Terms of Use

Oral histories are intimate conversations between and among people who have generously agreed to share these recordings with BHS’s archives and researchers. Please listen in the spirit with which these were shared. BHS abides by the General Principles & Best Practices for Oral History as agreed upon by the Oral History Association and expects that use of this material will be done with respect for these professional ethics.

Every oral history relies on the memories, views, and opinions of the narrator. Because of the personal nature of oral history, listeners may find some viewpoints or language of the recorded participants to be objectionable. In keeping with its mission of preservation and unfettered access whenever possible, BHS presents these views as recorded.

The audio recording should be considered the primary source for each interview. Where provided, transcripts created prior to 2008 or commissioned by a third party other than BHS, serve as a guide to the interview and are not considered verbatim. More recent transcripts commissioned by BHS are nearly verbatim copies of the recorded interview, and as such may contain the natural false starts, verbal stumbles, misspeaks, and repetitions that are common in conversation. The decision for their inclusion was made because BHS gives primacy to the audible voice and also because some researchers do find useful information in these verbal patterns. Unless these verbal patterns are germane to your scholarly work, when quoting from this material researchers are encouraged to correct the grammar and make other modifications maintaining the flavor of the narrator’s speech while editing the material for the standards of print.

All citations must be attributed to Brooklyn Historical Society:

[Last name, First name], Oral history interview conducted by [Interviewer’s First name Last name], [Month DD, YYYY], [Title of Collection], [Call #]; Brooklyn Historical Society.

These interviews are made available for research purposes only. For more information about other kinds of usage and permissions, see BHS’s rights and reproductions policy.

Agree to terms of use

Bernice McRae

Oral history interview conducted by Bahati Williams

April 11, 2008

Call number: 2008.030.29

Search This Index
Search Clear

0:01 - McCrae's introduction, connection to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (BSRC)

Play segment

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

4:29 - 30-year evolution of Bed-Stuy, BSRC; career in small-business development, capital fund

Play segment

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

17:36 - BSRC small business loans: intent, application process; education for entrepreneurs

Play segment

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

26:05 - Merchants associations; redlining & racial barriers to loan provision; career challenges

Play segment

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

34:47 - BSRC's social, cultural, & economic programs; housing programs; benefits of Bed-Stuy

Play segment

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

43:35 - Final thoughts; interview conclusion

Play segment

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords:

Subjects:

Interview Description

Oral History Interview with Bernice McRae

Bernice McCrae grew up in Georgia and moved to the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn as a young adult. She was a long-time employee of Restoration. At the time of the 2008 interview, she had worked there for thirty years, and held the position of director of small business services, where she worked in consulting would-be local entrepreneurs about business ownership, and mentored them through the loan application process for the Restoration revolving loan fund.

In this interview, Bernice McCrae recalls her start at Restoration and subsequent move to the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. A Restoration employee for over thirty years, McCrae says Restoration is the only true employer she's ever had. McCrae describes three decades of the neighborhood's evolution; much of it greatly influenced by the social, cultural, and economic interventions spearheaded by Restoration. In great detail, she discusses her position in Restoration's small business loan foundation, capital fund, and entrepreneurship education. Interview conducted by Bahati Williams.

Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (Restoration) partnered on the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral history project in 2007-2008 to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Restoration's founding as the first community development corporation (CDC) in the United States. Nearly sixty interviews were conducted with founding Board members, supporters, activists, artists, tenants, and other community members. Audio clips from these oral history interviews were included in the exhibit "Reflections on Community Development: Stories from Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation" (BHS 2008, Restoration 2009).

Citation

McRae, Bernice, Oral history interview conducted by Bahati Williams, April 11, 2008, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral histories, 2008.030.29; Brooklyn Historical Society.

People

  • Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
  • Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association
  • McRae, Bernice

Topics

  • Community centers
  • Community development corporations
  • Discrimination in mortgage loans
  • Economic development
  • Enterprise zones
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Housing

Places

  • Bedford-Stuyvesant (New York, N.Y.)
  • Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)

Finding Aid

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral histories