Thank You

Special thanks for The National Science Foundation and their 2023 grant award to the XR Lab and Bellevue College to “ increase access, familiarity, and adoption of XR for teaching and learning to promote educational equity among historically disadvantaged groups.”

This OER would not be possible without the interviews and musical performances provided by Joe Seamons, Liana Green, Jed Crisologo, and the Rhapsody Project.  Thank you to Dr. Paul Jackson for his presentations at Bellevue College on February 2021 and June 2023, and for leading us through immersive journeys that showcased key locations that shaped the African American narrative in Seattle.  I am also grateful to the other OER authors who developed  cultural studies, music history, and anti-racism lessons which I have referenced. Thank you to Justin Golden for all of his music, and for writing Can’t Get Right which was performed by TRP in this material. 

Thank you to Larry Boykin for assisting with the recording of the Rhapsody Project interviews and for helping to organize Dr. Jackson’s event at the College.  Thank you to the Black Employees of Bellevue College (BEOBC), The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Bellevue College Black Student Union for sponsoring Dr. Jackson’s College presentations. 

Thank you to Bruce Wolcott for his ongoing work exploring the use of XR technologies for teaching and learning, and for his support with this project. Thanks to Maria Sanchez Isaza for editing the St. James Infirmary music video. Thanks to Jon Thaler for his Bellevue College podcasts and for interviewing Dr. Paul Jackson. Thanks to Aung Thaung and Berke Can for their assistance with video taping the Rhaposdy Project interviews. Thanks to David Bruckner and BC Televisions Services for their support with filming The Rhapsody Project.