John Charles Bryant: African American life and legacy

About this episode

This episode features John Charles Bryant sharing his experiences and insights on the African American community in South Bend.

John Charles Bryant was a lifelong historian of South Bend's African American community. In 2021, after a colorful life of nearly 84 years, he reached out to us to record a series of four oral history interviews. Each would cover 20-year chunks, talking about the people who inspired him, and some of the many figures in local African American history that he spent so much of his life learning about and sharing. In this episode of "South Bend’s Own Words," we feature parts of that heartfelt conversation. With stories from over a century and a half, John Charles shares his rich family history and personal experiences. He takes us back to the 1850s, recounting his family’s journey from North Carolina to South Bend and the legacy of his ancestors, Rebecca and Farrow Powell, who were pivotal in establishing the first African American church. Topics include: Childhood Memories: John Charles reminisces about growing up on Main Street, attending Olivet A.M.E. Church where his mother was an organist, and his cherished relationship with his parents. Cultural Identity: He shares personal experiences of racial identity, discussing his light skin tone and the societal dynamics he navigated in…

People in this episode

Guest: John Charles Bryant

Topics covered

• African American history
• oral history
• cultural identity
• family legacy
• discrimination
• personal experiences

Keywords

• John Charles Bryant
• African American community
• oral history
• cultural identity
• discrimination
• family history
• South Bend

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Olivet A.M.E. Church, University of Notre Dame

Places: South Bend, North Carolina

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