Residents of the New London community’s relationship with the University of Delaware was frequently fraught, especially as the university expanded. Interviewees discuss how many of the homes in the New London community were purchased by the university and then torn down to make way for student housing and other facilities.
Taylor Curley interviewing Florine Henderson
In this clip, Florine Henderson recalls coming back to Delaware after years living in another state. She speaks about the change in Newark from when she grew up in the New London Community to how it looked after the University had expanded dramatically.
Devin Roth interviewing Patti Wilson-Aden 1
In this clip, Patti Wilson-Aden details the reasons for the encroachment of the University of Delaware on the African American community in Newark. The laws in Newark provided a good opportunity for the University and other developers to gradually expand into those areas, pushing residents out.
Devin Roth interviewing Patti Wilson-Aden 2
In this clip, Patty Wilson-Aden describes the discriminatory and racist practices that are still occurring today in Newark. She explains how the culture in Newark has prevented many African Americans from being the ones making real change and progress, and the challenge the African American community in Newark has in telling its own story.
Jay Reed interviewing Charles Word
Reverend Charles Word discusses some of the events that took place during the breakup of the New London community, which he attributes to the dual processes of Black residents leaving New London for newly-integrated neighborhoods and to the University’s rapid expansion and subsequent need for student housing.
