Oral History Interview with Roberta Harrod-Brooks

Roberta Harrod-Brooks - a third generation Anacostian - talked about her family history and their life living in Anacostia; the history of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the church and the school; other Anacostian families and where they lived; Anacostian businesses, particularly those on Nichols Avenue, and where her family shopped; and the different neighborhoods in southeast Washington, D.C. and how people in the different neighborhoods interacted with each other. Specifically, Harrod-Brooks described the conditions in which her family lived on Howard Road and then Frederick Douglass Dwellings; she also talked about the other people who lived in Frederick Douglass Dwellings, and recreational options. Harrod-Brooks talked about the changes she observed in the community of Anacostia, particularly when people moved from southwest to southeast Washington, D.C. She explained the people changed, particularly their work ethic. Harrod-Brooks also described her hopes and dreams for the community of Anacostia.

Interview created in conjunction with the Anacostia Community Museum's 40th Anniversary Oral History Project and the exhibition, 'East of the River: Continuity and Change.' Dated 20070504