Dr. Raphael Cassimere Jr. Oral History

Object number2021.001.0033

Date05/14/2021

ClassificationsOral Histories

Oral history interview subject Dr. Raphael Cassimere Jr.

Oral history interviewer Stephen Fagin

ObjectOral history

Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

MediumBorn digital (.m2ts file), Born digital (.m4a file), Born digital (.mp4 file)

DimensionsDuration: 67 Minutes

Terms

Collections

Civil Rights Movement
All Online Objects
Oral History Collection

DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with Dr. Raphael Cassimere Jr. Professor emeritus of history and the first African American instructor hired by the University of New Orleans, Cassimere served as president of the New Orleans NAACP Youth Council from 1960 to 1966. During that time, he led voter registration drives as well as a successful two-year boycott of thirty-five local businesses. Interview conducted over Zoom on May 14, 2021 by Curator Stephen Fagin. The interview is one hour and seven minutes long.

Curatorial Commentary

Less than a week after this oral history was recorded, Dr. Cassimere was the keynote speaker at the University of New Orleans' spring 2021 commencement ceremonies. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, four separate commencement ceremonies were held between May 19-20, 2021--and Dr. Cassimere spoke at all of them!

An hour-long video lecture by Dr. Cassimere, entitled "The First Louisianians," may be viewed on the YouTube channel of the Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies: “The First Louisianians” by Raphael Cassimere, Jr. - YouTube. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator