Interviews - I See My Light Shining

Interviews

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Oral history interviews are firsthand testimonies of people’s experiences of history. These interviews invite narrators (interviewees) to talk about their own histories, giving unparalleled insights into life decisions, actions, and experiences that may not already be part of the public record.

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    Harold Bailey

    Career educator, Afro-American advocate, and NAACP branch president

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Harold Bailey

    Bailey reflects on his life, including his childhood, facing racial discrimination, leading African American Studies at UNM, fighting for racial justice, and his tenure at the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Ken Carson

    Banking commissioner turned entrepreneur

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Ken Carson

    Born in New Mexico, Carson reflects on his family's migration, his upbringing in Albuquerque, his successful banking career, and his eventual venture into the restaurant industry, which blends his Black and New Mexican heritage.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Charles Carter

    Albuquerque community servant and addiction counselor

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Charles Carter

    Carter recounts his journey from Chicago to New Mexico amidst struggles with addiction and homelessness—finding sobriety, becoming a substance abuse counselor, redefining family, and gaining power and resilience.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Savannah Carter

    Medical technologist, entrepreneur, and advocate for the homeless

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Savannah Carter

    Carter reflects on the essence of being New Mexican through her own experiences, including moving from Chicago to Albuquerque, becoming a mother, and a career as a medical technologist, entrepreneur, and advocate for the homeless.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Joana Clayton

    Artist, educator, and UNM Women’s Center director

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Joana Clayton

    Clayton discusses moving from Texas to New Mexico, recounting her evolution from a young, imaginative child to a pioneering force in arts and community healing, creating inclusive spaces for marginalized voices.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Phyllis Currie

    Pioneering Black internal auditor and adoption advocate

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Phyllis Currie

    Currie details her family's roots in New Mexico, their African and Jewish heritage, and her personal journey through loss and motherhood. She also discusses fostering a legacy of strength and caregiving amidst challenges.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    # Migration

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    Diana Dorn-Jones

    Affordable housing advocate and former COO of Albuquerque

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Diana Dorn-Jones

    Dorn-Jones reflects on her childhood in New Mexico, advocacy work in California, and return to Albuquerque to continue her parents' legacy in community activism. Her work includes housing reform and combating neighborhood crime.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Nina Farrow

    Black hair educator and empowerment advocate

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Nina Farrow

    From a military brat childhood to setting roots in Albuquerque, Farrow reflects on raising African American children, fostering community, her growth as a beauty professional, and her dedication to education and empowerment.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Angela Jewell

    Retired New Mexico judge and Family Advocacy Center co-founder

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Angela Jewell

    Jewell shares her journey from childhood in Alabama, to becoming one of the first African American judges in New Mexico, touching on her family, education, navigating race and gender dynamics, and her contributions to the field.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    James Lewis

    New Mexico's first Black countywide elected official and state treasurer

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    James Lewis

    Lewis chronicles his life's work in public service, from overcoming segregated schooling to becoming the state's first black state treasurer, as well as his commitment to education and community betterment.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Lenton Malry

    New Mexico's first African American state representative

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Lenton Malry

    Malry reflects on his life experiences, including growing up on a Louisiana farm, teaching on Navajo reservations, becoming Albuquerque’s first Black principal, and his impact as the state's first Black representative.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Cathryn McGill

    Performer and founder of New Mexico Black Leadership Committee

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Cathryn McGill

    McGill reflects on her upbringing in Oklahoma, navigating racial tension, finding her voice in church choirs, and transitioning from artist to advocate, emphasizing the importance of visibility for Black communities in New Mexico.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Gwendolyn Mosley

    Retired teacher and lifelong Albuquerque resident

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Gwendolyn Mosley

    Mosley details her life journey through the educational system in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the Civil Rights Movement. She shares experiences of segregation, racial bias, and adapting to changing school environments.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Larry Phillips

    Albuquerque native, retired General Electric employee, and business owner

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Larry Phillips

    Phillips recounts growing up in a tight-knit Black community on Virginia Street, his father's journey from Texas to escape segregation, his high school love Becky and their eventual marriage, as well as his ambitions.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Adolphe Pierre-Louis

    Haitian-born photojournalist

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Adolphe Pierre-Louis

    Pierre-Louis recounts growing up in Haiti and his path to becoming a distinguished photojournalist in New Mexico. He discusses encountering and overcoming racial profiling, his connection to his community, and bias education work.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Joe Powdrell

    Veteran, Albuquerque community leader, and NAACP President

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Joe Powdrell

    Powdrell reflects on life in segregated rural Texas, his family's move to Albuquerque, his education and athletic achievements, and the establishment of a successful family business intertwined with cultural heritage and activism.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Rita Powdrell

    Historian, family business co-founder, and community researcher

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Rita Powdrell

    Powdrell shares her journey from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Albuquerque, reflecting on her family history, early life, educational pursuits, and her work in highlighting Black history and contributions in New Mexico.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    # Performing Arts

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    Cheryl Russey

    Long-time educator and Albuquerque native

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Cheryl Russey

    Russey shares her deep roots in Albuquerque, reflecting on her family's legacy, her career as a public school teacher for 45 years, raising children in a changing city, and her community involvement through church and relationships.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Leonard Waites

    Former D1 athlete, corporate manager, and MLK Commission director

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Leonard Waites

    Waites discusses growing up in Albuquerque, his family's migration from Texas, his athletic pursuits, and his career path from manufacturing to becoming the Executive Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Donald Walker

    Military veteran, dental hygienist, USPS worker, and New Mexico historian

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Donald Walker

    Walker reflects on his family's history, including their unexpected settlement in Albuquerque due to a wagon breakdown, his experience growing up in a rapidly changing city, his military service, and his connection to his church.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Ron Wallace

    Photographer, Christian leader, and publisher of Perspective magazine

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Ron Wallace

    Wallace reflects on his early life, the broader family dynamics that shaped him, his educational ventures, and the pivotal role he played in documenting and uplifting Black experiences through his publications and photojournalism.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Nellie Ward

    Trailblazing optician, cybersecurity professional, and educator

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Nellie Ward

    Ward details her journey from Memphis to Albuquerque, sharing her struggles and successes, including overcoming discrimination, advancing from custodial work to a top cybersecurity position, and her community involvement.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Clarence Washington

    Retired engineer, faith-based author, and pastor

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Clarence Washington

    Washington shares his journey from Chicago to Albuquerque in 1964, discussing his work at Sandia Labs, efforts to enhance the local Black community, the joy of fishing in New Mexico's lakes, and his work as an author and pastor.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    Janice Washington

    Minister and musician

    Albuquerque, NM

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Janice Washington

    Mangram-Washington reflects on her experiences as a Black woman in Albuquerque, her family's migration and business ventures, her musical talent, as well as her educational journey and ministry work.

    Ellery Washington collection

    Albuquerque, NM

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    ‘Consent is sexy is what I learned.’
    Tina Valentín Agurrie
    curtain