When history is censored, memory becomes resistance - Incite at Columbia University

In an era of contested narratives and censorship, 230+ minoritized elders' untold stories find sanctuary in a digital archive now nominated for the Internet’s highest honor.

It's been nearly one year since the Baldwin-Emerson Elders Project first shared its remarkable collection of voices with the world. In that year, the urgency of preserving these stories has only grown.

As books continue to be pulled from shelves and historical perspectives narrowed, the Elders Project’s 230+ oral histories from activists, storytellers, and community builders have become even more vital. These elders—Black, Brown, Asian, Latine, Indigenous, and queer voices who have witnessed and shaped American life—offer perspectives that cannot be silenced.

Consider the story of Christopher Lee, remembered by his best friend Chino Scott-Chung in one of the Project's powerful oral histories. Christopher, a trans Asian-American filmmaker and activist, was one of his community's earliest pioneers. "He was clearly, to me at the time, a woman, a butch woman, a butch Asian," Chino recalls of their first meeting in the early '90s. "But he insisted that we call him 'he' at a time where nobody ever said that, nobody. I had never heard that before."

Christopher's insistence on being seen for who he truly was sparked transformation not just in his friends but eventually in law. After his death in 2012, when officials misgendered him on his death certificate despite his legal documentation, Chino channeled his grief into action. He testified before the California legislature, eventually helping to pass what became known as the Christopher Lee Respect After Death Act, ensuring death certificates would reflect a person's lived gender identity.

Listen to Chino Scott-Chung’s full oral history.

These stories of courage creating systemic change are at the heart of the Elders Project, which has flourished into a living archive that has reached thousands of people. In just one year, the project has launched an award-winning digital archive, hosted community events from Portland to New Mexico to New York, supported emerging artists creating works inspired by the archives, and gained international recognition with a Gold Anthem Award.

This month, the Elders Project has been nominated for a Webby Award, considered the “Oscar” of the Internet. You may vote for the Elders Project at this link by April 17th. A vote for the Elders Project acknowledges not just the importance of preserving these stories, but the innovative ways they've been shared and celebrated over the past year.

At a time when whose stories get told—and by whom—has become increasingly contested, these elders remind us of the power of firsthand accounts. When history faces censorship, those who lived it speak volumes.

How to support this work

• Listen: Explore the oral histories on the Project’s website. Each story offers unique insights into American life and social change through the eyes of those who experienced it.
• Share: Introduce others to these stories. Whether through social media, conversations with friends, or in classrooms and community spaces—amplification matters.
• Vote: Help the Elders Project win the Webby People's Voice Award with a vote by April 17th, bringing these essential narratives to even wider audiences.