Oral History Project: Black-Jewish Relations in Alexandria
Did you or someone you know experience Alexandria during the 1950s-60s as a Black and/or Jewish community member?
The Office of Historic Alexandria is conducting an oral history project in July 2024 surrounding Black-Jewish relations in and around the Civil Rights era (1950s-60s) in Alexandria, Virginia. Researchers are looking to interview Black and Jewish Alexandrians on their perceptions, experiences, and perspectives.
This oral history project, in collaboration with Beth EL Jewish congregation, aims to understand the under-documented perceptions, interactions, and relationships between these two groups as they concern Alexandria’s unique position as a Southern city adjacent to Washington, D.C. They also encapsulate important personal narratives and preserve subjective historical accounts and reactions.
Interested in:
- Oral history interviews about a general experience in the Alexandrian Jewish/African American community in the mid-twentieth century;
- Information, accounts, records, letters, or any other primary resources willing to share that may concern the African American community’s perception of the Jewish community or the Jewish community’s perception of the African American community;
- Perspective from African American community members who had interactions with Jewish Americans in the era, including in education, work, friendship, relationships, or otherwise;
- Perspective from Jewish community members who had interactions with African Americans in the era, including in education, work, friendship, relationships, or otherwise;
- Perspective from community members surrounding school desegregation, ADL, AJC, or ACLU activity in Alexandria/Northern Virginia
- General perspective from an African American and/or Jewish American community member who lived in Alexandria in and/or around the 1950s-60s.
Note that you do not still have to live in Alexandria to be eligible! If you believe you or someone you know may be a good candidate for an interview, please reach out!
Email Yahney-Marie Sangaré (Historic Office Intern) at oralhistorycenter@alexandriava.gov to express interest and/or for more information.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.
If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-3960.
Alexandria at 275: Connecting to our past to define a brighter future.
Since its 1749 founding, the historic city of Alexandria has played a major role in our nation’s story and reflected its progress toward inclusivity. Join us at events from April through September as we mark Alexandria’s 275th anniversary and embark on the next chapter in our city’s vibrant history at alexandriava.gov/ALX275.