History 21 The Podcast - 2.08 Adem Ojulu & the McWatt Foundation
Adem Ojulu joins ACHS through funding from the McWatt Fellowship. In this episode they share how coming from an African immigrant family shaped their interest in helping black immigrants tell their own stories, preserving native languages, and how that melds with project plans during this fellowship with ACHS.
Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Ebnet-Desens, ACHS Executive Director.
Adem Ojulu
Adem Ojulu
Ojulu received a degree as a sociocultural anthropologist and has worked with the Minnesota Historical Society and Hennepin History Museum in addition to Memorialize the Movement.
They come from an immigrant family legacy that will fuel the project with ACHS — collecting oral histories from African immigrants, acquiring 3-D artifacts for the collection or on loan to photograph, and curating a display in the ACHS exhibit hall.
One of the project outcomes during this 15-week period is to articulate a template of relationship building, information collection and display that will serve ACHS in the years to come.
Did you hear something special in the background of the podcast? Meet Akito, coworker and housemate of Adem!
McWatt Fellowship
The Ramsey County Historical Society, Anoka County Historical Society, Dakota County Historical Society and Hennepin History Museum have partnered to establish the Arthur C. McWatt Fellowship Program.
Arthur C. McWatt (1926-2012) was an African American researcher, writer and educator who taught history and social studies for 33 years. He wrote “Crusaders for Justice” celebrating heroes of the Civil Rights Movement in Minnesota as well several articles for Ramsey County History and Minnesota History magazines.
The partner organizations hired seven fellows to expand their work with African American communities and advance the preservation and presentation of African American history in Minnesota.
Anoka County Library Minute
Further Reading:
America is Immigrants by Sara Novic (920 NOV)
In this book, the author demonstrates that the very fabric of our country is woven with strands from all over the world. Using names both familiar and unfamiliar, the author breaks down how the country was formed and continues to be shaped by immigrants in the categories of pioneers, builders, creators, defenders, movers, explorers, and thinkers. From Alexander Hamilton to M. Night Shyamalan, every aspect of our culture and history has been shaped by the cultures of many other lands.
American Like Me: reflections on life between cultures edited by America Ferrera
In this collection of stories from well-known actors, comedians, politicians, athletes, and more, the reader comes to understand the struggles of living life connected to more than one culture. TV actress and editor of the book, America Ferrera, for example grew up blending her Honduran customs, like eating tamales, with American ones, like having apple pie for dessert.
This book is a collection of first-hand accounts of American immigration. The beginning of the book plots out the stories on a map of the U.S. and each individual’s story begins with their name and the country from which they emigrated paired with the state in which they now reside. Many of the stories relate their experiences adjusting to new cultural norms as well as how each person maintained and honored the customs of their home countries.
Liyana by Aaron Kopp (DVD398.2 LIY)
Described as “genre-defying,” this documentary film blends fiction storytelling and animation with the real-life stories of its subjects - five children from an African country who turn their past traumas into an original story about a girl name Liyana who goes on a dangerous journey.
This collection of essays gives first-hand accounts of what it is like to migrate to the U.S. from another country. Compiled from the archives of the literary magazine, Catapult, this book features twenty writers and their personal stories of immigration.
This book combines personal narrative with research to examine what it’s really like to parent children in the U.S. Straddling assimilation and honoring their home cultures, the parents the author interviews struggle with their new realities. The book combines interviews with expert knowledge, on-the-ground reporting and even some humor.
Wonders of the African World by Henry Louis Gates Jr. (DVD 960 WON)
In this documentary from PBS, Harvard professor Henry Gates, Jr. highlights the history and cultural aspects of some African countries. He works to debunk some of the myths, stereotypes, and misperceptions that exist in western culture about Africa.
Transparent Language Online is an online language-learning tool available to Anoka County Library cardholders. More than 80 languages are available, including some African languages.
Ojibwe and Dakotah curriculum/resource kits
This episode highlights the importance of preservation of native languages. Native languages of the upper Midwest – Ojibwe and Dakotah – are threatened. With these curriculum kits containing flashcards, books, music CDs, games, puzzles, and more, these languages can be preserved.