Say it Forward

Oral history is a universal form of storytelling. For many years Voice of Witness, cofounded by Dave Eggers, has shared powerful stories of people impacted by in- justice with a broad audience of readers.

Say it Forward is an extension of this work: a guide for social justice storytelling that outlines Voice of Witness’ critical methodolog y at the core of their evocative oral history collections. Expert editors and authors candidly outline how to harness the power of the personal narrative to expose larger issues of inequality.

An essential resource for empathetic oral historians, this guide addresses a lot of the ideas that many people aren’t sure how to talk about, such as: How do I interview people who belong to a very different community than the one I’m from? How can power dynamics impact a narrator’s comfort? How do I deal with secondary trauma when listening to difficult stories? Say It Forward will support readers with everything from the initial planning phases to the deeper, more essential questions that examine the ethics of the practice.

Cliff Mayotte is the Education Program Director with Voice of Witness. He previously edited The Power of the Story: The Voice of Witness Teachers Guide to Oral History published in 2013 by Voice of Witness and McSweeney’s.

Claire Kiefer is the author of Bear Witness, forthcoming from Big Pencil Press in Fall 2018. She is a Voice of Witness Curriculum Specialist.

Claire Kiefer is the author of Bear Witness, forthcoming from Big Pencil Press in Fall 2018. She is a Voice of Witness Curriculum Specialist.

Cliff Mayotte is the Education Program Director with Voice of Witness. He previously edited The Power of the Story: The Voice of Witness Teachers Guide to Oral History
published in 2013 by Voice of Witness and McSweeney’s.

Publication date: February 26, 2019

Introduction: Making the Invisible Visible

Section One: Conducting Community Oral Histories: Approaches, Methodologies, and Ethics

History on a Human Scale

Types of Oral Histories

1. Historical or Cultural Memory Transfer
2. Community or Neighborhood History
3. Addressing Injustice or Seeking Change through Oral History
4. Oral History in Educational Settings

 Essential Questions and Ethics

1. Oral History: An “Experiment in Equality”
2. Why Should I Share My Story with You? Ownership, Identity, and Storytelling
3. How Do I Find Narrators for my Oral History Project?
4. Creating Safe/Brave Spaces for Sharing Stories
5. Protecting Narrator Safety
6. Power, Privilege, and Representation in Oral History
7. Outsider/Insider Dynamics
8. Changing Directions in Oral History Projects
9. Editing Oral History Transcripts: Honoring Your Narrator’s Voice
10. Self Care, Compassion Fatigue, and Developing a Capacity to Listen to Difficult Stories

 Section Two: Community Oral History Case Studies

A Note on the Case Studies

1. Behind the Wire: Mandatory Detention in Australia by Andre Dao and Sienna Merope
2. OG Told Me by Pendarvis Harshaw
3. After the Disaster: Rebuilding Lives and Communities in Fukushima by Jon Funabiki
4. Re-entry Stories: Life after Prison and Jail by Claire Kiefer
5. Unsettled: Relocating After Katrina by Eric Marshall
6. Our Town, Our Stories by Cliff Mayotte
7. Resilience: Elders in East Harlem by Lauren Taylor
8. DREAMers Testimoniando by Shelby Pasell
9. Tales of Tar Sands Resistance by Stephanie G. Thomas
10. Cycles of Domestic Violence by Ashley Jacobs 225
11. Project LRN (Listening to Residents and Neighbors) by Genevra Gallo-Bayiates
12. Long Live The King: Fishing in Santa Cruz Harbor by Katie Kuszmar

 Section Three: Community Storytelling and Oral History Resources

1. Getting Started: A Quick Guide to Setting up Your Oral History Project
2. Media Options for Sharing Stories
3. Oral History Resources
4. Trauma & Self-Care Resources

Acknowledgements

About Voice of Witness

About the Editors/ About the Contributors