How was the StoryCorps interview?

Rhonda Mullen, senior director of strategic communications to the Provost, and Robert Franklin, senior adviser on community and diversity to the Provost and Emory administration, share a few words. This is a peek into the StoryCorps and the Carlos Museum project inspired by “Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey.”

On my end: I was listening to two recordings last night, noting down time clips for editing. Reminded me of grad school and those 32 interviews I took and the associated 96 hours of recordings I had to transcribe and analyze. Flashback. For my next blog: A reflection on one of the interviewee’s experience of racism through segregated space. Got me thinking harder about space, location, race, and class. More later.

Great Migration oral history project

I’m working on public promotions for Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey at Emory’s Carlos Museum. Lots underfoot. One associated project is a partnership with StoryCorps. Frankly, I am very inspired by the potential and significance of oral histories to support social change and foster compassion and connection. This project serves as a narrative anchor for the parallel Bearden makes between the epic journey of Odysseus in search of home and those of the Great Migration as African Americans journeyed to find freedom. We are also recording stories of the migration back to the New South as opportunities opened up. StoryCorps conducted 6 interviews at the Carlos; there definitely was quite a lot of planning involved — scheduling interview pairs, reaching out to those who might be interested, working out logistics, ensuring we had back up, talking up the project, helping others make the connection between their life experiences and “journeys,” etc. Besides the one cancellation, which looked like me scrambling around to pull in our back up, everything went without a glitch. Participants showed up, filled out their forms, got a briefing on the process, and went merrily into their sessions. Our director, Bonnie Speed, offered her fabulous office for a whole day’s worth of interviews and Jim Warren worked his magic with logistics on the day of. Thanks to Candy Tate and all The Links, Inc. outreach partners who are helping us get the word out. I’m planning the public push for this project on Dec. 17 or thereabouts — we’ll use clips from the Nov 22 recordings as a way to generate interest, more like passion! If you have a story, share it.