GROUNDSWELL: ORAL HISTORY FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
6 March 2013
Sarah K Loose, coordinator of the Rural Organizing Project, Oregon which was highlighted in the previous issue of the journal, reports on an oral history event she organised in New York in September.
‘In our struggles for justice our stories and our histories are sources of power and strength. They inspire and motivate in moments of defeat or uncertainty and build empathy across lines of difference. They show a way forward, highlighting tactics and strategies that result in lasting change. Sharing our stories can empower, awaken, and transform.
‘Since the 1970s, oral history has been recognized as an invaluable method for preserving the largely undocumented stories of social movements and their actors. Today, hundreds of archives and interview projects document the history and voices of marginalised communities and of feminist, queer, environmental and civil rights activists.
‘Less explored, however, is the powerful role that oral history can play in not only documenting radical social change, but actively contributing to it. The Groundswell: Oral History for Social Change retreat on 15-16 September 2011 in New York brought together a group of fifteen oral historians, cultural workers and community organisers who are experimenting with precisely that: the use of oral history as a method for building movements and effecting transformative change. Organised with a community building focus and popular education approach, the retreat created space to share our own stories and explore the ethical and practical questions we face in our practice. Issues of accountability, ownership, and collaboration factored prominently in the discussions.
‘There are plans for a series of activities and gatherings to continue the dialogue and expand the Groundswell network.
• To learn more, visit:www.oralhistoryforsocialchange.org or e-mail: sarahloose@gmail.com
Participants at the Groundswell event in September 2011.
Participants Daniel Kerr and Gabriel Solis in discussion during the Groundswell event.
Source: ORAL HISTORY, Spring 2012, p. 30
Number of Visits: 4191
The latest
- 100 Questions/ 30
- The Story of a Street Classroom
- Validation: Challenges and Necessities
- Memories of Mr. Jalal Setareh
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 30
- 100 Questions/ 29
- Theory One: “The Structural Duality of Opportunity–Threat in the Government’s Entry into Oral History”
- The 373rd Night of Memories – Part 7
Most visited
- Theory One: “The Structural Duality of Opportunity–Threat in the Government’s Entry into Oral History”
- The 373rd Night of Memories – Part 7
- From Revolutionary Circles to the Military Arm of the Islamic Government
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 29
- 100 Questions/ 29
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 30
- Memories of Mr. Jalal Setareh
- Validation: Challenges and Necessities
100 Questions/27
What is the place of research ethics in compiling oral history?We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week.
Photo Album from The Doctor of fly
The Doctor of fly, authored by Fatemeh Dehghan Niri, presents the memoirs of Dr. Mohammad-Taqi Khorsandi Ashtiani, Professor Emeritus and a subspecialist in Otolaryngology at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Compiled within the framework of oral history, the work recounts different stages of his life—from childhood and years of ...The Beating Pulse of a Nation at the Moment of Nowruz
Every year, in the days and nights leading up to Nowruz, Shohada Square had a special charm. A few days before the New Year, the shops would fill with customers, and street vendors would take over the sidewalks. You could find everything in their stalls (from items for the Haft Sin table, candles, goldfish, and spring flowers to clothes, bags, and shoes).The Editor's Missing Place on the “Deck”
The book From Deck to Heaven offers a relatively fresh approach to examining the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Navy (AJA) during the eight years of the Sacred Defense, published under the “Oral History of the Islamic Revolution” series. To compile this book, the esteemed author has utilized documentary research (referring to relevant archival centers and selecting documents) and field research ...
