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Full-Text Articles in African American Studies
Byron, Cyril, Bronx African American History Project
Byron, Cyril, Bronx African American History Project
Oral Histories
Dr. Cyril O. Byron was born atLincolnHospitalin theBronxonApril 15, 1920. His parents moved fromJamaicatoNew Yorkin the early 1900s. His father, who had been chief chef on Marcus Garvey’s ship, cooked for severalNew York Cityrestaurants and hotels, and founded Byron Caterers, one of theBronx’s largest black owned catering services. His mother did housework for prominentNew York Cityfamilies. Both were politically active, and his mother was a staunch follower of Marcus Garvey. His father was also superintendent for various buildings in which the family resided in theBronx, and Byron recalls doing much custodial work in the buildings with his brother.
In his …
Chappell, Marguerite, Bronx African American History Project
Chappell, Marguerite, Bronx African American History Project
Oral Histories
Marguerite Chappell grew up in the Morrisania area of the Bronx. Her mother was from Atlanta Georgia, and her father was from South Carolina. Her parents moved to New York City for more work, like most other people, she says. They first moved to Brooklyn, and when the Forest Houses were completed, they moved to the Bronx. Her mother worked as an educator at P.S. 140 in the Bronx and she was also a paraprofessional. She describes her mother as one of a group of people who helped reshape the face of her neighborhood, and Marguerite saw her as an …
Questell, Americo And Connie, Bronx African American History Project
Questell, Americo And Connie, Bronx African American History Project
Oral Histories
141st Interview
Interviewee: Connie and Americo Questell
Interviewers: Dr. Mark Naison and Natasha Lightfoot
Date of Interview: January 30, 2006
Connie Questell’s parents met while working as a maid and a butler for a family in New Rochelle. When she was born, in 1943, her parents were living on Boston Road, in the Bronx. Her mother was from Georgia and her father was West Indian. Americo was born in Puerto Rico. His mother is Puerto Rican and his father is Dominican. In 1949, his family moved to East Harlem, he was 9. After he got into a fight in …
Cunningham, James And Cunningham, Margaret, Bronx African American History Project
Cunningham, James And Cunningham, Margaret, Bronx African American History Project
Oral Histories
Interviewees: James and Margaret Cunningham
Interviewers: Mark Naison and Natasha Lightfoot
Date: January 9, 2006
Summarized by Leigh Waterbury
James Cunningham was born in the Bronx in 1918 and describes what life was like in his household and his neighborhood. His father was a light-skinned black man who was considered colored while in WWI, and later when he moved to New York City to work as a customs inspector he was able to pass as white, which likely helped him to acquire that position. James attended PS 23 elementary school in his neighborhood around 167th street, where he was …