Oral history interview with Fred Williams

Fred Williams spoke about the founding of and the goals of a newly formed Haitian organization. He explained the goals were to unite the Haitian community and the church community; and to provide information, education, and culture to Haitian community. Williams detailed the December 1991 event, which included choirs, poetry, and cultural presentations presented by the different Haitian churches. He also spoke about the organization's upcoming planned events; and the number of Haitian churches in Washington, DC. Williams explained how the Haitian community is divided; his involvement in the Haitian community; the role of religion in Haitian life; his preaching at churches; the rites of passages in the Baptist church; and the importance of education to Haitians. Williams spoke about the part of Haiti where he was born and raised; how he was raised by his parents in Haiti; his father, a preacher; his migration to the United States in the late 1960s as a student, including the language barrier; the differences in educational instruction between Haiti and the United States; teaching French as a second language at a graduate school; and the differences between teaching adults and children to learn French. Williams also spoke about his family, including his children; going to church regularly; raising his children in Canada as Haitians and as moral citizens; speaking Creole and French in the home; and the stories he told his children when they were young. He explained why troubles in society exist; and how Haitian parental involvement in their children's education in Haiti differs from Haitian parental involvement in America. Interview is mostly in English. The name of the Haitian organization was stated in either French or Haitian Creole. Digital audio files include minimal white noise and static. Interviewee's voice is intelligible.