Abstract Bobby Hill talks about being born in Washington, D.C. when the city was predominantly Black. He went to school in Powell Elementary and was interested in basketball and athletics at large. While in St. Mary’s College studying business, he starts to DJ for the student station. After graduating college, Bobby returns to D.C. and starts to go to many jazz events at DC Space, Bohemian Caverns, and other D.C. venues. He soon lands a gig helping at the famous WPFW Jazz and Justice station and this...

Abstract In this oral history interview, Easter Brown discusses her life and experiences moving from Marshville, North Carolina, to Washington, DC, in 1959. Recalling her upbringing in Marshville, Ms. Brown talks about her early educational experiences, her family’s work as sharecroppers, and racial segregation in her hometown. Ms. Brown talks about her decision to move to Washington, finding work in the city, meeting her husband and raising her children, and the changes she’s seen in her...

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Ms. Inez Davis reflects on her life and involvement as a member and past president of the Washington Section of the National Council of Negro Women. She holds a wealth of knowledge concerning the organization and the section programs’ impact in the community. Ms. Inez Davis discusses some of the challenges and some changes needed to ensure the future of the organization and section.

Abstract In this oral history interview, Mrs. Jean Washington, a long time D.C. resident, discusses her life and experiences moving from Birmingham, Alabama, to Washington, D.C. Beginning with her early life, Mrs. Washington discusses her upbringing and educational experiences in the East St. Thomas neighborhood of Birmingham during the 1930s and 1940s. She also talks about attending Miles College, beginning her teaching career in Birmingham, and moving to Washington, DC, with her husband in 1958....

Abstract Layne Garrett discusses growing up in a typical household in Tennessee and spending his childhood, visiting family on long road trips to Texas. While interest in music was always present in Layne’s life, it was in high school that exposure to outsider literature and open tuning in guitar brought him to be a part of music projects and pursue creative expression. He reflects on four years of living in a new city in Phoenix after college, where lack of social engagements got him to experiment...

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Ms. Earls discusses growing up in D.C., mostly in Shaw, her early sense of herself as different and coming into her gender and sexuality, the importance of dancing and performance to her from an early age, her struggle with addiction and time in prison, go-go and hand dancing, being in the National Museum of African American History, remembering everyone who has passed and her thankfulness for living to such an age.

Content Description

Digital recordings of 20 oral history interviews by DCPL Special Collections Librarian Kelly Navies and related digital documents. 18 of the recordings are about the U Street cultural corridor. All of the U Street interviews have logs and two of them also have transcripts. Digital photographs and other documents were also included in the U Street transfer. There is also an interview with DC author Edward P. Jones, in 2 parts.

Abstract

Ms. Prout discusses her experiences in grade school and living in public housing in Boston, her introduction to the gay world, moving to New York City in the 1950s and gay and transgender culture then, the influence of trans women from D.C. on the New York scene, and her decision to move to D.C. based on those relationships and its status as Chocolate City.