Oral history interview with Steven Fraser, 1985

Biographical Note

Activist; college teacher

Scope and Contents

Background and childhood: Born 1945, Brooklyn, NY, Jewish family, lived in Great Neck, Long Island, parents members of Communist party; education: University of Wisconsin, Madison, City College, Temple University, undergraduate; themes: experiences growing up in a Communist household, memories of parents' political activism, childhood rebellion, formation of Long Island Congress of Racial Equality [CORE], involvement in political and civil rights demonstrations during youth, first arrest as a result of political demonstrations during high school, reluctance about going to college, civil rights demonstrations at Madison, participation in Mississippi Freedom Summer, involvement with Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee [SNCC], arrests as a result of civil rights movement, experiences with drugs, feelings of disaffection for Columbia University, May 2nd Movement, movements at City College, experiences in cadre school, involvement in Students for a Democratic Society [SDS], avoiding military draft, Columbia University strike, University of Pennsylvania strike, involvement with Progressive Labor [PL], working with high school-aged Black Panthers, the framing of SDS by law enforcement, campaigning for public office, relationships and marriage, life after politics, peer and colleague reminiscences, family reminiscences

Subjects

• Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century.
• Columbia University--Student strike, 1968.
• Congress of Racial Equality.
• Fraser, Steve, 1945---Interviews.
• Grele, Ronald J., interviewer.
• Interviews.
• May 2nd Movement.
• Mississippi Freedom Project.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Progressive Labor Party.
• Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (U.S.)
• Student movements--United States.
• Students--Political activity.
• Students for a Democratic Society (U.S.)
• Student strikes.

Access Conditions

Permission to quote from the interview must be arranged with Steven Fraser