Oral Histories

: African American Historical Interpreters: The Experience of Working in the Past; Black historical interpreters/re-enactors of Colonial and Civil War US history. Interviews conducted by HopeLily Van Duyne for American University's Fall 2020 Oral History Class.

: Afro-Textured Hair: Mundane, Powerful, and Restricted; This project is centered on the perceptions surrounding Black hair. Hair is mundane and yet undeniably powerful, especially within the Black community. The project seeks to understand hair culture through the themes of identity, race, in-group vs. out-groups, and beauty. Focusing on the narrative from frontline individuals in the Black hair community like stylists. Interviews conducted for American University's Fall 2021 Oral History course by Renaldie Paul.

: Behind the Scenes of the Media Industry During COVID: An Oral History Project; Dylan McAdams interviews three people who work for WarnerMedia about their experiences in the industry during COVID. These interviews were done as a part of American University's Fall 2020 Oral History Class.

: Bet Mispachah Oral History Project; Interviews conducted by Ziona Pelz-Sherman with members of the LGBTQ synagogue, Bet Mishpachah, as part of American University's Fall 2019 Oral History class

: Bi/Pansexual Erasure and Acceptance; "I’m doing this interview because I, myself, as a pansexual woman in the modern age, have been faced with both love and rejection by both people who identify as straight AND people who identify as LGBT+. For a community so preachy on “inclusion”, I want to look into the nitty gritty dark areas and bring to light that, perhaps, there is still something that people need to work on. It needs to be archived because, like the triumphs large and small for the LGBT community, overcoming bi/pansexual erasure is something that needs to be documented. But, honestly, what I want to learn from this interview is that the people I interview haven’t faced this daunting erasure and that they only have good things to say about both straight and LGBT culture." Interviews conducted by Bailey Murray as part of American University's Fall 2020 Oral History Class

: Black Artists in Washington, DC and the Black Lives Matter Movement Oral History Project; Joy Pierce interviews two artists engaged in the Black Lives Matter movement in Washington, DC. These interviews were conducted remotely using Zencastr for American University's Fall 2020 Oral History class.

: Black Lives Matter and the Christian Faith Oral History Project; Sajel Swartz interviews three people about their relationship between the Black Lives Matter movement and their own Christian faith. These interviews were done as part of the Fall 2020 Oral History class.

: Black Lives Matter in Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas; This project's main objective is simple; it's to learn what made these people become activists and why they are continuing to show up for the cause. This is ultimately meant to create a deeper understanding of the people who are still pushing the envelope in the BLM movement and continuing to demand change despite the recent fall in coverage and participation. Interviews conducted by Jamie Sanders for American University's Fall 2020 Oral History Class.

: Chinese Adoption Oral History Project; This project seeks to feature the experiences of Chinese Americans who were adopted from China. Adoption provides an opportunity for orphaned children to be raised in a conventional family structure; however, adopted children are situated in a peculiar position between the identity of their birthplace and identity of their adopted community. Through the interview, I hope to explore how, or if, adoption shapes relationships with families, friends, and communities. I also hope to explore the influence of adoption on personal perceptions of identity, race, culture, and traditions. Interviews conducted by Mia Owens for American University's Fall 2020 Oral History Class.

: Coming of Age During COVID-19: High School Seniors in Rural Iowa on the COVID-19 Pandemic; These interviews were conducted by Emily Lefeber as part of American University's Fall 2020 Oral History Class

: Constructing the New Normal: Creative Arts in the Wake of COVID-19; Alexis Zilen interviews two young adult women who were actively involved in the creative arts and find themselves facing unemployment and uncertainty in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. These interviews were conducted as part of American University's Fall 2020 Oral History Class. Due to the pandemic, the interviews were conducted virtually via TheirStory.

: COVID-19 Journalism Project; These interviews provide another historical perspective about the change over the period of 19 months (so far) that has made up the pandemic. The project interviewed journalists to get this perspective and to learn about the trauma that comes with being a breaking news reporter and reporting on COVID-19 during the spring and summer of 2020, when breaking news journalists also covered racial justice protests and natural disasters. Interviews conducted for American University's Fall 2021 Oral History course by Elinor Aspegren.

: Dallas-Fort Worth Black Business in 2020 Oral History Project; Josh Reynolds interviews Mia Moss, a Black business owner in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. This interview was conducted as part of American University's Fall 2020 Oral History Class

: DC Burlesque Oral History Project; Interview conducted by Kai Walther on the topic of the DC Burlesque scene, done for American University's Fall 2019 Oral History class.

: DC Photographers; This project focuses on DC photographers and their experiences documenting the changes that DC has gone through over the last few decades. Additionally, this project illuminates the intersection between photography and activism, notably in situations of crisis. Lastly, this project documents the efforts by veteran photographers to archive their own work and make way for the next upcoming generation of activists and photographers. Interviews competed by Evan Michales for the American University Fall 2021 Oral History Class.

: Homeless Voices Amplification Coop; The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) will work to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, we will partner with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. We believe stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. We seek to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.

: Joseph's House Oral History Project; Interviews conducted by Sarah Canfield with residents of Joseph's House, an assisted living facility in Washington, DC. These oral histories were done in American University's Fall 2019 Oral History class

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