Jim Boozer is a hard worker and educator in Phoenix, Arizona. He has contributed to Phoenix in different ways and has held many jobs helping the City of Phoenix while helping to educate others about Phoenix as well.
Jim Boozer was born on July 23rd, 1941, in Hempstead County, Arkansas. He and his family moved to Arizona to escape the Southern Depression and possibly find more opportunities. His mother stayed home with the children while his father went out and worked, and the family lived in the Okemah area. While they lived in that area, he and his siblings went to school in the Mesa area.
Jim’s father was the one that moved first down to Arizona and then the rest of the family had moved along shortly afterwards. His father had a sister down in the area and she lived around 40th and Broadway and the family ended up moving around there so they could all be close together. They had also stayed in the Okemah area because it was known to be a thriving community and the Chief who was the originator of the area was known to be trusted as well. Their house in the community was known as one of the better houses and it was built by
craftsmen as well. His father had to get a loan and have someone help him with the house since this was when it was hard for Black Americans to buy houses.
At the time heavy racism and segregation were occurring. It had affected Jim and
his family he had to go to school in the Mesa area when he lived in what’s now the Scottsdale area because schools were segregated there and in Tempe, and it was also hard transportation-wise because nobody would travel far enough towards that area so they were forced to walk miles wherever they needed to go.
Mr.Boozer made his contributions to Phoenix in terms of being a hard worker, while also spreading knowledge through being an educator. After he had gone to school at ASU he had
worked different jobs working for the city of Phoenix receiving promotions and working in
higher positions. He also taught younger students and spoke about history even though the job didn’t pay well. He still teaches to this very day, doing interviews and putting his own little pieces and other books about the history of South Phoenix and how life was when he was growing up compared to how it is now.
Mr. Boozer’s legacy will live on in South Phoenix history due to his impact as an educator and trying to spread his experience living here and helping to keep the history alive even today.
| Narrator | Jim Boozer |
| Birthdate | July 23, 1941 |
| Place of Origin | Hempstead, Arkansas; Okemah (South Phoenix), Arizona |
| Place of Residence | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Occupation | Educator, City of Phoenix |
| Years Active in South Phoenix | 1940s- |
| Recording Duration | 1:04:41 |
| Date | February 22, 2024 |
| Location | South Mountain Community Library |
| Interviewed By | Dr. Summer Cherland, Liz Warren |
| Story Written By | Student Researchers: Miranda Meza Faculty Co-Author: Summer Cherland |
South Phoenix Oral History Project 