Oral history interview with Nelson Prime, 2014

Biographical Note

Nelson Prime was born on August 3, 1960, in Harlem, New York City. He performed well in school, but his youth was filled with trauma including the death of his father and an abusive stepfather who ultimately murdered his mother. Prime quit high school and worked as a messenger and a paid actor with the Grassroots Players before joining the military. He served in the Korea Demilitarized Zone in 1978 and was honorably discharged after facing racial discrimination. After the service, he worked as a janitor, clothing store clerk, and security guard. He also got in a relationship and became a father. In 1988, he lost his job, his relationship ended, his baby died, his building was condemned, and he became homeless. At a veterans' shelter, he met Larry Locke, an organizer for what became a 200-day vigil at City Hall Park. Prime became a major figure in this high-profile action that was run by Homeward Bound Community Services, Food and Hunger Hotline, and others. From there, he became involved with Trinity Church homeless services, a Speakers Bureau for the homeless, and Part of the Solution (POTS) in the Bronx. In the early 1990s, he was saved and baptized through the Way Out Ministries Christian Church. He also got married and had three children. His family stayed in New York, while he went to Atlanta to work as a waiter and attend Beulah Heights Bible College. His wife and children died in a fire in the Bronx. In 2007, Prime moved to Poughkeepsie to live with his sister. In 2010, he moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he work in homelessness ministries. In 2014, he moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he worked as an organizer and gardener for Feed by Grace

Scope and Contents

The Nelson Prime interview's first session is largely a freeform narrative centering on the 200-day vigil at City Hall Park in 1988 and different programs for the unhoused in which Prime participated. The second session includes revisits this topic and focuses on Prime's life story. In the 1988 vigil, dozens of unhoused people set up an encampment to advocate for housing. Prime gives an extensive description of the action. Topics about the vigil include: the organization Homeward Bound Community Services, which was set up for the action; personalities such as Larry Locke, Duke York, and Marc Greenberg; extensive media coverage and Prime's role as a spokesperson; an episode where Prime confronted Mayor Ed Koch directly; the politics of the encampment's governing ad hoc committee; the activities of the Food and Hunger Hotline; the park's Journey Book; exploitation of the homeless for funding opportunities; and a visit from Jesse Jackson. He describes his work with many other individuals and organizations focused on homelessness. These include: Sister Teresa Skehan, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Speakers Bureau for the homeless, and Trinity Church. He discusses the origins of Education Outreach Program in 1988-1989 and describes being in a life skills empowerment program. He also discusses his work as an organizer and gardener with Feed by Grace in Fort Worth, Texas. Prime also gives an account of his life. He discusses conditions in Harlem of his childhood, the deaths of his parents, abuse by his stepfather, academic interests, and acting. He describes his military service at Fort Huachuca in Arizona and in the Korea Demilitarized zone. He discusses conditions leading to homelessness, struggles with addiction and anger, education, faith, and various jobs that he held over the years. The interview also includes recitations of several poems written by Prime

Subjects

• Church work with the homeless.
• Greenberg, Marc, 1951-
• Greenfield, Susan C., interviewer.
• Harlem (New York, N.Y.)
• Homelessness.
• Homeless persons--New York (State)--New York.
• Interviews.
• Koch, Ed, 1924-2013.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Prime, Nelson, 1960---Interviews.
• Protest camps.
• Shelters for the homeless--New York (State)--New York.

Access Conditions

Copyright by Nelson Prime. The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York hold a non-exclusive license to enable library activities