By Colter Hettich, Features Editor
How many Americans have listened to a first-person account of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.? How many U.S. citizens know the toughest thing their grandparents ever went through? Is the U.S. losing its once deepseeded traditions?
StoryCorps, a program that gathers Americana stories from across the nation, will be in Abilene from March 20 – Apr. 11, partnering with KACU.
StoryCorps has carried on the mission of the 1930’s Works Progress Administration, (WPA) the largest New Deal agency that employed millions of people in rural and western locations. WPA interviewed Americans who had any kind of historical experience. The goal was to have a collection of first-hand accounts that people believed to be as valid as a history book.
Thirty years later, the dream continues but under a different name.
StoryCorps program strives to gather as much genuine, American experience as possible in audio format. A copy of the final product will be placed in both the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and the American Folklife Center for all to hear.
In October 2003, Story- Corps opened its first booth in Grand Central Station. A year and a half later, Story- Corps purchased two streamline trailers for use as mobile recording studios. Interest in the program grew.
Two months after purchasing new trailers, StoryCorps opened a second booth, dedicated to the memory of those affected by September 11. A year after that, StoryCorps launched another campaign, this one aimed at preserving the memories of those affected by memory loss.
They soon built another booth, bought another trailer and wasted no time launching the StoryCorps Griot Initiative in February 2007. The initiative collected thousands of stories of African-Americans. The following June, StoryCorps received the prestigious Peabody Award, “the highest honor in broadcast journalism,” according to storycorps.net. To top it all off, StoryCorps released its first book, published by The Penguin Press, entitled “Listening Is an Act of Love.”
And now the people of Abilene have a chance to add to their stories.
Potential Abilene Story- Corps participants need to make an appointment by calling the reservation line at (646) 723-7027. Each appointment, by design, is forty minutes without interruption. StoryCorps generally turns down walk-ins. Once a reservation is made, the interviewer and interviewee show up at the appointed time. A facilitator will be present at all recordings to help walk participants through, if necessary, and run the technical equipment. Interviews can be done in any language and without censorship. StoryCorps demands raw, unedited memories.
They highly suggest two people per interview, no children under age ten and prefer no readings or recitals.
Terry Scott, 46, has seen changes in himself as a result of traveling with the mobile studios and coming in close contact with new people everyday.
“I’m liberal, but the constant interaction with conservatives and faith-based people has been really wonderful,” Scott said. “I’ve realized the differences that are broadcast to us are greater than in real life.”
Scott has seen StoryCorps change countless lives for the better.
“It is a simple concept. Everyone loves someone,” he said. “The idea of giving someone forty minutes of your time, uninterrupted, to say I care enough about you to listen to you is pretty profound.”
For more information on how to get involved, e-mail west@storycorps.net or call KACU at (325) 674-2441.
