Black Studies, Black Spaces oral histories

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

This collection is open for research. Agreements with the interviewees govern access to oral history interviews.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. Contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu) for more information.

Summary

Extent:
22.1 Gigabytes 98 digital files
Creator:
Godfrey, Mollie, 1979-
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains three classroom panel discussion sound recordings as well as forty-one oral history interviews with thirty-six narrators conducted during the Fall 2019 "Black Studies and Black Spaces" course offered by the African, African American, and Diaspora Studies (AAAD) program. The interviews comprise a diverse group of narrators, including community members, faculty (current and former), students, administrators, staff, and alumni, reflecting on their experiences and perspectives related to Black studies and the creation of Black spaces within academic and community contexts.

The materials include 98 digital files comprising audio recordings (.wav), corresponding transcripts (.docx), and supporting documentation (.docx and .pdf). Oral history interviews with Joanne Gabbin, Chervon Moore, David Owusu-Ansah, Jacqueline Walker, and Amanda Yankey were conducted over multiple sessions.

The interviews explore themes such as the historical development of Black Studies as an academic discipline, its impact on institutional policies, the role of Black spaces in fostering identity and community, and the intersection of scholarship and activism. Topics include curriculum development, advocacy for interdisciplinary programs, student-led initiatives, and collaborations with local Black communities. Subthemes address cultural memory preservation, intersectionality (race, gender, and class), critiques of diversity frameworks in academia, and the challenges of sustaining inclusive spaces within predominantly white institutions.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Molly Godfrey, 2024.
Arrangement:

The collection is divided into two series. The oral histories are arranged alphabetically by surname of interviewee.

  1. Classroom Panel Discussion Sound Recordings, 2019
  2. Oral History Interviews, 2019
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard