Overview

Oral history is a universal form of storytelling. For many years Voice of Witness, cofounded by Dave Eggers, has shared powerful stories of people impacted by in- justice with a broad audience of readers. Say it Forward is an extension of this work: a guide for social justice storytelling that outlines Voice of Witness' critical methodolog y at the core of their evocative oral history collections. Expert editors and authors candidly outline how to harness the power of the personal narrative to expose larger issues of inequality. An essential resource for empathetic oral historians, this guide addresses a lot of the ideas that many people aren't sure how to talk about, such as: How do I interview people who belong to a very different community than the one I'm from? How can power dynamics impact a narrator's comfort? How do I deal with secondary trauma when listening to difficult stories? Say It Forward will support readers with everything from the initial planning phases to the deeper, more essential questions that examine the ethics of the practice. Cliff Mayotte is the Education Program Director with Voice of Witness. He previously edited The Power of the Story: The Voice of Witness Teachers Guide to Oral History published in 2013 by Voice of Witness and McSweeney's. Claire Kiefer is the author of Bear Witness, forthcoming from Big Pencil Press in Fall 2018. She is a Voice of Witness Curriculum Specialist.

Full Product Details

9781608469581

Table of Contents

Reviews

Oral history changes lives. It changes the lives of the narrators, the listeners, the editors and the readers. And for students of any age, there is no more impactful and even life-changing project they can undertake. Claire Keifer and Cliff Mayotte have made a profoundly clear, fluid and accessible guide to doing your own oral histories, and teachers, students and parents: I beg you to try it. -- Dave Eggers Stories are humankind's connective tissue, and Say it Forward reminds us the process through which we document a story is as important and powerful as the story itself. This book--a collection of oral historians' own stories and perspectives--is at once a how-to guide, a call to action and a thoughtful, loving usher through oral history's framework, ethics, methodology, and highest ideals. Say it Forward is a vital guide from a vital organization, and it couldn't come at a more critical time. More stories, please, and more justice--and more stories justly told. -Lauren Markham, author of The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life Say It Forward provides not only a practical blueprint for storytelling methodology and approach, it does something more meaningful--it contextualizes and validates the purpose and multilayered nuances of capturing deeply personal accounts. The storyteller becomes the teacher in his/her own unfiltered testimony. Say It Forward is an equally useful tool for new oral history practitioners and as a refresher for those seeking to capture and honor an individual's voice and recollections. No small feat, done thoughtfully in this resource publication. --Linda Sotelo, New Americans Museum Say It Forward is a useful guide for anyone new to recording the oral histories of vulnerable populations. Voice of Witness makes plain how to work with sensitivity, respect, and care. --Danielle Jackson, cofounder, Bronx Documentary Center

Praise for other Voice of Witness books: Surviving Justice is a necessary truth telling that amplifies the voices of the countless wrongfully incarcerated sons, lovers, husbands, fathers, mothers, and daughters who languish in America's prisons. These oral histories give insight into the nature of the injustice to which they have been subjected, but also offer a way forward. I never could have written An American Marriage without the brave and thoughtful testimonies in this book. --Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage and winner of the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award

Stories are humankind's connective tissue, and Say It Forward reminds us the process through which we document a story is as important and powerful as the story itself. -Lauren Markham, author of The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life Say It Forward provides not only a practical blueprint for storytelling methodology and approach, it does something more meaningful-it contextualizes and validates the purpose and multilayered nuances of capturing deeply personal accounts. -Linda Sotelo, New Americans Museum Oral history changes lives. Claire Kiefer and Cliff Mayotte have made a profoundly clear, fluid, and accessible guide to doing your own oral histories, and teachers, students, and parents: I beg you to try it. -Dave Eggers, Voice of Witness cofounder and author, The Monk of Mokha and What Is the What Say It Forward is a useful guide for anyone new to recording the oral histories of vulnerable populations. Voice of Witness makes plain how to work with sensitivity, respect, and care. -Danielle Jackson, cofounder, Bronx Documentary Center

Stories are humankind's connective tissue, and Say It Forward reminds us the process through which we document a story is as important and powerful as the story itself. --Lauren Markham, author of The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life Say It Forward provides not only a practical blueprint for storytelling methodology and approach, it does something more meaningful--it contextualizes and validates the purpose and multilayered nuances of capturing deeply personal accounts. --Linda Sotelo, New Americans Museum Oral history changes lives. Claire Kiefer and Cliff Mayotte have made a profoundly clear, fluid, and accessible guide to doing your own oral histories, and teachers, students, and parents: I beg you to try it. --Dave Eggers, Voice of Witness cofounder and author, The Monk of Mokha and What Is the What Say It Forward is a useful guide for anyone new to recording the oral histories of vulnerable populations. Voice of Witness makes plain how to work with sensitivity, respect, and care. --Danielle Jackson, cofounder, Bronx Documentary Center

Author Information

Cliff Mayotte is the education program director with Voice of Witness. He previously editedThe Power of the Story: The Voice of Witness Teachers Guide to Oral History. Claire Kiefer is the author ofBear Witness. She was a Voice of Witness curriculum specialist and currently works at the Georgia Capital Defender.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available