{"id":4951,"date":"2023-01-30T16:00:11","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T16:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/?p=4951"},"modified":"2026-02-03T15:57:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T15:57:53","slug":"african-american-oral-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/?p=4951","title":{"rendered":"African American Oral History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"min-height:97px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-b5a91d9f-a8b0-4eff-bf00-d4845df2c2e8\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#015039\" class=\"has-inline-color\">African American Oral History Project<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"261\" src=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_9514-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_9514-1.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_9514-1-300x122.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2019, Historic Takoma launched an initiative designed to collect and preserve the reflections&nbsp; of older African Americans who had&nbsp; been longtime residents of our city\u2019s&nbsp; historically Black neighborhoods &#8211; which centered around the \u201cHill\u201d (Ritchie, Geneva, and Oswego Avenues) and the \u201cBottom\u201d (Cherry and Colby Avenues off of Sligo Creek Parkway), along with smaller settlements such as the one at the foot of Lincoln Avenue at Maple Avenue &#8211; to elevate their voices and stories and share them with the larger community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1bQ76-D09rvtqq2514O2OniKGGYTgu0LM\/view?usp=share_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SideWindowPosters_FIN2-663x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4974\" width=\"250\" height=\"385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SideWindowPosters_FIN2-663x1024.jpg 663w, https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SideWindowPosters_FIN2-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SideWindowPosters_FIN2-768x1187.jpg 768w, https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SideWindowPosters_FIN2.jpg 792w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Residents Susan Schreiber (Historic Takoma board member) and Denny May&nbsp; reached out to local folklorist and oral historian Ali Khan and documentary filmmaker Michael Fincham and assembled a project team including community advisors Patricia Matthews, Dale Jones, Gaynell Catherine, Dianne Bradley (joined later by Joan Francis), and secured initial funding from the City of Takoma Park\u2019s Community Grants Program.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the past three years (with some time out for pandemic delays) the project has conducted and filmed oral history interviews with individuals who shared their reflections on growing up in Takoma Park from roughly the 1940s through the early 1960s, and\u00a0 how parents and community leaders came together to build a vibrant and resilient community for their families in the face of racial and economic challenges. \u00a0 Both the filmed interviews and written transcripts will be accessible to researchers, students, and the general public through Historic Takoma\u2019s archives, along withl links for each of the project films.\u00a0<strong>        <div class=\"rmwr-wrapper\" \n             data-id=\"rmwr-6a37044c396f2\"\n             data-mode=\"normal\"\n             data-animation=\"fade\"\n             data-duration=\"300\"\n             data-smooth-scroll=\"true\"\n             data-scroll-offset=\"0\">\n            <button \n                type=\"button\"\n                class=\"read-link\" \n                id=\"readlinkrmwr-6a37044c396f2\"\n                data-open-text=\"Read More\"\n                data-close-text=\"Read Less\"\n                aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                aria-controls=\"readrmwr-6a37044c396f2\"\n                aria-label=\"Read More\"\n            >\n                <span class=\"rmwr-text\">Read More<\/span>\n            <\/button>\n            <div \n                class=\"read_div\" \n                id=\"readrmwr-6a37044c396f2\"\n                aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                data-animation=\"fade\"\n                data-duration=\"300\"\n                style=\"display: none;\"\n            >\n                <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"179\" src=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/33F2AD84-9F65-478F-9A8F-F577BAB0A6D7_1_105_c.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4971\" srcset=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/33F2AD84-9F65-478F-9A8F-F577BAB0A6D7_1_105_c.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/33F2AD84-9F65-478F-9A8F-F577BAB0A6D7_1_105_c-300x168.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption>Ali Kahn interviewing Samuel \u201cPete\u201d Redixx<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The principal focus of the project has been the production of documentary films based on these oral history interviews.\u00a0 Completed recently, <em>They Called Him \u201cMister Lee,\u201d <\/em>tells the story of the legendary Lee Jordan, the school custodian who had a huge influence on Takoma Park youth, both Black and white, as mentor and coach, including breaking racial barriers by organizing the first integrated sports programs in Montgomery County and founding the city\u2019s Boys and Girls Club. Lee Jordan\u2019s advocacy on behalf of African American residents sheds light on the challenges faced by the Black community during segregation and the decades that followed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"233\" src=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DEA453A1-6FEF-46A3-827F-6B4549F719B8_1_102_o.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DEA453A1-6FEF-46A3-827F-6B4549F719B8_1_102_o.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DEA453A1-6FEF-46A3-827F-6B4549F719B8_1_102_o-300x218.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption><em>Dale Jones describing life on the Hill<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The initial public screening of <em>&#8220;They Called Him \u201cMister Lee\u201d<\/em> will take place <strong>Sunday, February 26, 3:30-5:00<\/strong> in the auditorium of the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue in an event co-sponsored by Historic Takoma and the Takoma Park Recreation Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the screening, Ali Kahn who conducted the oral history interviews, and Michael Fincham, who created the film, as well as &nbsp; individuals&nbsp; who shared their oral histories will be on hand for a discussion and questions and answers.. This event is co-sponsored by Historic Takoma and the Takoma Park Recreation Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After viewing &#8220;They<em> Called Him \u201cMister Lee,\u201d&nbsp; <\/em>Tracy Oliver-Gray, Social Studies Supervisor for Montgomery County Public Schools decided to circulate the film to educators across the county as a resource for Black History Month, saying <em>\u201cOne of our goals in social studies is to help students to become change makers. Mr. Lee\u2019s commitment to social action is a fantastic example of what it means to be a change maker.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"233\" src=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/730393DA-117F-4CC7-BC13-B5C09E8B3CD8_1_105_c.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4976\" srcset=\"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/730393DA-117F-4CC7-BC13-B5C09E8B3CD8_1_105_c.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/730393DA-117F-4CC7-BC13-B5C09E8B3CD8_1_105_c-300x218.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption><em>Lee Jordan (upper right) with the Takoma Hawks<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project has also produced <em>Doing Oral History: An Introduction,<\/em> in collaboration with the media department at Montgomery Blair High School, which has been shown in secondary school classrooms across the county for over a year.&nbsp; Currently under production, a third film focuses on community life, including daily activities, work, the importance of&nbsp; Parker Memorial Baptist Church and the Black school funded in part by the Rosenwald Fund, both up on the Hill, and the transition to white schools beginning in 1955.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>And be sure and stop by our building at 7328 Carroll Ave. to see the exhibit in our window about the Takoma Park African American Oral History Project, <\/strong>featuring a 1954 photograph of the young Roland Dawes (longtime businessman, former city council member, and owner of Roland\u2019s Unisex Barbershop up in the next block) and his wife Catherine, along with other images of people and neighborhoods.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Historic Takoma\u2019s African American Oral History Project has been made possible by generous support from the City\u2019s Community Grants Program, Maryland Humanities, Preservation Maryland, and the Takoma Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:2px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/historictakoma.org\/?page_id=1247\" target=\"_blank\">See Past Features<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,49],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-4951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-events","category-history","tag-african-american"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4951"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4951\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4985,"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4951\/revisions\/4985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/historictakoma.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}