Practicing Oral History with Immigrant Narrators

Book excerpt: In addition to the problem of language, conducting oral histories with immigrant narrators often requires special considerations: past violence, cultural sensitivity, and lack of trust. Yet, these narrators are often witnesses to, or participants in, important historical events, or can describe otherwise-undocumented social phenomena. The first book to focus specifically on oral history practices with immigrant narrators, it gives both the novice and experienced oral historian insights into their narrators’ needs; provides the tools to effectively plan and execute an oral history project in an immigrant community; includes case studies, additional resources, and templates of important oral history processes.