SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW: Akube Ndoromo is currently homeless and unemployed in the city of Washington, DC. He is originally from Kenya, but has lived in the capital since 1996. According to Ndoromo, he became a multimillionaire through two small business ventures. After a scandal involving fraud at his latest business he was imprisoned. He maintained his innocence, which helped him in the fight for his early release. Ndoromo claims during this time he lost his wife through divorce and has found comfort in the community of Columbia Heights. In the interview, Ndoromo recalls his professional life and higher education, the racism and xenophobia he has experienced as an immigrant, and his homeless status. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works 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, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
Flier promoting a rally to be held on April 27th, organized by the Black Employees of the Library of Congress, against their employer's claim that working at the Library of Congress fosters an environment of pride for nearly all library employees.
Flier publicizing a meeting of black employees of the Library of Congress on June 29th, 1972 to discuss, empower, and support the rights of black employees, including topics of a Government Employees Against Racial Discrimination task force, racism, discrimination, wages, and affirmative action.
This flier publicizes a panel called an Advisory Supreme Court of Appeals being hosted by prominent black leaders to hear evidence and testimony of victims and their lawyers in regard to alleged crimes by the United States and state governments against black organizations. The panel took place on February 25, 1975 at the All Souls Church in Washington, D.C. Persons and events depicted on the flier include Dr. Benjamin Chavis, 11 members of the Republic of New Afrika, and the Attica Prison uprising. The panel included Congressman John Conyers, Judge William Booth, Dr. Vincent Harding, Attorney Lenox Hinds, Dr. Aaron Henry, Attorney Etta Kay Hearn, Dr. Charles Cobb, Dr. James Turner, and Rev. David Eaton.
This interview is part of a documentation of the experience of the artists who contributed to the Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Deonna Craig, one of the eighteen artists, is a professional artist and a teacher of after-school programs for elementary students. In this interview, Deonna discusses her realization of her calling as an artist, her painting of the letter “V” in “Lives”, and what the mural means to the community today.
Flier publicizing a march on Boston, Massachusetts on May 17, 1975 in support of school desegregation in Boston. The march is organized by the Boston NAACP and supported by numerous organizations, including NAACP, National Student Coalition Against Racism, and the D.C. Area Student Coalition Against Racism.
Flier publicizing a demonstration against Dr. Saul Krugman to be held on April 17, 1972 in Atlantic City, New Jersey sponsored by Students for a Democratic Society. The flier describes Dr. Krugman's controversial study of hepatitis in which he performed unethical medical experiments on hundreds of students, many of whom were children of color, at the Willowbrook State School, an overcrowded, unsanitary, and poorly run state supported institution for children with intellectual disabilities. The demonstration aimed to condemn Dr. Krugman, stop medical experiments on the children of Willowbrook, and to advocate for the conditions and medical care at Willowbrook to be improved.
This flier serves as an open letter to government workers written by the African Liberation Support Committee (ALSC). The letter includes a list of ALSC activities in May 1974, and expressed their support for the African Liberation Movement and the struggle for African American rights in Washington, D.C. against issues of racism and economic exploitation.
This interview is part of a documentation of the experience of the artists who contributed to the Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Gary Gee, one of the eighteen artists, is a full-time professional artist. In this interview, Gary discusses his long path to becoming a professional artist, his painting of the letter “I” in “Lives”, and the history of racism in the Indianapolis community.
GiGi Holliday in this interview discusses her introduction to and involvement in the field of burlesque, primarily in DC. She explains different kinds of burlesque, especially the contrast between Black and white performers and shows. While acknowledging racism she’s faced as a performer, Holliday focuses more on the community she’s found among other performers of color and how burlesque serves as an avenue of activism for her.
A flier promoting the African Liberation Day demonstration on Saturday May 24, 1975 in Washington, D.C. The demonstration goals include supporting the struggles against imperialism in South Africa, the Middle East, and Indochina, jobs at home, lowering the prices of oil, no more monetary support for Israel, no more money to South Africa, support for food stamps and health care, and fight imperialism.
Flier promoting the national march against racism in Boston, Massachusetts on May 17, 1975, as well as the forum and planning meeting in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday May 6, 1975. Speakers at the forum include Rev. Edward Hailes, D.C. NAACP; Thomas Black, Federal City College D.C. SCAR coordinator; and Joan Little, Defense Committee representative.
Flier promoting a public forum at All Souls Church on March 18, 1975 in Washington, D.C. organized by the D.C. Area Student Coalition Against Racism on the fight for school desegregation in Boston. Speakers include Sylvester Vaughns, President, Prince George's County NAACP; William Simons, President, Washington Teachers Union; Rev. Samuel Hines, Leader, D.C. People United to Save Humanity (PUSH); Josephine Butler, Member, D.C. Statehood Party; Kathy Kelly, President, National Student Association; Patrick Harvin, Vice-President, Cardoza High School Student Government.
Artist Althea Rao reflects upon the impact of COVID in her life, especially in relation to immigration issues she has been experiencing since August 2019. Althea is from China, and shares that COVID has not had too much of an impact on her because she's been experiencing many of the issues (unemployment, lack of healthcare, etc.) since the beginning of her problems with immigration. While on a day-to-day level her life has changed with new social distancing measures, she believes that her life has been in limbo for a long time, and she feels full of sympathy for those who are now feeling frustrated with their current situation. Because of her immigration issues, Althea shares that she has not felt the need to find something new to sustain her, but points to her long-term art project with local communities as a positive force. Althea discusses how COVID has impacted the relationship between China and the US, and has shaped the perception and experiences of Asian Americans. She ends by reflecting on how COVID has brought death closer to her and people throughout the world. This video is part of the Humanities Truck's From Me To You: A Covid-19 Oral History Project. https://humanitiestruck.com/frommetoyou/
Oral history interview with Mia Moss, owner of Black Coffee, a local coffee shop on the East Side of Fort Worth, Texas. Moss is a native of Fort Worth, living primarily on the East side. She feels very attached to her community and saw opening a business that expresses her coffee passion would be a way to give back to her community. She discusses her family and education growing up, her introduction into the coffee world, her experiences with racism, both professionally and personally, the COVID-19 outbreak and its lasting effects, and the effects of the Black Lives Matter social justice movement. This interview was recorded virtually (hence the two locations) through a website called TheirStory.io.
A flier promoting a national march and rally in support of quality education, school desegregation, and the constitution on Saturday May 17, 1975 in Boston, Massachusetts. The march and rally are sponsored by the National NAACP and the Boston NAACP.
A flier describing the mission of Project 75, primarily led by the National Medical Association and local affiliates throughout the country. Project 75 aimed to combat inadequate heath services to minority populations by inspiring and sustaining interest in medical careers among minority students.
The overall objective is to create a deeper understanding of the Black Lives Matter Movement during the Summer of 2020 through the lens of modern Christian practices and ideals, with the hope of better understanding the motivations of those involved in the Black Lives Matter Movement and to evaluate the connection between religion, politics, and human rights. It should be noted that this interview took place in the year 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic with a remote interview process. The interview took place shortly before a contentious presidential election, and discusses a highly politicized social movement that (as of October 2020) peaked in the Summer of 2020.
Flier promoting an event at Howard University on June 10, 1973 presented by Minister Lonnie Shabazz featuring Elijah Muhhammad teachings on the time and what must be done regarding the fall of America and the rise of Black Americans.