Interviews - I See My Light Shining

Interviews

836 Hours

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.

Filters

Collections
Topics
Locations
Go to interview

Phil Armstrong

Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Project Director

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Phil Armstrong

Armstrong shares his journey from Bidwell, Ohio, to becoming a key figure in preserving the history of Black Wall Street in Tulsa. He discusses his upbringing, growth, and pivotal role in the Greenwood Rising History Center.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Carl Bracy

Retired insurance industry leader and advocate for North Tulsa's rejuvenation

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Carl Bracy

Bracy shares his life story, from growing up in segregated Arkansas to becoming a trailblazer at State Farm Insurance. He discusses the Tulsa Race Massacre, the struggle for racial equality, and his push for development in Tulsa.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Lydia Coleman

Civil rights activist, pastor, mentor, and writer

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Lydia Coleman

Coleman revisits her journey from the cotton fields of Arkansas to pastoring in Tulsa. She reflects on Civil Rights marches, the impact of race on education, and eventually finding her calling in ministry alongside her husband.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Stanley Coleman

Pastor, veteran, civil rights activist, and church founder

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Stanley Coleman

Coleman shares his journey through the Civil Rights Movement in Arkansas, detailing struggles against segregation, the pivotal march to a white school, arrests, and the fight for respect and equality.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

# Assimilation and Resistance

Go to interview

Carol Davis

Detroit native, insurance adjuster, and witness to Tulsa's desegregation journey

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Carol Davis

Davis shares her experiences growing up in North Tulsa, facing racial tensions, discovering strengths through various jobs, raising children with strong values, and breaking barriers in her role at State Farm as a claims adjuster.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Tanecia Davis
Diane Gayle

Human resources director and law student

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Tanecia Davis
Diane Gayle

Gayle reflects on her move to Tulsa from New York, discussing cultural adaptations and evolving perceptions of home. Davis discusses her North Tulsa upbringing, evolving career, community shifts, and the changing face of the city.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Raymond Doswell

Public historian, educator, and museum executive

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Raymond Doswell

Doswell discusses his upbringing in East St. Louis and career transitions, from teaching history, to his pivot to public history to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City to leading Greenwood Rising in Tulsa.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Lemmel Fields

Entrepreneur, world-touring road manager, and nightclub founder

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Lemmel Fields

Fields shares insights on his life’s journey, from growing up in Tulsa's Greenwood, to road managing for renowned bands, to military service. Fields also shares his vision for a revitalized Black business district in Tulsa.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Reuben Gant

Retired NFL player and community leader

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Reuben Gant

Gant discusses growing up in segregated Tulsa, the Tulsa Race Massacre's impact on his family, his NFL career, becoming a cable television executive, working with the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, and his vision for the future.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Norman Gayle

Hospital operations executive and community activist

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Norman Gayle

Gayle reflects on his move from New York to Tulsa with his family in pursuit of a better life. He discusses adapting to a new community, the city's changing face, and the virtues of raising a family in Tulsa.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Glenda Howard

Tulsa native, integration influencer, entrepreneur, and ministry leader

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Glenda Howard

Howard discusses her life journey, including her family's roots in Oklahoma, memories of racial integration, her entrepreneurial ventures, the legacies of Tulsa's Black community, and her hopes for Tulsa's future.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Hannibal Johnson

Author, attorney, and Tulsa history expert

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Hannibal Johnson

Johnson shares his path from roots in Arkansas and Texas to becoming an influential Tulsa figure. He discusses his legal career, his role in commemorating the Tulsa Race Massacre, and Greenwood's role in the city's resurgence.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

# Gender Identity

Go to interview

Glenda Love

Former Ronald McDonald House CEO and community leader

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Glenda Love

Love shares her experiences growing up in a changing North Tulsa, her family's history, her journey from librarian to leading the Ronald McDonald House, fundraising for Greenwood Rising, and her hopes for North Tulsa's future.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Kevin Matthews

Senator, former fire chief, and founder of Greenwood Rising History Center

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Kevin Matthews

Matthews discusses his roots in Tulsa, discovering his biological father, and becoming a pivotal figure in Tulsa's fire department. He reflects on overcoming addiction, his entry into politics, advocacy, and Black excellence.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Marla Mayberry

Pastor, resource center manager, and education development leader

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Marla Mayberry

Mayberry discusses growing up in North Tulsa and becoming the senior pastor of a Baptist church founded by her grandfather. She reflects on a changing Tulsa and sense of self, her husband's NBA career, and future hopes for Tulsa.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Joyce McClellan

Chief Development and Diversity Officer at Tulsa Technology Center

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Joyce McClellan

McClellan discusses her community-centered childhood in Tulsa, education and achievements in adulthood, work at American Airlines, leadership at the Tulsa Technology Center, and future aspirations in educational leadership.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Ray Owens

Pastor, ethics professor, and advocate for education reform

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Ray Owens

Owens reflects on his journey, from being invited to Tulsa for an academic role to becoming a pivotal community leader. He discusses revitalizing Metropolitan Baptist Church as well as his involvement in education reform.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Eleanor Payne

Former associate dean, community volunteer, and education advocate

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Eleanor Payne

Payne shares her journey from a small town in Louisiana, through her college years at Grambling State University, to her roles in education and community service, to her involvement in local leadership and philanthropy.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Larry Payne

Veteran, energy industry executive, and community servant

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Larry Payne

Born in segregated Louisiana, Payne discusses his path to becoming a significant figure in the oil and gas industry, highlighting his experiences with school, military service, and challenging racial dynamics in corporate America.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Rodger Randle

Politician, mayor, professor, democracy center director

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Rodger Randle

Growing up in Tulsa, Randle's describes his childhood self as curious. Randle charts his progression from Peace Corps volunteer in Brazil to roles as a mayor and academic, sharing cultural and political insights along the way.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

# Love

Go to interview

Anthony Scott

Senior pastor, social worker, activist for Tulsa Race Massacre remembrance

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Anthony Scott

Scott traces his life from childhood in North Tulsa to his calling into ministry, touching on experiences of racial discrimination in education, the importance of Black history, and advocacy for reparations and investment.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Beverly Thompson

Former Tulsa pastor, entrepreneur, and public school administrator

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Beverly Thompson

From Tulsa to Dallas, Thompson charts her journey across decades, discussing the realities of growing up impoverished, conflicting narratives, embracing entrepreneurship, and navigating dual roles as a pastor and businesswoman.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Francisco Treviño

Nonprofit leader and former head of Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Francisco Treviño

Born in Monterrey, Treviño reflects on culturally adapting to Oklahoma, challenges in the education system, and his extensive community work focusing on immigrant rights, preservation, and cross-community understanding.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Lana Turner-Addison

Educator, advocate for equity in education, and non-profit leader

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Lana Turner-Addison

Addison shares her journey from growing up in North Tulsa's projects to becoming a community advocate. She discusses founding the North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative, visions for equitable education, and gentrification.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Don Tyler

Pastor and community activist

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Don Tyler

From engineering to pastoral leadership, Tyler details his career progression and efforts to transform North Tulsa through education, safety, and fostering community development despite racism and economic disparity.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Rose Washington-Jones

Educator and federal reserve deputy chair

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Rose Washington-Jones

Washington-Jones reflects on her upbringing in rural Mississippi and her path to becoming a transformative leader in Tulsa's economic development. She also discusses heritage, education, banking, academia, and community.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Joseph Wignarajah
Jeya Wignarajah

Retired engineer, Unitarian Church member, and world travelers

Tulsa, OK

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Joseph Wignarajah
Jeya Wignarajah

Wignarajah recounts their tumultuous journey from Sri Lanka to Tulsa, detailing memories of childhood, immigration, and building a multifaceted life in the United States, underscored by resilience, adaptation, and family.

Caleb Gayle collection

Tulsa, OK

Play
Interview

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