James E. Coates, an African American man born around 1930, discusses his life before and after moving to Anacostia in 1957. Coates talks about being born and raised in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, attending Gethsemane Baptist Church, which his grandfather, James Thomas Harvey, founded in 1912, and playing many sports and musical instruments as a child. He provides information about his education at Howard University's School of Religion and how he was offered a position as minister at Bethlehem Baptist Church in 1957.
Coates speaks on his participation with various community organizations, such as the National Association for Advancement of Colored People, Garfield Douglass Civic Association, Congress Heights Neighborhood Development Program, Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association, and Southeast Neighborhood House, as well as with the local Parent-Teacher Association, including at Birney Elementary and Savoy Elementary Schools. He ends the interview discussing his current political involvement and his growing family.
Rev. James E. Coates was interviewed by Donna Coates on June 24, 1975. Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for the most part.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
The oral histories in this collection were conducted as part of the research for an exhibition exploring the history of neighborhood change and civic activism in the nation's capital. Focused on the dynamic histories of six DC neighborhoods—Adams Morgan, Anacostia, Brookland, Chinatown, Shaw and Southwest—the exhibition recounted the story of these communities through the eyes of the Washingtonians who helped shape and reshape the city in extraordinary ways. The exhibit was organized by the Anacostia Community Museum and curated by Samir Meghelli. The audio and video interviews were conducted between 2016-2018.
Scope and Contents:
In the early twenty-first century, as Washington, DC was experiencing rapid population growth, mounting tensions over gentrification, and persistent inequality, the Anacostia Community Museum's "A Right to the City" exhibition explored the history of neighborhood change and civic activism in the nation's capital. Focused on the dynamic histories of six DC neighborhoods—Adams Morgan, Anacostia, Brookland, Chinatown, Shaw and Southwest—the exhibition recounted the story of these communities through the eyes of the Washingtonians who helped shape and reshape the city in extraordinary ways: through their fights for quality public education, healthy and green urban spaces, equitable development and transportation, and a genuinely democratic approach to city planning. The oral histories that comprise this collection were conducted as part of the research for the exhibition. The audio and video interviews were conducted between 2016-2018.
Provenance:
"A Right to the City" Exhibition were created by the Anacostia Community Museum.
Records of "A Right to the City" Exhibition were created by the Anacostia Community Museum.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Interview created as part of the research for the Anacostia Community Museum's "A Right to the City" exhibition.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
