Carole Mumin Oral History Interview: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An oral history interview and conversation with community activist Carole Mumin. It consists of three versions of a digital video recording, two camera card files (2025.12.11.1.1 and 2025.12.11.1.2, .mxf files) and one edited file (2025.12.11.1.3, .mov file).

Mrs. Carole Mumin was interviewed by American University student Isabella Salcedo on March 5, 2024, as part of the Social Justice Conversations Oral History Project. The interview took place at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. At the time of the interview, Mrs. Mumin was 81 years old.

This oral history interview consists of two distinct sections: an “interview” section (part 1) and a “conversation” section (part 2, 01:01:31). In part 1, Mrs. Mumin describes her upbringing in the Deanwood neighborhood of Washington, DC, and her early educational experiences in the city. She discusses the inspiration behind her first play, Ghosts, Boogeymen, and the Present, her employment at the Department of Justice, and her work in the Office of Communications at the White House. In part 2, Mrs. Mumin is joined by her husband, Mr. Ibrahim Mumin. The Mumins reflect on their professional collaborations and the inspiration for Mrs. Mumin’s play, Where Eagles Fly, and Salcedo reflects on the inspiration for her own writing. The Mumins also discuss their experience living in Shaw and the history of the neighborhood. Mr. Mumin discusses some of his activism, both during his upbringing and as an adult, contemporary political issues, and Black history including slavery and lynching. Salcedo reflects on her responsibility to advocate for her community, and the Mumins discuss marriage and the importance of intergenerational conversations. Finally, Mr. and Mrs. Mumin reflect on their legacy, and Mr. Mumin and Salcedo reflect on paying it forward.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: March 5, 2024
• Created by: National Museum of African American History and Culture, American, founded 2003
• Recorded by: Trudy Hutcherson, American
• Recorded by: Candace Dane Chambers, American
• Interviewed by: Isabella Salcedo
• Interview of: Carole Mumin, American, born 1942
• Interview of: Ibrahim Mumin, American, born 1947
• Subject of: St. Martin of Tours Catholic School, American, founded 1925
• Subject of: Saint Cecilia’s Academy, American, 1868 - 1986
• Type: video recordings
• Type: oral histories
• Type: digital media - born digital
• Medium: digital
• Dimensions: Duration (2025.12.11.1.3, edited): 2 hr., 2 min., 26 sec.
• Dimensions: File size: 196 GB
• Place filmed: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Deanwood, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Activism
• Topic: Catholicism
• Topic: Civil Rights
• Topic: Communities
• Topic: Education
• Topic: Families
• Topic: Government
• Object number: 2025.12.11.1
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.