Voices Off Set: Reflections on the Unsung Hero Project

The Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement project set out to collect and record oral histories of lesser known people who stood beside their more famous counterparts. Capturing these narratives is urgently needed, while the Participants are still with us. Without action, their stories may be lost to the passage of time.
Two student teams consisting of history and media study students recorded oral/video history in the form of video. The students assisted in a larger ongoing project, their work dovetailed into the national project that spans six decades of history, from 1960 to 1980. Through this experience, students were trained in oral history techniques and research skills also applicable in an academic context and beyond. This "round table" discussion will highlight their experiences and showcase what they learned from this opportunity.
Student Interviewers/Videographers:
Atigre Farmer, Media Studies major
October Kamara, History major
Muhammad Karim, Media Studies major
Summer Kinney, History major.
Faculty Team:
Matthew Barr, Professor, Media Studies and team leader
Dr. Torren Gatson, Assistant Professor, History
Jennida Chase, Assistant Professor, Media Studies
Hassan Pitts, Lecturer and Engineer, Media Studies
University of North Carolina Greensboro