Oral History Best Practice

The transcription discusses the marginalization and erasure of African American soldiers during World War II. It highlights the importance of oral interviews, such as the one with Mr. Harold Ward, in uncovering the experiences and sacrifices of these marginalized individuals. The interview explores topics like growing up in difficult circumstances, the realities of enlisted life, and the lack of change upon returning home. It also mentions a National Geographic mini-series that aims to shed light on the contributions of colored individuals during the war. Marginalization and Erasure of Wartime Service. Because World War II was marred with social tensions causing African Americans to volunteer in segregated units, the interview style of Mr. Harold Ward provides rich historical and critical information regarding the service and sacrifice of those who have been marginalized and even erased from the records. This oral interview was effective as it allowed excellent opportunities for sharing of unique experiences such as growing up a bastard, life during the Great Depression, and ultimately the dynamic social structures regarding class and service of African Americans. Mr. Ward elaborated experiences of enlisting, encountering sad realities, and the realization of continuing inequities upon graduating boot camp. Here is a clip illustrating such. And so we were penned up in there, and that's when we discovered this is what you're going to do. You're going to be making beds, shining shoes, cooking food, serving food. If your attitude is proper, you'll be advanced until you become a cook or a steward. Head flunky steward. But that's all you could do. He ends by answering the interviewer what effect war had on him and shares the stark realization upon returning home that nothing had changed. The following clip by Harold illustrates such. It could have changed me. But you see, when you get back to the States, you fought a war, you shed some blood, you've seen people die, black and white, and you come back to the States and you're treated in the same damn way you were before the war started. You've got to practically kiss somebody's behind just to say, I can walk the street. There's still theaters out there you can't go to. You're still in some parts of the country restricted to riding the back of the bus or that one coach in the train that is for black people only. Such an interview reveals unknown events and unknown aspects of known events and casts light on unexplored areas of daily life of the hegemonic classes. Interestingly, National Geographic just released a mini-series with oral recordings of some participants, which allows audiences a greater appreciation of the erased contributions of colored persons during World War II who answered their call.