Handbook of Black Studies PDF

Sage Reference Handbook of Black Studies For the most optimal reading experience we recommend using our website. A free-to-view version of this content is available by clicking on this link, which includes an easy-to-navigate-and-sea...

Sage Reference Handbook of Black Studies For the most optimal reading experience we recommend using our website. A free-to-view version of this content is available by clicking on this link, which includes an easy-to-navigate-and-search-entry, and may also include videos, embedded datasets, downloadable datasets, interactive questions, audio content, and downloadable tables and resources. Author: Diane D. Turner Pub. Date: 2010 Product: Sage Reference DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412982696 Keywords: tape recording, interviews, oral history interview, interview techniques, oral history, equipment, career/life Disciplines: Race & Ethnicity, Race, Ethnicity & Migration, Black Studies, Sociology Access Date: July 8, 2024 Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc. City: Thousand Oaks Online ISBN: 9781412982696 © 2010 SAGE Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sage Sage Reference © 2006 by Sage Publications, Inc. The Interview Technique as Oral History in Black Studies Diane D.Turner Oral history is information of historical and sociological importance obtained through tape-recorded interviews with living persons whose experiences and memories are representative or whose lives have been of special significance. It is a research methodology pioneered by African American scholars and is increasingly becom- ing a tool for many contemporary Black Studies scholars. For many years, a Eurocentric tradition narrowly defined written records as the only legitimate sources of knowledge of the past. African American scholars challenged this Eurocentric tradition that excluded many Africans and African Americans, as well as other nationalities and women from historical consideration. Just as the African American Studies revolution was taking place across the United States, many researchers found that we were losing the living legends of his- tory in our own communities. History was passing as they were dying, and it was necessary for scholars to immediately question them in order to preserve the records for posterity. African American scholars promoted oral history as a legitimate research methodology leading to the emergence of oral history as an important field in the humanities for documenting prominent as well as ordinary peoples. Although oral history is a vital research tool for the reconstruction and documentation of African, African Amer- ican, and African Diaspora history and culture, giving voices to African-centered perspectives, many literary and historical scholars in the field of Black Studies avoided the arena. Some scholars, such as James Cony- ers, have looked at oral history as a significant element in presenting the full context of African history. This is a good sign that intellectuals in our field are beginning to make their mark in oral history interpretations. Oral history empowers people who have been hidden from history by giving them voices to tell their stories and provide firsthand accounts about the recent past, providing pertinent information about the unique experi- ences of individuals, families, and communities, across localities, cultures, and nationalities. It also preserves data that have the risk of being lost, such as the experiences of prominent grassroots African and African American figures unrecognized by the media. In addition, it saves the memories of our elders and ordinary people whose histories are often neglected and whose records are not preserved in archives and other repos- itories. In this respect, oral history allows us to do some of the most authentic research from the Afrocentric perspective of agency. Oral history is living history that creates vivid images of the past through spoken word, providing you with the Handbook of Black Studies Page 2 of 6 Sage Sage Reference © 2006 by Sage Publications, Inc. rare and unique opportunity to talk to history through recorded sound or videotape. Oral history is an inter- active approach, shared between the interviewer and interviewee, recording people's memories as well as their understanding of the recent past. As a research methodology, it guides you to information that exists nowhere else, including personal stories and family and cultural traditions, and can lead you to additional primary sources and information associated with the interviewee, such as photographs, documents, mem- orabilia, and recordings. It is not only a vital research tool in the humanities but is also used in museums, galleries, heritage exhibitions, family history projects, schools, and libraries as well as for radio and television programs. To conduct oral history successfully, you must be well organized and prepared for fieldwork. The following guidelines for conducting oral history interviews contain crucial information. They will navigate you through the process of conducting oral history research for high-quality interview results. Tape-Recording Equipment Cassette tape-recorders with recording meters are more suitable for oral history fieldwork. The meter helps the researcher monitor the recording as well as the sound and battery levels. A condenser microphone can be attached to the collar of the interviewee to get a clear recording, freeing your hands. High-quality 60-minute cassette tapes, labeled in advance of the interview with the narrator's name and address as well as the date and interviewer's name, are needed. It is essential to test your equipment before each interview session as well as know your equipment to create a level of comfort during the interview. Always take extra cassette tapes and batteries as well as an extension cord with you. Recommended equipment is Marantz PMD series, Sony Walkman Mini Disk, or Sony Memory Digital Voice Recorder with Dragon. Good scholars, however, will always be on the lookout for new equipment and different recording technology. Preliminary Phase A good researcher/interviewer learns as much as possible about the informants/ interviewees, including their family life and career as well as their contributions. You should also have knowledge of the times in which they have lived and any significant historical, social, and cultural changes that occurred during their lives to deter- mine the focus of your interview. Without preliminary research, you cannot formulate the types of questions that will evoke the most significant memories and knowledge retained by the interviewee. Research sources should include newspapers, journal articles, magazines, autobiographies, diaries, newspapers, published in- Handbook of Black Studies Page 3 of 6 Sage Sage Reference © 2006 by Sage Publications, Inc. terviews, written histories, family histories, colleagues, friends, and relatives. Once background research is complete, you can draft a question outline cotaining biographical and subject information to formulate into questions. Once you have completed the broad outline, you can write more detailed questions under each topic heading. The outline can be used as a guide during the interview. It is important to keep in mind that other questions and new topics will be added during the interview process. Once the outline is completed, you can send it to the interviewee prior to the interview, not only to stimulate his or her memories but also for that person to indicate other topics that are not included in your outline. Remember, first impressions are lasting. Your introduction, usually by telephone, must be relaxed, not pushy, and with a clearly stated purpose. You must use your intuition to gain the confidence of the interviewee. This means that you might need to make several telephone calls to establish a rapport with the interviewee before you arrange an interview session. After the initial telephone call, send the interviewee a letter stating your purpose and follow up with another telephone call. Once the interviewee agrees to the interview, you can set up arrangements to meet him or her, preferably at his or her home or office. His or her personal space will produce a level of comfort for the interviewee as well as provide primary source materials, such as photographs, diaries, books, and articles. Once a date, time, and location are arranged, call the interviewee a day prior to the interview to remind him or her. You also must be aware of ethical and legal considerations before the actual interview. To obtain per- mission to use the information in the interview, a simple release form can be given to the interviewee to sign. This release form safeguards his or her rights. The Interview Session Remember to take extra equipment as mentioned above as well as the question outline, paper, pens, and any necessary research materials. Once you arrive and set up your recording equipment, talk to the intervie- wee briefly to break the ice. Basic interview techniques include asking clear, brief, open-ended questions that yield detailed narrative descriptions as opposed to “yes” and “no” answers. It is important to keep in mind that the ideal oral history interview is not a conversation but a substantially directed discourse by you. You should begin the session with light and pleasurable kinds of questions, with in-depth responses from the interviewee, so that he or she is able to structure the narration in his or her own voice. Let the interviewee speak freely about something he or she knows to overcome any initial anxiety. Begin with a biographical sketch of his or her life or a question related to biographical information and early recollections to create ease. For example, Where were you born? What is your mother's name? What is her occupation? Could you tell me something Handbook of Black Studies Page 4 of 6 Sage Sage Reference © 2006 by Sage Publications, Inc. your childhood? Can you describe the neighborhood where you grew up? Also, let the interviewee introduce topics: Do not interrupt him or her with general questions. You should listen attentively, jotting down ques- tions on your notepad. Always be patient and take your time. Learn to listen very carefully to the interviewee; establish eye contact and do not signify during his or her monologue. The interviewee should know that you are serious and have conducted research so that you are knowledgeable; however, you should not appear to know everything. This can be a turnoff. Ask provocative questions without assuming an adversary role. Re- frain from making value judgments. If you want to learn about what the interviewee considers failures in his or her life or career, begin with questions about successes first. At the end of first interview, you can determine the need to arrange another interview as well as address any questions jotted down during the interview such as correct spellings of names and places. Once you have listened to the taped interview, you might have additional questions to ask. When the interview has been transcribed, it is common practice to allow the inter- viewee to read the manuscript and indicate whether any information needs to be kept confidential for a stated length of time. One-hour taped interviews are approximately 45 to 50 typed pages and require 8 to 12 hours of labor. Because the transcription process is costly and time-consuming, a topical index can be created for the interview. Use the digital counter on the tape recorder to index important topics. As we enter a new phase in the study of African descent we will have to become more expert at discovering areas for investigation. The oral interview technique is one of the frontline tools that can be used by a variety of Black Studies scholars. It is my opinion that we will never fall too far from the tree of the oral history inter- view technique if we are truly about the sense of agency for African people. References Baum, W. K. (1995). Transcribing and editing oral history. Nashville, TN: Altamira Press. Neuenschwander, J. N. (1985). Oral history and the law. Denton, TX: Oral History Association. Ritchie, D. A. (1995). Doing oral history. New York: Twain. Schorzman, T. A. (1993). A practical introduction to videohistory: The Smithsonian Institution and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation experiment. Malabar, FL: Krieger. Smith, J. C. (1983). Ethnic genealogy. Westport, CT: Greenwood. Handbook of Black Studies Page 5 of 6 Sage Sage Reference © 2006 by Sage Publications, Inc. Vansina, J. (1985). Oral tradition as history. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. tape recording interviews oral history interview interview techniques oral history equipment career/life https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412982696 Handbook of Black Studies Page 6 of 6