Comments

Interviewees: Tiny, Wild Man, Mike, David X, and Riley (The Black Spades)

Interviewers: Dr Mark Naison and Dr Steven Payne

February 9, 2022

Black Spades members Marion “Tiny” Frampton, Wild Man, David X, and Mike recount the Black Spades' history, anecdotes, and values. Throughout the interview, each member tells stories of their experience with the gang and the difficulties and memories during the latter half of the 20th century, when the gang was famously active. The men also touched on the establishment of TBS (The Black Spades): The New Direction, which according to the interviewees, was built to give back to the community. The men also mention a documentary, which is currently being worked on, about the history and experience of The Black Spades. According to Tiny, these efforts to develop and maintain strong, culturally diverse communities are “the only way that we are going to make a difference.” To the members of TBS: The New Direction, the gang association is now about showing up for the community.

Disciplines

African American Studies | Public History

Abstract

This interview with early Black Spades members recounts old memories and new directions for the gang, serving as both an oral history and a set of future ambitions for New York communities and the Black Spades. Giving out food, telling New York and Black Spades histories, and fighting for community centers are just a few of the many thing’s TBS: New Direction does for New York. Just as Tiny recounts how his mom brought others together by, “feeding TBS members from across the city,” TBS New Direction is creating communities of New Yorker's by giving back to the city. (Summary by Emma Garr, Intern, Bronx African American History Project.) The interviewers are Dr. Mark Naison, Professor of African & African American Studies and History at Fordham University & Director of The Bronx African American History Project and Dr. Steven Payne, Research Librarian and Archivist for The Bronx County Historical Society (Now Director of the BCHS). The Bronx African American History Project and the Bronx Hip Hop Oral History Project are projects of The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.

LINK TO VIDEO INTERVIEW: https://cdm17265.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/baahp/id/100/rec/28

Download
COinS