“Bone by Bone”

Abstract

This chapter explores my use of archival records and oral history interviews, using a life history approach, to reexamine Black women’s participation in the Sit-In Movement and to conduct the first study of Black Campus Movement activism at Fayetteville State University using a Black Feminist Theory lens. I provide a brief history of the institution as well as an overview of scholarship focused on student activism at historically Black colleges and universities before discussing my use of life history methodology. After sharing my findings—namely that Black women actively participated in, and in some ways provided leadership in every aspect of student protest efforts during the Sit-In and Black Campus Movements and that gendered social norms mediated their involvement—I reflect on my experiences conducting the interviews and, essentially, studying my hometown. The chapter concludes with methodological and pedagogical notes.