Traditional Voices Group

CONDUCTING, COLLECTING AND TRANSCRIBING SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF 50-75 VIDEO INTERVIEWS SPECIFICALLY AMONG OLDER YANCEY COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICANS. FROM THE INTERVIEWS WE HOPE TO DEVELOP A HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY AND RECORD THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS ITS MEMBERS HAVE MADE TO LIFE IN YANCEY COUNTY AND BEYOND. WE EXPECT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KNOWN POINTS OF PRIDE THROUGH THIS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT AND DISCOVER ADDITIONAL POINTS TO BE EXPLORED IN THE EXHIBIT. PRESERVE THE OAK CREST SCHOOL IN LINCOLN PARK AS AN HISTORIC SITE OF SCHOOL DESEGREGATION IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE BUILDING WILL BE USED PRIMARILY AS A COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT WILL ALSO HAVE AN EXHIBIT COMPONENT. THE ORAL HISTORIES COLLECTED THROUGH THIS PROJECT WILL INFORM THE RESTORATION AND EXHIBIT. MANY HOPE TO RECLAIM IT FOR USE BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS A COMMUNITY CENTER AND EXHIBIT GALLERY.