The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Marion Barry, Jr.
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| Repository: | The HistoryMakers |
| 1900 S. Michigan Avenue |
| Chicago, Illinois 60616 |
| (312) 674-1900 |
| info@thehistorymakers.com |
| http://www.thehistorymakers.com |
| Interviewer: | Julieanna Richardson |
| Videographer: | Paul Bieschke |
| Title: | Video Oral History Interview with Marion Barry, Jr. |
| Dates: | August 10, 2000 |
| Abstract: | (ABSTRACT) |
| Quantity: | 5 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials. |
| Identification: | A2000.005 |
| Language: | The interviews and records are in English |
Marion Barry was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, on March 6, 1936. From an impoverished family, he went on to become a vigorous civil rights activist and served four terms as mayor of the District of Columbia.
Barry grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended Booker T. Washington High School. During the city's 1958 bus desegregation drive, Barry received his first taste of public confrontation and media notoriety. Subsequently, he abandoned his doctoral studies in chemistry at the University of Tennessee to join the civil rights movement full-time. Barry was elected the first chairman of SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1965 to open a local chapter. He never left.
Barry quickly became a formidable politician in the nation's capital. In 1971, he was elected to serve on the city's first school board. Three years later, when Congress allowed local elections, Barry won a seat on the District of Columbia City Council. Only the second person elected mayor of Washington, D.C., Barry was known for building coalitions with traditionally marginalized populations, including African Americans, women and homosexuals. Barry held that office for twelve years, until a misdemeanor drug conviction forced him to step down. After a brief hiatus, Barry made a triumphant return to political office when he won back a seat on the City Council. In 1994, enthusiastic supporters re-elected Barry as mayor in a landslide victory.
Currently, Barry resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Cora.
Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®
This life oral history interview with Marion Barry, Jr. was conducted by Julieanna Richardson on 2000-08-10 in Chicago, Illinois and is recorded on 5 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Marion Barry, Jr. 's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.
Restrictions on Access
Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.
Restrictions on Use
All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.
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| This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms. |
| Contributors: |
| | Bieschke, Paul |
| | Marion Barry, Jr. |
| | Richardson, Julieanna |
| Persons: |
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| Corporate Bodies: |
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| Family Names: |
| | Barry |
| Places: |
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| Subjects: |
| | (SUBJECTS) |
| Document Types: |
| | Video oral history interview |
| Titles: |
| | The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Marion Barry, Jr. |
Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.
Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.
The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Marion Barry, Jr. , August 10, 2000. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.
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Video Oral History Interview with Marion Barry, Jr. , Tape 1, August 10, 2000, TRT: 00:30:31.
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| Marion Barry, Jr. describes his mother's personality and discusses what he knows of his family's background, mentioning that he lost touch with his father after moving from Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee. Barry talks about his early childhood in Itta Bena, Mississippi, recalling details about the rural setting and relationship between cotton farmers and grocery store owners. Barry then describes his move to Memphis, focusing on the culture shock he experienced transitioning from a rural setting to an urban setting. He explains how he adapted to life in the city by taking up a number of odd jobs, earning small amounts of money to help his family's impoverished situation. Barry discusses his childhood personality, explaining that his involvement in activities such as Sunday school, student government, and Scouting helped him to overcome his shyness and become a leader. Barry then describes his educational experience in Memphis, mentioning his favorite teachers and subjects, and saying he received a good education in spite of segregation. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Marion Barry, Jr. , Tape 2, August 10, 2000, TRT: 00:29:45:16.
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| Marion Barry, Jr. talks about his high school days, describing how he spent leisure time with his friends. He explains that he first considered college as a senior, deciding to attend LeMoyne College in Memphis. Barry recalls his experience at LeMoyne, detailing the start of his activism, as he challenged a racist member of the College Board of Trustees. Barry's challenge won him front page newspaper headlines, and he was invited to speak at a rally at which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was featured. Barry gives a detailed description of the segregated social conditions in Memphis. Barry then describes his role in SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which grew out of his activist work while in graduate school at Fisk University in Nashville. Barry compares SNCC's methods and philosophy with that of King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Barry says he admires both King and his organization, but also states that he and SNCC were less willing to accept compromise. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Marion Barry, Jr. , Tape 3, August 10, 2000, TRT: 00:30:11:19.
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| Marion Barry gives his impression of Washington, D.C. upon his arrival in 1965. He says he spent his first years in Washington performing social work with his organization Pride Incorporated. Barry then describes his first experience with city politics, winning election to Washington's School Board, and eventually serving as the board president. Barry continues to describe his ascent in the city's government, talking about the social problems he addressed as a member of Washington's City Council from 1974-1978. He then explains how his sharp memory and mathematical skills helped him as a politician, and describes how his own view of politics changed as he went from activist to elected official. Barry digresses to tell about being shot in the chest by Hanafi Muslim radicals while a member of the City Council. Barry then details his first mayoral campaign, describing how he formed a coalition of traditionally marginalized voters to defeat the establishment. Barry explains his political philosophy of empowerment, and describes his political relationship with the African American middle class. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Marion Barry, Jr. , Tape 4, August 10, 2000, TRT: 00:31:07.
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| Marion Barry talks about his relationship with white voters, saying he tried to reach out to them even when faced with heavy opposition. Barry notes that his support among white voters declined over the years. He shares stories about some of the African American politicians who influenced him, focusing on Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Barry then reflects on the negative times of his term as mayor of Washington, D.C., starting with regrets he had concerning policies he did not implement. He then discusses the drug and sex scandals that pervaded his time in office, and the drug conviction that led to his resignation from office, hoping that history will remember his social achievements rather than his scandals. Barry explains that he used his time in prison to help rehabilitate his public image, which allowed him to gain re-election as mayor only three years after release. Barry talks about his retirement from the office of mayor and talks about his social work during retirement. Barry then discusses the current state of black politics, believing that political empowerment will lead to economic power for African Americans. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Marion Barry, Jr. , Tape 5, August 10, 2000, TRT: 00:29:48:09.
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| Marion Barry discusses his hopes and concerns for the black community. He says while African Americans are strong and full of vitality, the community must deal with social problems like crime and drugs. Barry cites the flight of black professionals from the inner city as another cause for concern. Barry says he cannot imagine having another career, and hopes that his legacy is inseparable from the social advancements he made as Mayor of Washington, D.C. Barry shares his thoughts on what being black means to him, and why he thinks African Americans are a unique people. He then explains his support for proposals instituting slavery reparations, and voices his support for oral history projects such as the HistoryMakers. Barry then narrates a series of photos he brought to the interview, which include images of Barry's family and Barry's time as Mayor of Washington. |