Published on Historical Society of Pennsylvania (https://hsp.org)


Extended Lives: The African Immigrant Experience in Philadelphia

This exhibit, originally mounted at the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies in 2001, explores many aspects of the experiences of the new African immigrants living in our midst. The exhibit was the result of 2 years' fieldwork in the African communities of greater Philadelphia.  Anthropologist Leigh Swigart collected oral histories from community members, and Vera Viditz-Ward documented community activities through hundreds of photographs. The materials here represent a sample of some of the wonderful stories told in that show.

Introduction

Extended Families: Here and There

Extending Communities: Inside and Out

Extending Occupations, Expanding Education

Lives Extended Beyond Fear: The Refugee Experience

Extensions of the Spirit: Religious Life

Coming to Philadelphia: Seven Stories

Interviews with African immigrants

Test your knowledge of Africa (PDF)