Interviewing Deb Cuny
"I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else's whim or to someone else's ignorance."
-bell hooks
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A Little About the Interview Process
The two interviews with Deb Cuny took place in the spring of 2006, at the Hollins library and then in downtown Richmond, Virginia at a local bar, the Capital Ale House. Our class was thankfully provided with beautiful, brand new Oympus digital voice recorders to use for our interviews. Before both interviews I developed a list of questions to follow but when the interviews actually took place, Deb and I both flew off on tangents about all sorts of topics!
My Thoughts on the Interview Process
When our class was given the folders of options of alumni to interview for our project, I figured I'd go with the easiest route and choose someone who was working in my hometown, Richmond, Virginia.
Before the first interview, I was terrified of interviewing a complete stranger, especially because I had never taken part in a project like this before. Despite how nervous I was beforehand however, Deb turned out to be not only an easy person to talk to, but also an incredible role model. Having the opportunity to speak with Deb about her life and learning about her activism, has only heightened my hopes to become an activist myself. Her strength and perseverance within the equal rights movement is an inspiration to me and I to thank her for being apart of this project.
I felt as if I'd made a new friend from the second we started the first interview and that was the toughest part of the whole process. By developing a friendship with my interviewee, I felt obligated to do my best on this project so as not to disappoint her or betray her trust. I look forward to speaking with her again, and may even become a volunteer for Equality Virginia.
I hope that Deb never loses the excitement or the willingness to fight for equal rights.