Ball State University African American Alumni Oral History Project

Abstract

Muncie, Indiana is one of the most studied American cities in history. For nearly a century, it has been examined as representation of general life in the United States, based on its location, population, size, and values. But in most of the research about Muncie excludes much analysis on the minority population within the city. The voices of African Americans have not been shared enough; but everyone deserves to be heard. This thesis demonstrates my work as a part of a larger oral history project that captures some of the viewpoints and experiences of African Americans who attended, worked, and/or taught at Ball State University. Through two oral history interviews, I attempt to fill in the gaps of an ignored culture within a public higher education institution that regards itself as representative of most institutions. I interviewed Teresa Jeter, alumna and former professor in the College of Architecture and Planning, and Charles Payne, who taught Multicultural Education at Ball State University for forty-one years and helped develop the Office of Institutional Diversity.