Four interns involved with the Community and Oral Race History Project compiled videos of interviews they had conducted to understand African American history better, at the beginning of July.
These interviews were shown at an event at McCastlain Ballroom on July 10 and followed by multiple speakers who discussed the work done by the interns.
The internship, offered by the UCA Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, included Austin Ashley, LaKendria Geter, Blake Johnson, and Chauncey Williams-Wesley as interns.
At the event, these interns shared with the audience what their main takeaways from the project were.
“I spoke about how we must remember why we are in the current social predicament we are in and how we can acknowledge the effects of white supremacy on all people,” Ashely said.
The interview clips shown at the event were compiled by each intern, then edited and produced by Williams-Wesley and Professor Angela Wiser, and showed work done in the previous semester.
“My main takeaway from the event was the importance of being the change you want to see in the world,” Williams-Wesley said. “All three of those areas – education, mentorship, and work ethic – are things that I have experienced first hand and benefited from significantly.”
According to Williams-Wesley, the interviews featured in the clips at the event were as follows: Ernestine Acklin, Kerry Allen, Brantley Douglass, Dr. Shaneil Ealy, Korry Garrett, Casterene “Katie” Henderson, Dr. Lloyd Hervey, Sheila Isby, Di’anka Moton, Leona Walton, and Ronnie Williams.
“The main purpose of this event was to celebrate those who we interviewed, their life stories, and to celebrate the work of the other interns and everyone who helped make this project come alive,” Ashley said.
During the event, the audience heard from President Houston Davis, other project staff and interviewees.
“Hearing Dr. Lloyd Hervey discuss the racial education gap and his approach to teaching during his interview was insightful,” Ashley said. “Leona Walton’s explanation of historical performative support here in Conway was interesting and not surprising in the slightest.”
The event was informative about histories on African American stories and highlighted the stories in a way not usually seen.
“All in attendance were captivated by the work we had done, but more importantly by the stories of the beautiful, resilient black men and women who had been part of the community for years, decades even,” Williams-Wesley said. “I felt honored and humbled to have contributed to UCA and Conway history in such an impactful way.”
At the event, President Houston Davis mentioned continuing in the future, according to Williams-Wesley.
“I am hoping that UCA keeps this project going, funding students and aiding more in the completion of the project,” Ashley said. “This internship is a great opportunity for Broadcast, Online Media, and Film students who require internships and need to build material for their resume.”
The full interviews will be available on the Institutional Diversity website and on a Youtube channel IDI is currently having constructed, according to Williams-Wesley.
