Sandra Paul Miller Interview - Best Soundbites

Who Is Sandra Paul Miller ?

Today we interviewed Ms. Sandra Paul Miller. She was a student as she states at  Wilkerson High School at the time also a member at Trinity United Methodist Church during the time of the Orangeburg massacre. 

We proceeded to do an in-depth interview so she could explain to us her experience at South Carolina State University and All-Star Bowling Alley. She described her experience thoroughly and also brought us closer to some key details.  She not only told us about her experience but, also told us how she and Delano Middleton were classmates and the close-knit bond they shared.

In: This is something Wonderful

Out: Focus on the good positive things

Sandra Paul Miller was just a child when she went out on the front lines to pickit around Orangeburg for access to white-only spaces. She knew jail was a place to fear but being down for the cause lightened then mood. In the interview she gave Miller says, she and others decided to march down Russell Street after church, and normally they would march down Amelia St. As Miller and others marched through Amelia St, a fire truck sprayed and aimed water at them. Miller says she was thankful it was a Hot day out. Even in the heat of the moment and the worst brutality, she found some level of good in it.

SOT: (0:53) IN: we would march

SOT: (1:23) OUT: I thank god it was a hot summer day

SOT: (2:05) IN: We went to jail

SOT: (2:21) OUT: I like what I was doing 

Ms. Miller reminisced on how close she was to Delano Middleton and the true bond they shared.

"I remember Mr. Middleton, He was our classmate at Wilkinson high school and it was a very very sad day. He was a nice fella, basketball player, outstanding, everything, but it was a very unfortunate thing that happened to him."

In: I remember Mr. Middleton, he was our classmate

Out: Unfortunate thing that happened to him 

Delano Middleton was the youngest victim of the Orangeburg massacre that took place on February 8, 1968. After speaking myself at the 54th  Orangeburg Massacre event, I spoke with his family and nephew Zach Middleton. As his family, Mr. Miller, and others have said, he was known as an all-around joy to those that knew him. Miller stated that she did avoid the massacre as her mother had an intuition that night and didn't let her participate in the picketing. Miller mentioned how grateful for her mother's judgment and will continue to raise awareness on the issue until justice is brought to the community for years to come. A true humanitarian, activist, and pillar in her community.

A Big Day Remembered !

 Most Memorable Moment !

The most memorable moment of my life was THE CALL to come to South Carolina State University. To give you a back story......

My first year of college was interesting I dealt with adjusting to the true student athlete

life based off of really tough circumstances, REALLY TOUGH, now somethings are best left

alone. In the midst of this, a global pandemic arose which really through a monkey in the wrench

of my year but, luckily at the time I was happy to come home. I knew I wanted to make a move

but, with a global pandemic I had no clue where. I discussed with coaches over the phone but,

they were scrambling and on pins and needles if they were being fur load or fired. Again, I

adjusted my mindset and focused on finishing the year strong with a 3.5, getting accepted to

Goldey Beacom’s Honor society, writing poetry, and trusting for the first time in my life, that

maybe my academics will do it for me.

Throughout this year I learned a lot about myself, I performed speeches, used my voice,

and spread a message that needed to be heard regarding race in America, got back into modeling,

and truly channeled the other talents in my life, that for so long I neglected. I ended up

transferring to Mercer County Community College for the year, all virtual, receiving a Division 2

basketball scholarship, and spent all my time and energy studying and getting ready for a hopeful

season, as I thought it would be my last chance at a basketball scholarship to a 4 year school,

well guess what that season never came due to COVID - 19  this year. Then, after holding my end of the

bargain doing my part getting the best grades possible which was my qualifying factor to keep

my basketball scholarship, my scholarship was pulled half way through the year, forcing my

parents to scramble and find ways to afford my schooling, during a pandemic, while selling our

home of 19 years and relocating. I debated on what to do but, I just kept working, specifically on

myself and on my game. I trained this year with my Uncle / Mentor Matt Reeves who besides

my mother, father, and grandparents, always kept me motivated, in good spirits, and never gave

up on me.

I battled a pandemic, watching people close to you sick and dying, 3 basketball injuries

this year, and for financial reasons moving out of my childhood home, and physically doing a lot

the moving ourselves. Dealing with an overcrowded, confusing, and non-constructive transfer

portal with over 3,000 athletes transferring in Division 1 alone, this made spaces slim. It’s been a

long road and I thought after my 3 rd injury, still no basketball scholarship, and applying to

multiple schools and being wait listed in not accepted by my top two choices and not hearing

back from any other schools, things felt like they were crumbling for me. But then I remembered

god would not have brought me through all this negativity and tough situations to give up on me

now. So, when working so hard this year, one semester receiving a 3.9 GPA I kept pushing for

basketball and never acknowledged what I was doing with my grades making the dean’s list, my

speeches, modeling, and other qualities.

One day my family and I received an arbitrary call from an admissions director that

stated to my mother and I that you have been accepted but, all of our scholarships are full, and

money has been alluded. The admissions person than transferred me to the Honors College and

stated well hey you can try but, there probably isn’t any money left. They transferred us and we

spoke to a woman for all of 5 minutes, she asked what’s your GPA? I stated 3.6, she yelled on

the phone and said thank you Jesus, we were perplexed with her response but, she than followed

up with, I want to offer you the Emily E. Clyburn Honors Scholarship and accept you into the

Honors College at South Carolina State University ! That woman was Ms. White, thank you!

The excitement, I had after hearing this news, took me two days to process and actual feel an

emotion from being numb. God states, with Prayer you need Action, I made sure this year that

with my prayer I took action to handle my business.

My mother ALWAYS stressed how my grades and other talents would one day make the

difference in a situation. Basketball actually pushed me to have the best grades possible, wanting

to achieve that goal so bad that it made me more determined in another area of my life. All this

year I stated, I wanted to go to an HBCU and it seemed as if none were accepting me, I wanted a

school in warm weather, it seemed as if I might’ve had to stay in the north, and I wanted to play

Division 1 basketball and guess what, I fell into a Division 1 school by default and now have an

opportunity to pursue that final goal and dream, you can’t tell me god doesn’t exist. There’s 10

million ways to skin a cat find that way for you, my education opened that door for me!

This year from watching many family members, friends, and people in your corner pass

from Covid – 19 was hard to watch. It was tough to watch and to not be able to visit family

members in the hospital and such. This year was like a blur, as if at times, things never

happened. Without the ability to visit relatives in the hospital or see people substantially or at all

it created a level of divide in my relationships with people and distanced our bonds. Covid

definitely has changed my entire perspective on life and my world is so different pre – covid.

I’ve adjusted tons of mental and physical events that have transpired in my life. I am still

adjusting as we speak but, I enjoy who I am becoming and growing through these tough times.

What Does Your Covid Mask Say About You ?

 What You Mask Say About You 

We are all well aware that the pandemic has adjusted the landscape of our nation, economically, physically, and most of all socially. This has changed our wardrobe and added an extra peace of clothing that has become the social norm, mask. This is one of the main precautions to prevent the spread of COVID - 19. With the influxiation of Covid cases Universities nation wide are mandating face masks for protection. I interviewed SC State students and family to ask the simple question "what does your face mask mean to you"

My first interview was of Jeremy Ray a Junior Nuclear Engineering major here at South Carolina State University. Jeremy says his face mask is grey so he tries to match his outfit to coincide with his color patterns. I asked Jeremy if he liked to style his masks based off where he goes the pitt, cafe, or anywhere else on campus. His response was, "I have grey, black, and blue mask and I try to match them with my outfit, I do try to do that"

Benjamin Gadson At South Carolina State University, was wearing a mask in class that stood out to all of us. This mask had a symbol of a harp, which we all were mesmerized by. It was on the right side of his mask and it symbolized the fraternity he is in and the meaning behind it. The Fraternity was his band frat Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity. The mask stood out and was very unique. He also stated, "His face mask can go with the flow of any environment he is in, bringing and presence, uplifting, motivation to others. Black is dull but, it's a solid color of strength."

I interviewed Amauri Allen on what his mask meant to him and he stated his mask is a sense of protection and guidance. He says he where's the black disposal mask because "It is Plain, matches with majority of my outfits, black is my favorite color, comfortable behind the ears, and creates no pain." He really seems to enjoy it and as a fellow frat brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, I can understand truly why he enjoys wearing black.

Chasity Gilmore wears a cloth, light blue, all over floral print mask. When asked Chasity said, "this mask has a filter inside so I can add an extra layer of protection with another mask. Very stylish and I do love it for the season. It matches well with sun dresses, its just very cute, very vibrant, and it's very feminine. It's also a comfortable all day fit, appose to disposable mask." This masks is very colorful and the answers she gave are so fitting to her vibrant mask.

Dior Whitfield a Highpoint University freshman states, "a very positive, bright, nice person, with a loving personality, my covid mask is a beautiful tie die mask with includes purple, pink, and the color yellow and i love it so much" When asked did the vibrant colors represent anything she say's, "my positive personality combined with the tie die colors, creates this beautiful atmosphere and I love it so much."