years, you know, neglect and underinvestment. And so, I look to many people to see what they have done to work to make sure, hey, we need investment on our side of town too. Hey, we need attention to our schools and whatnot. As a matter of fact, I believe it was, she's you'll get better with the years than I am. But I want to say whether 2010, 2011? I don't remember, we were quite saddened to hear that at San Antonio Independent School District that, they had decided that they were going to close an inordinate number of Eastside schools.

DARDEN: Yes ma'am.

MCGHEE: Including Sam Houston. Now, there were three plans to choose from, but on all three plans, there was an inordinate number of Eastside schools and Sam Houston was on all three of those plans.

DARDEN: Yes ma'am.

MCGHEE: So, we had to work very hard to get around and, you know, 00:04:00knock on doors, you know, we had to raise money. So, we get, you know, print out flyers, send out mailers, do auto calls and whatnot, to call together the community so we could stand up and make sure we didn't close our only high school that's here on this side of town. So, I found there was a lot of pride and a lot of sense of, you know, this is our community. And so that's what I think about this.

DARDEN: I mean, definitely, I think pride is probably the best way to sum up just how we operate on the East Side, specifically with, you know, African Americans and this being the historic side of town for African Americans. Kind of, kind of, brings me to the next part, kind of different adjectives that I've described you as: activist and advocate was, was two that I did bring the mind and, I do remember you leading that charge amongst other people. I know Brian Dillard was a part of that movement as well. He's, he's one of our 300 Voices. And me being a graduate of Sam Houston High School, I graduated 1998, 00:05:00I definitely would, would have been saddened if my school, my alma mater, was no longer open for the opportunity for my kids to attend there. But going back to, to, to that activist, advocate role, kind of share with our, with our viewers, for you why that's important to be active in our communities, be active as an African American woman, and even in an initiative as specific as saving Sam Houston High School, the only east side school? Why is that? Why is that a priority for you?

MCGHEE: Okay, well, I grew up on the east side. And I experienced, of course, the pride, but I also experienced some of the stigma, you know, that was, you know, contributed to those who lived on the

east side. And, and I felt like, there were some things that I felt 00:06:00disadvantaged when I got into the real world. I was thinking like, well, "how come, they have those advantages and I don't have those advantages?" And I had to work really, really hard to kind of change things around for my life. And then as I began experiencing, what other people were experiencing elsewhere, and I'm thinking like, well, "why don't we have that for our youth on our side of town? Why don't we have that for our community." And so, I believe that God put in my heart to come to back, you know, home, to the east side, and to work to make sure that the youth that our neighborhoods, our communities, that we all had the same opportunities like other people have on other parts of town as well.

DARDEN: Definitely, we do have to have the opportunities and it takes strong voices, one of 300 Voices, to advocate for those for those opportunities. And then you do have to be active, so activism is a major, major part of that. Speaking of that, I know, along with your activism, you are involved 00:07:00in the community in numerous ways. I can remember you, you running for office. So, campaigning and debating and sharing your platform, from an academic standpoint, from an educational standpoint. But you may not remember this, but I met you in a political role. We were at a poll site; I believe.

MCGHEE: I remember.

DARDEN: It was Smith Elementary.

MCGEE: Yes.

DARDEN: And you where you will share with us, you know, that you were a proud grandma. And, you know, it was important for you, we couldn't leave that you were grandma, to say the least. But um, you know, you out there, I don't remember if it was raining, or it was hot, but you out there, you know, you know, getting the word out for the candidates you were representing. And it you know, I remember that, you know, even after you, after that you ran for council on current Council, you ran for office after that, for the school board. But, but for me, it kind of showed me that you were a very diverse person, but you didn't mind supporting other people, and you didn't mind standing up 00:08:00for some of the things that you believed in from various different vantage points. Kind of share with our, with our audience, in regards to your opinion on the role, African Americans should or shouldn't play in politics, and how it impacts us in regards to our quality of life.

MCGHEE: Okay, well, we have a rich, rich heritage, that I believe that we are not totally aware of, because I believe that it's not, you know, taught in the schools and it's not, you know, pushed enough, our rich heritage. But, we have so many people to be so proud of, and people that have worked hard blood, sweat, and tears, and their very lives. And so, we owe it to those who have gone before us, that have allowed us to be where we are right now. Because you and I wouldn't probably be sitting here, you know, in front of cameras, sharing our story, if it hadn't been for those, you know, who came before us. So, I believe that we have a responsibility to others. I don't believe that we're 00:09:00put here to be just about me, myself, my four and no more. I believe that we are put here to make this world a better place. And there's lots of people that need our guidance or inspiration for us to be contagious. And so, I believe as African Americans, we have so much to give. And we have a different perspective. And we're all unique. And so, everybody needs to bring their voice to the table and everybody has different gifts. So, mine might be in the role of academics and who knows land use oh my goodness, how did I get into that? I have no idea. But, but somebody else it might be technology, it might be art, it might be

administration. So, everybody has different gifts that they can bring to the table to enrich our community and to be role models for one another and also for our youth so that they have something to look, look up to and so that they can go on and excel beyond what we've excelled.

DARDEN: Definitely, definitely. And two things, so listening to you. 00:10:00My next thing I was going to go to was just, just people that may have inspired you and, and who showed that you're standing on. But I'm gonna pause that, I'll put a pin on that and go back, because you did mention sharing those gifts. And so, I know we spoke earlier about, you know, you've been entrepreneur and, and being a business owner. Speak, speak to that. Because I know different people we've interviewed, male or female, young, wise, experienced, no experience. Everybody has a different story to tell when it comes to being an entrepreneur, what's your story?

MCGHEE: Well, my story is a miracle that I'm a small business owner, because really, I escaped an abusive marriage, I had four little people. And so, and I got into the technology field, and I just felt like it was enough to have a job to take care of my four children. And so, when God is telling me to start my own business, I'm like, oh, my gosh, are you kidding me with four kids, 00:11:00no way, but I listened, thank goodness. And so, I got into the technology business, of course, as an IT consultant. And then I had a custom gifts and awards. And now moving both of those more into training, technology training, and also motivational services as well. But my story is, is that I listened and had some prosperous times, had up to five employees, which is good for somebody who never even would have imagined me as a single mother being a business owner. And then the recession came and I'm still a survivor. I have some wounds to show for it, but I'm still here still standing and still pushing through with my business serving others. So.

DARDEN: That's what that's what it boils down to having a dream, or having a calling, and being obedient to it. You know, defeating those odds or overcoming those obstacles, like you said, being a single parent and coming from, you know, a situation that may not have been ideal, and kind of putting yourself out there to empower others. Some people may say, "Well, five, five jobs, not a 00:12:00lot." But, those five families, that you able to assist and help them kind of pursue their dreams. So, I think that's something that's very, very commendable. But I know you didn't come up with those ideas on your own. So, I will pull a pin out and go back to the other thought I had while you speaking earlier. We all standing on someone's shoulders. You know, we didn't just wake up and start being who we are. We idolize people, we observe people, we were inspired by people. Whose shoulders are you standing on?

MCGHEE: Okay, well, three people just come straight to mind. So, one being Whitney M. Young. And then. And then Reverend Claude Black and Pastor Claudette Copeland.

DARDEN: Okay.

MCGHEE: And so, Whitney M. Young, one of my favorite quotes that he says is that "we need everybody." He talks about how we need people who are out there hollering and picketing, but we also need people sitting at the table, and being strategic and being that voice at the table. And so, I tried to have that balanced approach. I know sometimes we got to get out there and protest. But sometimes we need people sitting at the board table and being a 00:13:00voice there. And so, I admire a lot of the things that he did with the National Urban League. And then right here, we had our own activists right here in San Antonio, Reverend Claude Black, he was strong and proud, and a voice and he would

break through barriers, but he was bringing us along. He was opening doors for us. And so, I like how he opened doors for us and thought innovatively and so I, and was all about community. And so, I just carry that in my heart to be about community. And then Pastor Claudette Anderson Copeland. Man, she is such a powerful woman who cares about people. And she really has set a lot of pace for us as African American women, and broke a lot of barriers for that. But she really gets to the soul of the matter, and really gets to people's hearts and minds and inspires them to excel and succeed. So, she's also somebody shoulders that I stand on, she inspires me.

DARDEN: Yes. And those are all awesome people, we actually had Bishop 00:14:00Copeland. He's one of our 300 Voices. And, you know, I've visited their church many times, and they're very, very motivational and inspirational people. So, I can definitely understand, why Pastor Claudette Copeland is one of those people that, that you see, that you've observed, and you can honestly say that she's empowered you and inspired you, and that your successes can be attributed to, to the seed that she sewn. So, I think those are powerful things. Often, we forget where we come from, and who helped us get where we are. And so, it's important to remind ourselves that there are people that have gotten to this point, and we're standing on their shoulders. So hopefully, our viewers are really taking that in and understanding that wherever you going someone's pushing you to be there. So, two, two, two more things before we mute our voices, so to speak. The first thing is, why do you think, just in your opinion, it's 00:15:00important for us to share our stories, to have a voice, and kind of give others, I guess, our experiences and what we've been through?

MCGHEE: Sure. Well, definitely, I've been in some hard places in life. And sometimes it seemed dismal. And it didn't seem like I was gonna make it out. But thank goodness, there were other people sharing their testimony sharing their stories, or that I could reminisce back on, you know, our ancestors and the things they had to do to make it where they are. And so, I think it's important, and sometimes it's hard to share our stories, right? Because sometimes our stories have pain. But the guess is that we made it out. I remember that I was feeling I think I was, was 16 or 17. But I was feeling pretty hopeless. And I was like, God, I'm just gonna give up. I just can't do it. And he told me, he said, "Do you feel that pain that you're in right now?" I said, "yes, I feel this pain." He asked me three times, I'm like, "yes, I feel the pain. I can't take it." And he said, "Well, do you want someone else to feel that pain?" I said, "No, I don't want anybody to feel this pain." He said, "Well 00:16:00get up and work and make sure that you are lifting other people up and giving them hope and giving them encouragement." So, I try to spend my life doing that.

DARDEN: Again, that's, I think there's something that we all need to really, really listen to. I mean, what you're going through, it's going to help the next person and you fighting through it. That might cause someone not to have to fight through that because you, you bear that the brunt of that pain for them. I think that's something that's, that's very, very, very important. Because we all struggle, but we don't have to go through the same struggles.

MCGHEE: Right, yes.

DARDEN: So, the final question, and this is, one, it might take a little thought, but you only gonna have about two seconds to think about it.

MCGHEE: Oh gosh.

DARDEN: So, you know, we live in a world that is, you know, a lot of things going on good, bad and indifferent. And ultimately, we only have the power to control what we do. But if you were blessed with a magic wand, and let's not even call it a magic wand, let's just call it a wand of blessings. 00:17:00And that wand of blessings would allow you to change anything, whether it be a person, a place, a thing, a mind state. What would that how would you use that? How would you use that one way of that blessing wand?

MCGHEE: To enlighten people's minds, because I feel like some people some people just don't appreciate how beautiful and unique, they are. And sometimes we're closed-minded to others and other opinions. And that brings out a lot of darkness and bitter and fighting amongst ourselves. And if only I could just, you know, shine a light, and let everybody see how beautiful they are, first of all, and the uniqueness that they have, but then be open to the uniqueness of everybody else and let's find common ground and work together instead of always bickering and fighting.

DARDEN: Definitely so you didn't need the two seconds. So, we once we get that wand, we're gonna make sure you to first to be able to wave it. I want to say it's been a pleasure sitting and talking with you. Your voice has 00:18:00definitely been bold. It's been impactful, and hopefully, people will continue to listen to you will continue to share. So, with that being, with that being said, this has been another episode of 300 Voices in 300 Days. I've been your host, Tyrone Darden. This is TAAN TV, African American Network.