Alicia Piller: Crossing Borders, Bridging Generations oral history collection: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids

Scope and Contents

In the interviews, Piller discusses her childhood in Chicago; racial and religious identities; romantic relationships and sexuality; parents' courtship and marriage; family's spiritual beliefs and religious traditions; visits to Tanzania with her father; and impressions of living in Brooklyn, New York. Interviews conducted by Sady Sullivan.

Biographical note

Alicia Piller was born to an African American mother and a white American Jewish father and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Piller attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and worked as an artist and jewelry designer in Brooklyn, New York.

Conditions Governing Access

Access to the interview is available onsite at the Brooklyn Historical Society's Othmer Library. The Brooklyn Historical Society does not have permission to license oral history audio recordings or transcripts to third parties.

Subjects

Topics

Race identity; Queer identity; Racially mixed people; Racially mixed families; Religious identity; African American Jews -- Illinois -- Chicago; African Americans -- Illinois -- Chicago; Artists |z New York (State) |z New York; Homophobia; Interfaith families; Jews, American |z Illinois |z Chicago

Places

Chicago (Ill.); Kilimanjaro, Mount (Tanzania)

Related Materials

Oral history with Alicia Piller's partner, Justice Whitaker, 2011.019.028.

Alicia Piller, 2012 February 8; 2012 April 12, inclusive