So our histories do not die : the Ball State University African American Oral History Project

Abstract

The goal of this thesis was to conduct oral history interviews with African American alumni of Ball State University to record their life experiences and create a documentary film that expressed their thoughts and values. Conducting oral history interviews is a time intensive process both before the interview with regards to research and post interview with regards to transcription. Creating a documentary based on oral history interviews presents a challenge due to its sheer size and complexity. In the end the oral history interviews I conducted, and the resulting documentary I made, were meant to open the door for future historians to more easily be able to include the African American community in future histories by offering credible primary sources.