After more than 4,000 interviews with people concerning civil rights history, Clarence Thomas, associate professor in the School of Mass Communications, recognizes the impact of his work for the Library of Congress.
“I became part of the project when it was switched over to the Library of Congress,” Thomas said. “I’m working through the Library of Congress in doing this. There’s been a television program about the interviews and the process on the History Channel that aired during Black History Month.”
As an oral history of the Civil Rights Movement told by people directly connected to the movement, Thomas said his study of the Slave Narratives provided the directions to begin the project. This oral history contains the faces and voices many people have never seen or heard, because the Civil Rights Movement affected all different cultures – not only African-Americans.
The concept for this historical project started through AARP, but now the Library of Congress serves as its national repository.
Henry Rhone, vice provost for student affairs and enrollment services, remembers when the Civil Rights Movement played a critical role in helping African-Americans progress in American society.
“Obviously I’ve been around to experience both the segregated society as well as the integrated society,” he said. “As a result I’ve seen great opportunities become available in this country for African-Americans through civil rights.
“I’ve also seen some losses with regard to community strength as a result of the advances that we’ve made through integration.”
Napoleon L. Peoples, director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, also has observed the effects left by the Civil Rights Movement and how people in power sometimes try to erase its work.
“There’s something I see coming down the line, and that is the erosion of affirmative action, an erosion of the programs that were created by civil rights and the erosion of some of the policies put in place.
“That’s why it’s an interesting time,” he said, adding that he doesn’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but people are attacking affirmative action programs. “They’re attacking multicultural programs. They’re attacking diversity. They’re attacking the whole concept and structure of what civil rights is based on,” he said.
This might make Thomas’ work all the more significant. But the project will be preserved through new technology. Thus, 100 years from now the people still can learn about the Civil Rights Movement.
“The thing many people ask me is, ‘Do white people talk in this or do you interview white people?’ The answer is yes. The Civil Rights Movement didn’t just include African-Americans,” Thomas said. “Although African-Americans were victims and suffering, many whites were killed during the Civil Rights Movement and the march with Dr. King and so forth.
“So, if a white person has a story to tell about being a leader or a participant in the movement, then yes, we’re interviewing whites, Asians, anyone who has a story to tell about the movement.”
Thomas said one obstacle in obtaining information sometimes has been difficult, because individuals are in their 70s and 80s and others have died.
“Our people are getting old and dying off,” he said. “I’ve interviewed many people who are not here anymore, and I have their stories down. I’ve interviewed most of Dr. King’s inner-circle for other projects I’ve done before. I can say at least half of the people I’ve interviewed have died.
“This is pretty much an ongoing process until there’s no one left to tell the story. So, I’ll be doing this for a very long time. It’s one of those projects that’s just going to go and go and go.”
As VCU’s multicultural affairs director, Peoples has observed attacks on diversity, affirmative action and other civil rights issues.
“It’s nothing scary. It’s nothing magical,” he said. “It’s something that’s helpful when you offer people civil rights or human rights. You’re just being fair. You’re just being a part of the sphere of human development and human growth. But I see it right now as being eroded to some extent, because they’re starting to talk about even turning back the Voting Rights Act. So, it’s just a very interesting time.”
Right now, Shirley R. Thomas, head of access services for VCU libraries, assists Thomas with his work, but he’s looking for some more help, preferably students who want to become a part of the historical project.
“I would like for students to get involved as well,” he said. “I’d like to build a whole core of students, so that the Library of Congress really knows VCU is doing this project the right way.”
Calling the project important, Thomas reiterated the fact that many people of the civil rights era have died, which makes the need for collecting this information now even more important.
“So, I mean it’s important to get this information down. It’s really exciting when you stop and think about what you’re doing and the significance of it. It’s more than just now – it is for the future.”