Asbury UMC DC Oral Histories features interviews from members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, DC. These episodes are drawn from oral histories of members of one of Washington’s historic Black churches. Asbury has been at the corner of 11th and K Streets Northwest since its founding in 1836. These church members share their personal experiences with Black history, national history and the history of the Washington, DC, area. This podcast was made possible by a grant from the DC Oral History Collaborative, a partnership of HumanitiesDC, Historical Society of DC, and the DC Public Library.

Podcast #1 – Bill Johnson

This episode of the Asbury UMC DC Oral Histories podcast features Bill Johnson, former D.C. Department of Environmental Services director.

Highlights: One-room schoolhouse during Depression, March on Washington, riots aftermath, mail carrier, Asbury lay leader, Mayor Marion Barry’s cabinet.

This podcast was made possible by a grant from the DC Oral History Collaborative, a partnership of HumanitiesDC, Historical Society of DC, and the DC Public Library.

Host: Kelvin Childs
Interviewer: Adelle Banks
Editor/Producer: Adelle Banks
Music: “This Little Light of Mine” performed by E’s Jammy Jams

Asbury United Methodist Church
926 11th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

STAY CONNECTED:
Email: asburymail@asburyumcdc.org
Website: www.asburyumcdc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asburyumcdc/

Transcript

Podcast #2 – Josephine Baker

This episode of the Asbury UMC DC Oral Histories podcast features Josephine Baker, a longtime educator in D.C. Public Schools and founding member of the D.C. Public Charter School Board.

Highlights: Segregated Washington; Howard University as cultural center; teaching mythology; charter school leadership; importance of Black churches.

This podcast was made possible by a grant from the DC Oral History Collaborative, a partnership of HumanitiesDC, Historical Society of DC, and the DC Public Library.

Host: Kelvin Childs
Interviewer: Pandit Wright
Editor/Producer: Adelle Banks
Music: “This Little Light of Mine” performed by E’s Jammy Jams

Asbury United Methodist Church
926 11th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

STAY CONNECTED:
Email: asburymail@asburyumcdc.org
Website: www.asburyumcdc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asburyumcdc/

Transcript

Podcast #3 – Cardell Richardson

This episode of the Asbury UMC DC Oral Histories podcast features Cardell Richardson, a retired Air Force colonel and an executive for more than a decade at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Highlights: Washington during and after 1968 riots; pursuing architecture; DC gentrification; race and the military; faithful church.

This podcast was made possible by a grant from the DC Oral History Collaborative, a partnership of HumanitiesDC, Historical Society of DC, and the DC Public Library.

Host: Kelvin Childs
Interviewer: Pandit Wright
Editor/Producer: Adelle Banks
Music: “This Little Light of Mine” performed by E’s Jammy Jams

Asbury United Methodist Church
926 11th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

STAY CONNECTED:
Email: asburymail@asburyumcdc.org
Website: www.asburyumcdc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asburyumcdc/

Transcript

Podcast #4 – Jamesetta Doby

This episode of the Asbury UMC DC Oral Histories podcast features Jamesetta Doby, a longtime public educator in Washington, D.C.

Highlights: traveling to segregated Alabama for college; working as a demonstration teacher in D.C. Public Schools; shifting from segregated education; world traveler; choir member.

This podcast was made possible by a grant from the DC Oral History Collaborative, a partnership of HumanitiesDC, Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and the DC Public Library.

Host: Kelvin Childs
Interviewer: Adelle Banks
Editor/Producer: Adelle Banks
Music: “This Little Light of Mine” performed by E’s Jammy Jams

Asbury United Methodist Church
926 11th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

STAY CONNECTED:
Email: asburymail@asburyumcdc.org
Website: www.asburyumcdc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asburyumcdc/

Transcript

Podcast #5 – Sandra King-Shaw

This episode of the Asbury UMC DC Oral Histories podcast features Sandra King-Shaw, an employee of the Girl Scouts in the Washington, D.C., area for more than 25 years.

Highlights: latchkey child; becoming Howard University student; church’s role in social justice movements; membership in church’s first Girl Scout troop; roles as manager for Girl Scouts.

This podcast was made possible by a grant from the DC Oral History Collaborative, a partnership of HumanitiesDC, Historical Society of DC, and the DC Public Library.

Host: Kelvin Childs
Interviewer: Adelle Banks
Editor/Producer: Adelle Banks
Music: “This Little Light of Mine” performed by E’s Jammy Jams

Asbury United Methodist Church
926 11th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

STAY CONNECTED:
Email: asburymail@asburyumcdc.org
Website: www.asburyumcdc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asburyumcdc/

Transcript
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