TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas African American Affairs Commission is urging black families to compile oral histories through interviews this year after Thanksgiving.
The commission is calling the project “A New Black Friday.” The title is a play on the nickname for the Friday after Thanksgiving, typically the busiest holiday shopping day of the year.
The commission is encouraging people to speak with grandparents, great-grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, or any other elders about their memories. It even has posted a brochure with potential topics for interviews on its website at www.kaaac.ks.gov .
The commission is asking people to write short essays about their interviews and submit them by Jan. 1.
Commission Executive Director Mildred Edwards said compiling the histories will add to the knowledge about the state’s heritage.