Oral histories have long been used to add depth and weight to historical records. Data, statistics, and documents provide a much-needed look into the past, but nuance and context are often missing on paper. The experience and memories of those who lived through these moments in time fill in the gaps and add dimension to a time period. 

 

 USFSP Neighborhood News Bureau students met with Methodist Town residents and gathered oral histories to learn more about Methodist Town — a well-loved, tight-knit community — from the perspective of those who lived there. Though the community itself has changed, the residents make it clear that the sense of togetherness and camaraderie prevails. Residents recount their childhoods, what it was like living in Methodist Town, and how desegregation changed the landscape of St. Petersburg’s second-largest African American community.

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