James N. Eaton (Finding Aid)

James N. Eaton

1930 -

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Chitterlings

Favorite Time of Year: Spring

Favorite Vacation Spot: The Mountains of Virginia

Interview Length: 92 minutes

Interview Date(s): April 20, 2002

Interview Location(s): Tallahassee, Florida

Abstract

Museum founder and curator James Eaton describes his family background and shares some of his earliest memories growing up in Richmond, Virginia. He describes the complicated race and class relations that came the privilege of his grandmother being a domestic servant with a powerful white family. Eaton also recalls racial issues in some of his favorite childhood movies. Museum founder and curator James Eaton has a detailed discussion about race relations between blacks and whites, using his personal experiences to illustrate this complex relationship. Eaton shares some his worst experiences with whites and some of his best experiences, including a discussion about his mentor, a while professor at Fisk University. Eaton recounts his schooling, from elementary school, to Fisk University, through his graduate studies at Duke University. Museum founder and curator James Eaton recalls his undergraduate years at Fisk University, where he describe race relations on campus, and cites what influenced him to study history. After an overview of his employment as a police officer and as a teacher at a juvenile home, Eaton describes his appointment to the faculty of Florida A&M University. Eaton explains why he decided to stop teaching and found the Black Archives Research Center and Museum, and has a detailed discussion on the archive's purpose and early years. Museum founder and curator James Eaton discusses the significance of black history, and explains why he believes more blacks need to be aware of it. He also considers his legacy and how he would like to be remembered.

26 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)