Guardians in the NYPD

By Liz Strong

This installation is a part of Then, Now, Next: Oral History for Social Change, OHMA's multimedia interactive popup exhibition of stories, which will take place at the Refectory at Union Theological Seminary on April 29, 2015.

Founded in 1943, the Guardians Association, a fraternal organization of the NYPD, works to ensure protection and support for African-American police officers and civilians. Members' life histories reveal the complexities of work in law enforcement, the impact of internal support structures and advocacy, and the variety of personal experiences and identities that endure within the force. This exhibit invites visitors to engage with the stories of officers who have served with the Guardians, and to view the deeper history of black officers in the NYPD reaching back to the 1890s.

Liz Strong comes to OHMA from Seattle WA where she worked as a storyteller and as a freelance personal historian, helping families and organizations to document their important narratives and memories. In 2009 she graduated from Oberlin with a BA in Narrative Arts.