Interview With Wanda Mitchum,
Timothy Welch's Mother
Understanding Hate | ||
| How Hate Stalks The Vulnerable | ||
 | Wanda Mitchum Interview | |
| Why Burn Churches? | ||
| The Making of A Skinhead | ||
| Web of Hate | ||
Responding To Hate | ||
| Heroes Against Hate | ||
| Resources for Responding | ||
| Fighting Hate | ||
| National Response | ||
MITCHUM: At first, I didn't believe that Timothy was involved in the Klan, simply because of the way he was raised. He was raised to be open-minded and to love everybody. I didn't know anything about it. I only found out on the day he was arrested. WHY DO YOU THINK TIMOTHY GOT INVOLVED WITH THE KLAN? MITCHUM: My first husband was very abusive. My current husband used to drink and, from time to time, there would be abuse. Timothy told me he joined originally to find a way to stop females, from being abused - physically and mentally. I think his involvement had a lot to do with the powerful influence and strength that the Klan has to brainwash young country people who are basically innocent as far as the world goes. WHAT WAS TIMOTHY LIKE AS A SON? MITCHUM: Timothy is the oldest of eight children that my husband and I have together. I could always count on him. He was my dependable son - my right hand man. When I'd come home from work he'd have the supper cooked and the laundry done. He made sure that the younger kids had done their homework, and his would be done too. He was always there for me. WHEN PEOPLE FOUND OUT THEN THAT IT WAS YOUR SON WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE BURNING, HOW DID THEY REACT ? HOW DID THEY TREAT YOU? MITCHUM: I think most of them felt sorry for me, because they know that I'm not a prejudiced person. I'm a human being and I raised Timothy as a human being. He's from a predominantly black community, in fact, my family was also. There's only three white families in Davis Station, South Carolina, which is where I'm from. Everybody there loves Timothy. HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MACEDONIA BAPTIST CONGREGATION TODAY? MITCHUM: My husband and I recently went to services at Macedonia Baptist. We went to visit Reverend Mouzon and his wife. I'm organizing a "Human Race Dinner" for the Church - to get all of God's children together and lend a helping hand. I believe we are all one race, all God's children. If we have open minds, we can start over again. |
