Oral history interview with Bill Brown

Bill Brown spoke about organizing Brazilians for the Festival in Washington, DC; Cubans in Washington, DC organically starting the Festival; why the Cubans temporarily stopped participating in the Festival; the similarities and differences between the Festival in Washington, DC and Carnival in Brazil; the different groups and countries involved in the Festival; and who organized the different groups and countries for the Festival. He recounted, in detail, notable moments of the Festival over the years, including some controversies and conflict. Brown explained what the Festival does for the community; how the Festival pulls the community, including different ethnicities and races, together; how Brazilians fit in with the rest of the Latino community in Washington, DC; how Brazilians immigrate to the United States; the voting power of the Latino community in Washington, DC; Mayor Marion Barry has protected the Latino community from immigration authorities; the relationship between the Latino community and the Black community; and the Smithsonian Institution's relationship with the Black community. Brown also spoke about other festivals in the Washington, DC area and New York City; Brazilians being invited and participating in the Folklife Festival organized by the Smithsonian; his thoughts on the educational panels at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival; and the Brazilian community in New York, New Orleans, Boston, and Washington, DC region. Brown identified himself as a Black American, born in Washington, DC, with no Brazilian ancestry. He spoke out how he became involved with the Brazilian community; learning Spanish, Portuguese, and about Brazilian and Cuban culture, including Santeria; working in public health as a Peace Corps volunteer in Brazil; and his participation with Santeria. Bill Brown was interviewed by Olivia Cadaval. Interview is in English and minimal Portuguese. Digital audio files include loud white noise and static, and some loud background noise. Interviewee's voice is intelligible for the most part. During a few small portions of the interview, the interviewee stepped away from the microphone and could not be heard.