Descendants Oral History Project
The Enslaved Descendant Oral History Project, led by historian and Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow Shanleigh Corrallo, investigates histories of enslavement in New York State. The project is rooted in a broader study on enslavement history in New York State that aims to un-silence the voices and restore the humanity of those who lived, labored, and loved through lifetimes of bondage. The collection currently includes oral histories from descendants of individuals who were enslaved in New York, within bordering areas, or who have deep affiliations and knowledge of enslavement history in New York State. The purpose of this project is to highlight and preserve the unique experiences of individuals who are descended from enslaved people, particularly as a form of resistance to ongoing efforts of erasure surrounding histories of enslavement. Secondarily, this project seeks to identify and archive unique aspects of enslavement histories in New York State, and to trace how these peculiarities have translated into modern culture and vernacular.