Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • Collections
      • Open Access
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • EEO & Small Business
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Program
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

Oral history interview with Harry Azemar

Anacostia Community Museum

Object Details

General
Associated documentation for this interview is available in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
Title created by ACMA staff using text written on sound cassette, contents of audio recording, textual transcript, and/or associated archival documentation.
Names
United States. Navy
Azemar, Harry
Collection Creator
Smithsonian Institution. Anacostia Community Museum
Place
Haiti
Africa
New York (N.Y.)
Washington (D.C.)
United States
Topic
Haitians
Musicians
Music
Emigration and immigration
Manners and customs
Soccer
Youth
Education
Government and politics
Politics and culture
Religion
Vodou
Dance
Festivals
Government and politics
Interviews
See more items in
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. Exhibition Records
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. Exhibition Records / Series 3: Oral History Interviews
Sponsor
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Extent
3 Digital files
2 Sound cassettes
Date
circa 1992-1993
Archival Repository
Anacostia Community Museum Archives
Type
Archival materials
Digital files
Sound cassettes
Citation
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. exhibition records, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Note
The total playing time of interview recording is approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes.
Scope and Contents
Harry Azemar, known as Rameza in the music world, spoke about his migration to the United States, including why he was reluctant to come to the United States; his first year in the United States, including learning English and enlisting in the United States Navy; living in New York City, including going to night clubs and the Haitian community; typical Haitian fashion attire and style in the late 1970s; his experience in the US Navy; and how and why he arrived in Washington, DC. Azemar spoke about his relationship with his mother; his wife, who is also Haitian; what soccer means to him and attending soccer games; the Haitian community in Washington, DC; his experience as a coordinator for the "Today and Tomorrow" program, which taught teenagers how to succeed in the United States; how he would teach Haitian youth to assimilate in the new culture while keeping them in touch with their Haitian roots; and being a solo musician without a band. Azemar explained how music is the rhythm of a culture, specifically spoke about music in Haiti and South Africa; the relationship between music, what is happening in a country, and the people of a country; different kinds of Haitian music, including instruments and Haitian bands; how his interest in music developed when he was young, and then as new immigrant in the United States; how he developed as a musician and transitioning from the guitar to the electronic keyboard; the difference between performing with a Spanish band versus a Haitian band; the connection between music and politics; how music supports learning and education; and why some Haitians do not listen to American music. Azemar also spoke about writing his own music; performing in front of an audience; the demographics and size of the audiences; where he performs; the types of music he plays; his relationship with other Haitian musicians in Washington, DC; musicians who have influenced him and how; visiting Africa in the mid-1970s; the radio stations he listens to in Washington, DC; Haitian, calypso, soca, Spanish, African, and French music; different types of Haitian dance; and Haitian Carnival. Azemar described his experiences with vodou ceremonies, the Protestant church, and the Catholic church in Haiti when he was young. He also explained the relationship between vodou and nature, and vodou practices and beliefs. Azemar also described the values and characteristics of those who live in the countryside versus the city in Haiti. He also detailed some of Haitian history, including Haitian revolution and independence. Interview is in English. The interview concluded with a musical demonstration by Harry Azemar. Digital audio files include white noise and static; there is more static during the musical demonstration. Interviewee's voice is intelligible.
Collection Restrictions
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1712088000981-1712088003360-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7956dce56-8c5a-474f-9d9d-9cd3b87bb64f

Related Content

  • Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. Exhibition Records

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top