“I Am Your Nanny”/I am [not] your [m]other is an oral history project about career nannies living and working in New York. It is an exploration that combines oral history, poetry, prose, film, and mixed media. Through the first person testimonies of nannies, this oral history project confronts nannying as both a physical and spiritual practice. The site features clips from the oral histories of 5 women: Deloris, Sharon, Slaviza, June, and Lua. On this site you can listen to audio episodes with the nannies, view short films, browse poetry and original art, and read about the process. I welcome participants to question how caretaking and nurturance can be woven into our collective understanding of both mothering and legitimate work.
Nashville native Courtney Scott is a writer, storyteller, oral historian, and mother-worker. Based in Brooklyn, NY, she is a recent graduate of Columbia University’s oral history mater’s program. When not telling stories in sound, film, or words, Courtney devotes much of her time and heart to caring for young children. She is the protégé of mother-workers from across many generations and cultures; her creative work is deeply informed by working women of color, exploring themes of race, class, money, and love.