Crossing Borders, Bridging Generations

Reviewed by: Kelsey Milian

Review started: February 13, 2023

Review last updated: February 13, 2023

Site Link

• http://cbbgoralhistory.org/

Data and Sources

• Transcript from Interviews
• Multimedia Essays
• Digital Exhibits - Visual and Auditory
• Lesson Plans - Curriculum
• Audio Recordings of interviews via SoundCloud
• Written transcripts available of audio interviews
• Bios and photographs of scholars, interviewers, narrators.
• Glossary of terminology
• Social Media links (Twitter and Facebook) of Brooklyn Historical Society
• Interviews stored at Brooklyn Historical Society Othmer Library

Processes

• Oral storytelling database (35 interviews online)
• Digital Exhibits that recount historical events before and after Loving V. Virginia
• Curriculum and lesson plans developed as additional resources in educating about Mixed- Race Identity.
• Local history and data collection of interracial marriages of Brooklyn Residents over the years (1880–2010)

Presentation

•  Straightforward website that lets the user explore in three significant ways.

1. Learn
2. Listen
3. Discuss

• Clicking a banner  takes the viewer to additional resources. For example, by clicking on (Listen) the site changes to the immediate list of narrators interviewed with pictures right next to their bio.

• Banners for each tab/section are quite accessible. They are placed in purple right at the top of the page. Social Media is immediately right next to these banners on the right hand side.

Digital Tools Used

• N/A

Languages

• English (1)

Review

Crossing Borders, Bridging Generations is a multi-generational oral storytelling project that highlights the ways Brooklyn residents self-identify and navigate their identities as mixed- race people. The Brooklyn Historical Society hosted this digital oral storytelling project with the aim to provide autonomy for the individuals participating. Over 100 oral history interviews were collected by 25 interviewers. On the website, there are currently 35 available interviews. The website thrives on public dialogue about race, ethnicity, and intersectionality. This project draws from the societal impact that resulted from the ground breaking legislation of Loving V. Virginia, which legalized interracial marriage. This legislation created various opportunities and challenges that have inspired the stories collected in this archive. Sharing these stories provides the opportunity for mixed-race families to challenge and break negative stereotypes about them. Legal acceptance provided opportunities for mixed-race families to challenge and break negative stereotypes held against them.

This digital project is very interesting, and I acknowledge the importance of making sure the unique experiences of mixed-race individuals have the power to share their own stories. Each interview dives into conversations of mixed identity based on various themes that include: religion & traditions, laws & mores, food & celebrations, love & marriage, parents & children, race & ethnicity, cultural preservation.

I appreciated this auditory project — the viewer can click on the “Listen” section and choose from an array of  interviews, each displayed with a picture of the interviewee, the name and link to the bio of the interviewer, and a quote from the interview that provides context for the recording. The interviews provide a rich understanding and a personal feel to the  individual stories,as well as insight into lessons learned from interactions with family, friends, and strangers.

The interviews all seem to be in English, but it would be interesting to see them in more than one language when involving multilingual speakers. There is also a downloadable pdf of the interview transcript at the bottom of the interview, however, the search synchronize audio and transcript link option does not seem to work.

The website also provides lesson plans with a full curriculum on how to engage with these resources for educators interested in teaching about mixed-race identity. There is a survey link to capture user feedback, but it unfortunately appears broken. The glossary is a great idea, making the topic accessible to newcomers, but it would be important to define it as a working document developed as a result of the conversations with those interviewed.

Overall, despite the broken links, this is an engaging project that is accessible, easy to navigate with a warm and bright color scheme. The photos and names of the research/scholars, interviewers, and narrators listed under “WHO’s Involved” located in the main navigation attest to the transparency of the project. The lengthy section covering the historical context from which the research is drawn explicitly indicates the larger social structures that impact  mixed-raced individuals and families, and help orient visitors to the perspectives captured in the project.