Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. .6 lin. ft.

Summary

1. In 1992 and 1993 City Lore coordinated an oral history project focusing on the Northern migration experience and the maintenance of southern folkways within New York City's African-American church community. Fifty men and women who migrated from the South to New York during the post World War II years were interviewed. Topics covered in the interviews include how and why individuals left the South (generally for economic reasons, not blatant racism and violence); their experiences adjusting to life in New York; their retention of Southern cultural practices (food, especially soul food, gospel music, crafts including quilting, worship practices and church activities); the individuals' ongoing connections to the South through regular family visits, homecoming, etc.; and their thoughts on moving back to the South (or for those few who had already moved from New York, they compared their lives in both areas). The informants recount their positive relations with other black families and with white neighbors in the South and school experiences with strict yet caring black teachers. Neighborhood life in Harlem, central Brooklyn and parts of Queens during the 1940's through the early 1960's were recounted, as well as discussions covering life up to the early 1990's during the time of the interviews is included. The New York City interviews were conducted by City Lore Project Director Ray Allen and the Virginia interviews were conducted by Dr. Marilyn White.

Subject

1. African American families
2. Gospel music > New York (State) > New York
3. African American parents
4. Migration, Internal > United States > History > 20th century
5. African American women
6. Southern States > Economic conditions
7. Migration, Internal > 20th century
8. African American quiltmakers
9. United States > Race relations
10. African American youth
11. Rural-urban migration > United States > History > 20th century
12. African Americans > Music
13. African Americans > Social life and customs
14. African Americans > Religion
15. African American churches
16. African Americans > Social conditions > 1975-
17. African American teachers and the community
18. African Americans > Social conditions > 1964-1975
19. African American children
20. African Americans > Migrations > History > 20th century
21. Oral histories
22. African Americans > Folklore
23. African Americans > Social conditions > To 1964
24. Folk music > New York (State) > New York
25. Interviews
26. African American neighborhoods
27. African American artisans
28. African American cooking

Genre/Form

1. Oral histories.
2. Interviews.

Call number

1. Sc MG 405

Source (note)

1. City Lore

Location of other archival materials (note)

1. City Lore.

Title

1. African American migration and southern folkways in New York City Oral History Project, 1992-1993.

Location of other archival materials

1. African American migration and southern folkways in New York City Oral History Project audiotapes and transcripts; Also located at; City Lore.

Connect to:

1. Finding Aid

Research call number

1. Sc MG 405