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EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES, AND MESSAGES (EMM) Oral History Project: Pioneers for Social Progress in DeKalb County, Georgia. 1970's-2000's
The Experiences, Memories, and Messages Oral History Project explores examples of African American racial and social progress in DeKalb County, Georgia (part of the Atlanta metropolitan area), and across the South from the 1970’s through the 2000’s.
Teachers, ministers, professors, judges, elected public officials, civil rights workers, food entrepreneurs, an industrial executive, a non profit executive, a dentist, a street musician, lawyers, an executive assistant for senior executives, one of Atlanta Police Department’s first African American female detectives, and others comprise the inspiring roster of oral history participants. To date, EMM has recorded interviews and created a companion book.
Oral History Recordings: The Experiences, Memories, and Messages Oral History Project includes a collection of recordings from 35 individuals. Based on research and interviews gathered from 2004 through 2007 in and around Atlanta, Decatur, and DeKalb County, Georgia, these recordings were produced. The duration of the included audio recordings range from 57 minutes to over 3 hours.
Oral History Companion Book: The companion book of Experiences Memories, and Message contains seven volumes. They are: Volume 1, Activist and Community Builders; Volume 2, Artist and History Makers; Volume 3, Education and Schools; Volume 4, People and Politics; Volume 5, Law and Justice; Volume 6, Progressive Professionals; and Volume 7, Trailblazers. It is not mandatory that the recordings and companion document be used in conjunction. The reader and listener can gain insightful information from both sources.
The recordings and companion book created for the project detail how diverse members of the Decatur, DeKalb County, and Atlanta community cooperated to transform a historically biased and systemically racist government and society to make it more inclusive for African Americans in particularly and all residents generally. Today, because of the efforts of these pioneers for social progress, DeKalb County is a better place to live, do business, and thrive.
The recorded conversations covered many areas and issues, some of which were surprising. The gracious participants were, by and large, frank and open about matters discussed. Issues of community, character, commitment, race, class, and culture are substantially addressed.
Recorded interviews begin with a structure to provide background data, including: 1) name, 2) date of birth, 3) location of birth, 4) family status, 5) length of time lived in DeKalb or metro area, 6) religious affiliation, 7) military service, 8) education, 9) current title or occupation, 10) previous key positions, 11) approximate year of moving to Decatur/DeKalb, and 12) date and location of the interview.
Universal Importance: Although these stories are about people, places, and developments in the Atlanta metropolitan area during the 1970’s through the 2000’s, these firsthand personal histories reveal how the interplay of relationships, personal integrity, political maneuvering, and a principled commitment to using one’s unique personal abilities can transform and improve society.
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