Interview, Ellis Cosey

Ellis Cosey (b. 1936) was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Prairie View University in 1958, and went on to attend Morgan State University, the University of Maryland, and Indiana University. Cosey moved to Rochester in 1974 and worked in nutrition programs with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was involved in a variety of community organizations such as the Masonic Lodge, the Urban League, Blacks in Government, and various educational and athletic programs for urban youth.

In this interview, Cosey explains the difficulty he had finding housing when he came to Rochester. He also discusses the transient nature of Rochester’s black population, and emphasizes the need for more black professionals in public and private sectors, both locally and nationally.