Explore Black History

June 28, 2023

An oral history interview and conversation with historian Dr. Frank Smith, Ph.D. It consists of three versions of a digital video recording, two camera card files (2025.12.4.1.1 and 2025.12.4.1.2, .mxf files) and one edited file (2025.12.4.1.3, .mov file).
Dr. Frank Smith was interviewed by Temple University student James Gray III on June 28, 2023, as part of the Social Justice Conversations Oral History Project. The interview took place at the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum in Washington, DC. At the time of the interview, Dr. Smith was 80 years old.
This oral history interview with Dr. Frank Smith consists of two distinct sections: an “interview” section (part 1) and a “conversation” section (part 2, 00:59:22). In part 1, Dr. Smith describes his early life in Newnan, GA, and his time in Atlanta at Morehouse College. He recalls race relations in Georgia, his involvement with the sit-in movement, Black police officers, and the Atlanta Student Movement. He also discusses the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and organizing efforts in Mississippi, such as the Mississippi Freedom Labor Union. He also touches on the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He mentions several incidences of racial violence experienced by civil rights activists and others, including arrests, beatings, murder, and sexual assault. In part 2, Dr. Smith recalls Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer’s arrest in Winona, MS, and describes the injuries she suffered while in custody and alludes to the sexual violence experienced by Black women. He describes the last interaction he had with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., just before his assassination and then discusses the assassination with Gray. They then discuss Marion Barry, John Lewis, D.C. Home Rule Act, and policing. Dr. Smith describes the role African Americans played in the Civil War, his efforts to memorialize Black Union soldiers, and the challenges Black soldiers faced after the Civil War. Dr. Smith and Gray also discuss the goals of the Civil War Museum and the value of education. Finally, Gray shares his passions and discusses the Black Student Union at Temple University. Dr. Smith closes by reflecting on a book about Nelson Mandela and discussing the importance of cultivating Black communities’ ability to care for themselves.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Social Justice Conversations Oral History Project

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Civil Rights Movement
Mississippi Freedom Summer
Selma to Montgomery Marches

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2025.12.4.1

video recordings
oral histories
digital media - born digital

© Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

digital

Duration (2025.12.4.1.3, edited): 2 hr., 23 min., 3 sec.
File size: 225 GB

Title • Frank Smith, Ph.D., Oral History Interview

nmaahc_2025.12.4.1

NMAAHC

FRANK SMITH, PH.D., ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

2020s • 1940s

King, Martin Luther • Chaney, James • Congress of Racial Equality • Chambers, Candace Dane • Temple University • Schwerner, Michael • Mandela, Nelson • Barry, Marion Shepilov • National Museum of African American History and Culture • Rich's Department Store • Gray, James • Morehouse College • Goodman, Andrew • Hutcherson, Trudy • Southern Christian Leadership Conference • Guyot, Lawrence • Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee • Moses, Robert Parris • Smith, Frank • African American Civil War Memorial and Museum • Mississippi Freedom Labor Union • Hamer, Fannie Lou • Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party • McMillan, John L. • Lewis, John • Till, Emmett • Atlanta Student Movement

District of Columbia • United States • Mississippi Delta • North and Central America • Winona • Montgomery County • Newnan • Georgia • Washington • Coweta County

Selma to Montgomery Marches • Activism • Law • Communities • Government • Segregation • U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865 • Violence • HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) • Civil Rights • Mississippi Freedom Summer • U.S. History, 1961-1969 • Museums • Resistance • Education • Labor unions • Family • Civil rights • Politics • Sexual abuse • Race relations • United States Colored Troops

City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Newnan • County • Coweta County • State • Georgia • River • Mississippi Delta • State • Mississippi • City • Winona • County • Montgomery County

Video recordings • digital media - born digital • Oral histories (document genres) • Interviews

Video recordings

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