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Audio Recording Gifty F. Kwakye interview conducted by Lucy Long, 2015-06-01

Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 1 of 5.
Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 1 of 5.

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Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 2 of 5.
Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 2 of 5.

Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 3 of 5.
Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 3 of 5.

Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 4 of 5.
Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 4 of 5.

Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 5 of 5.
Audio recording of interview with Gifty Kwakye. Part 5 of 5.

[ Transcription of interview with Gifty Kwakye. ]

About this Item

Title

  • Gifty F. Kwakye interview conducted by Lucy Long, 2015-06-01

Summary

  • Gifty Kwakye, owner and operator of Gifty African Market in Columbus, Ohio, discusses how and why she opened her grocery store; the differences between African and American store management; her long hours and how her family helps out; and how much she enjoys her customers. She also talks about how her shop serves as a social center for the local Ghanaian community as well as how recent immigrants come to the shop for advice on navigating America and American ways of doing things.

Names

  • Kwakye, Gifty F., interviewee
  • Long, Lucy M., 1956- interviewer
  • Occupational Folklife Project, sponsor

Created / Published

  • 2015-06-01

Headings

  • -  Kwakye, Gifty F.--Interviews
  • -  Grocers--Ohio--Interviews
  • -  Ghanaian Americans--Ohio--Interviews
  • -  Immigrants--Ohio--Interviews
  • -  Ethnic markets--Ohio
  • -  Food habits--United States
  • -  Ethnic food industry--United States

Genre

  • Sound recordings
  • Digital photographs--Color--2010-2020
  • Interviews
  • Oral histories
  • Personal narratives

Notes

  • -  Interview set up by an Eritrean graduate student interning with Center for Food and Culture, Sarah Tekle. Mrs. Kwakye had to be in the store overseeing things, including the cash register, so the interview was conducted in her office space on a raised platform in the store. She interacted with customers throughout the interview. She was quiet at first, but she has a university education and expressed herself very articulately once she got pass her initial reservations about the interview. Her store is definitely an informal community center for local west African women.
  • -  Recorded at the Gifty African Market, Columbus, Ohio, June 1, 2015.
  • -  Ethnic Grocers in the Urban Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2013/016: 02940) American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
  • -  To honor the memory of Archie Green (1917-2009), a fellowship program was established at the American Folklife Center in 2010. Archie Green Fellowships support new research in the contemporary culture and traditions of American workers.
  • -  In English.

Medium

  • 5 sound recordings (00:27:00) : digital, wav
  • 17 photographs : digital, jpg, color
  • 5 manuscripts : digital, pdf

Source Collection

  • Ethnic Grocers in the Urban Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 AFC 2013/016: 02940

Repository

  • Library of Congress American Folklife Center, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC USA 20540 to 4610 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.home

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021655375

Rights Advisory

  • Duplication of collection materials may be governed by copyright and other restrictions.

Access Advisory

Online Format

  • image
  • audio
  • pdf

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is not aware of any U.S. copyright protection (see Title 17, U.S.C.) or any other restrictions in the material in this collection, except as noted below. Users should keep in mind that the Library of Congress is providing access to these materials strictly for educational and research purposes. The written permission of the copyright owners and/or other holders of rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. See our Legal Notices and Privacy and Publicity Rights for additional information and restrictions.

The individuals documented by the Occupational Folklife Project retain copyright and related rights to the use of their recorded and written testimonies and memories.  They have granted the Library of Congress permission to provide access to their interviews and related materials for purposes that are consistent with the agency’s educational mission, such as publication and transmission, in whole or in part, on the Web. Project participants’ written permission is required for any commercial, profit-making distribution, reproduction, or other use beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item.

The American Folklife Center and the Occupational Folklife Project fieldworkers who carry out these projects feel a strong ethical responsibility to the people they have visited and who have consented to have their lives documented for the historical record. The Center asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here. Researchers are also reminded that privacy and publicity rights may pertain to certain uses of this material.

Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these collection materials should contact the Folklife Reading Room for assistance. 

Credit line

African American Nurses: The Chi Eta Phi Sorority: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2021-2022 (AFC 2021/009), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Agricultural Aviation: Crop Dusters in Rural America: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/007), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

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Community Health Workers in Downstate New York: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2021-2022 (AFC 2021/008), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

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Custodians and Janitors in Colorado: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2021-2022 (AFC 2021/012), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Dairy Farm Workers in New York's North Country: Archie Green Fellows project, 2012-2013 (AFC 2012/033), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Doctoring: The Occupational Folklore of Physicians: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2020 (AFC 2019/030), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Domestic Workers United: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2015-2016 (AFC 2015/027), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Ethnic Grocers in the Urban Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2013/016), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Finding Roots: Asian American Farmers in Contemporary America: Occupational Folklife Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/014), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Fixing, Mending, Making New: North Carolina's Repair Professionals: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/009), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Food Processing and Food Legacy Trades: Occupational Folklife Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2015/042), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Fresh Produce Workers in Arizona: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2015-2016 (AFC 2015/028), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Funeral Services Workers in the Carolinas: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/037), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Grass-Roots Agriculture in Vermont: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/022), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

The Green Book--Documenting African American entrepreneurs: Archie Green Fellows project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/029), Archie Green Fellows Project American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Hairdresser and Beauty Shop Culture in America: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/035), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Homeless Shelter Workers in the Upper Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/034), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Hope for Recovery: Peer Support Workers in Kentucky: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/010), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Illuminating History: Union Electricians in New York City: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/035), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Immigrant Women Artists in Oklahoma: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/011), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

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Kitchen Workers in Central Ohio: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/020), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

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Multigenerational African-Descended Farmers of the Midwest: Surviving Erasure: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2021 (AFC 2019/028), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Nursing America's Veterans: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/012), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Personal Home Health Care Aides in Michigan: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/018), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Production Potters of the Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/030), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Psychiatric nurses in Wisconsin: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/032), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Ranger Lore: The Occupational Folklore of Park Rangers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2013-2015 (AFC 2013/014), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

The Ransomville Speedway: Dirt Track Racing in Western New York: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/013), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Recent Immigrant Workers in Iowa's Meatpacking Industry: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2015-2016 (AFC 2015/026), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Rural Free Delivery: Mail Carriers in Central Appalachia: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2021-2022 (AFC 2021/010), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Stable Views: Voices and Stories from the Thoroughbred Racetrack: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/034), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Taking Care--Documenting the Occupational Culture of Home Care Workers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/021), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress)

Teaching in Wisconsin Classrooms: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2013-2015 (AFC 2013/017), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Tillamook: Cheesemakers in Coastal Oregon: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2021-2022 (AFC 2021/011), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Tobacco Workers of the Connecticut River Valley: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/020), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Training the Troops: Military Role-Players of Fort Polk, Louisiana: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/019), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Trash Talk: Workers in Vermont's Waste Management Industry: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/031), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Washington State Workers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2012-2013 (AFC 2012/032), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

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Working the Port of Houston: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/006), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Kwakye, Gifty F., Interviewee, Lucy M Long, and Sponsor Occupational Folklife Project. Gifty F. Kwakye interview conducted by Lucy Long, -06-01. -06-01, 2015. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021655375/.

APA citation style:

Kwakye, G. F., Long, L. M. & Occupational Folklife Project, S. (2015) Gifty F. Kwakye interview conducted by Lucy Long, -06-01. -06-01. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021655375/.

MLA citation style:

Kwakye, Gifty F., Interviewee, Lucy M Long, and Sponsor Occupational Folklife Project. Gifty F. Kwakye interview conducted by Lucy Long, -06-01. -06-01, 2015. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021655375/>.