The Oral History Guy
African American Oral History
Middle Tennessee African American Oral History Project
To preserve Middle Tennessee's Black History by creating an archive of interviews with the people who lived it.
The goal is to assemble and preserve a vast collection of local African American history by recording interviews that chronicle the lives and diverse experiences of African Americans who resided in Middle Tennessee during legal segregation through the implementation of integration. Furthermore, this archive will permanently celebrate African American families, communities, and achievements in Middle Tennessee.
African American history has vibrant narratives of joy, hardships, and continued perseverance. Yet, society often presents and teaches the stories and experiences of this rich culture in a condensed form. The Albert Gore Research Center believes there should be no restriction on accessing African American history. Therefore, we are committed to collecting interviews to safeguard African Americans’ contributions and experiences in Middle Tennessee. If the preservation of these memories is not made a priority, a vital portion of local history may vanish.
The Middle Tennessee African American Oral History Project has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
