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.

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Milton Adams

Theater teacher, basketball coach, and youth mentor

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
Collection

Milton Adams

Adams shares his journey from a challenging childhood in Albuquerque to becoming a beloved teacher in Portland, reflecting on pivotal moments of growth, the power of faith and community, and his impact in education and sports.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Ken Berry

Educator, arts advocate, and founder of MLK tribute in Portland

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Ken Berry

Berry shares his journey, beginning with moving to Portland as a child, evolving through education, music, and activism, and eventually forging a legacy in the city's Black community through education and the MLK celebration.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Daphne Bethel

Retired librarian, youth mentor, and community advocate

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Daphne Bethel

Bethel recounts her journey from Kansas to Portland, focusing on her contributions as a pastor's wife, community advocate, and educator, reflecting on nurturing young minds, community work, and her hopes for Portland's future.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Kim Black

Pastor, community service provider, and bereavement minister

Portland, OR

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Kim Black

With roots in Mississippi and Texas, Black details her journey to Portland. Reflecting on experiences of racism, gentrification, and displacement, she finds strength in her upbringing, education, and passion for music and poetry.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Alcena Boozer

Portland native, educator, pioneering Black priest, and activist

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Alcena Boozer

Boozer reflects on her upbringing in Portland's mixed community during segregation, her family’s resilience, her journey as a teacher and principal at Jefferson High School, her activism, and her calling to the priesthood.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Velynn Brown

Faith & Equity founder, anti-racist facilitator, and community healer

Portland, OR

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Velynn Brown

Brown recounts her life in Portland, Oregon, highlighting her family's deep roots in the community, struggles with maintaining identity amidst gentrification, efforts to preserve Black culture, and finding joy despite grief.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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# Disability

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Margaret Carter

First Black woman elected to the Oregon State Legislature

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Margaret Carter

From a disciplined, hope-driven upbringing in Shreveport, Louisiana, to breaking barriers as the first Black woman in Oregon's Legislature, Carter reflects on overcoming systemic racism, her faith, advocacy, and community service.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Raina Evans

Rose Festival Queen, housing advocate, and community TV host

Portland, OR

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Raina Evans

Evans reminisces about her life set against an evolving Portland, detailing her vibrant childhood, struggles within the Black community regarding housing and displacement, and her impactful work in rental education.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Emma Ford

Retired teacher, librarian, and host of Black Book Talk

Portland, OR

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Emma Ford

Ford discusses her Arkansas roots, family, journey to Portland, career in education, and her passion for literacy and community building. She also discusses Portland's evolution and her roles as a librarian and radio co-host.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Kent Ford

Black Panther leader, walking tour guide, and children's advocate

Portland, OR

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Kent Ford

Ford recounts his evolution from a Louisiana native to a critical figure in Portland's Black Panther Party. He details Party initiatives, reflects on personal experiences with police brutality, and shares his hopes for the future.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Bernie Foster

Veteran, journalist, and co-founder of The Skanner

Portland, OR

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Bernie Foster

Foster discusses his journey from a young boy in East Saint Louis to an influential publisher in Portland, his passion for photography, advocacy against racism, and commitment to Black voices through his newspaper, The Skanner.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Billie Frazier

Retired Portland educator and dedicated community mentor

Portland, OR

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Billie Frazier

Frazier discusses growing up in Portland, overcoming challenges in a single-parent household, forging a career in education as a history teacher and dean, and his faith, marriage, and vision for future Black educators in Portland.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Avel Gordly

First Black woman elected to Oregon Senate

Portland, OR

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Avel Gordly

Gordly discusses growing up in Portland's, navigating racial and gender barriers in education, her path to becoming the first Black woman elected to the Oregon Senate, activism, and the power of women's networks.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Michael Grice

Educator, documentary producer, and NEA Civil Rights Award recipient

Portland, OR

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Michael Grice

Grice offers a glimpse into his life, tracing his roots in Portland, reflections on racial experiences, connection to the railway community through his father, career in education, activism, mentorship, and friendships.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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# Policing

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Mary Hamilton

Retired educator and longtime North East Portland resident

Portland, OR

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Mary Hamilton

From a childhood in a large West Virginian family with modest means to moving to Portland, Hamilton reflects on her life experiences, including motherhood, work in education and fitness, and her role in church communities.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Linda Harris

Former superintendent, accomplished educator, and volunteer

Portland, OR

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Linda Harris

From Texas to Oregon, and from classrooms to executive offices, Harris reflects on her life's journey—her family's move, navigating segregated schools, embracing education, and rising through academia.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Charnetta Hutson

Portland mentor and performing arts ministry founder

Portland, OR

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Charnetta Hutson

Hutson reflects on finding her father, navigating life as a Black woman in Portland, her spiritual growth through Das PHAT Ministries, gentrification's impact on her community, her mother's legacy, and performing arts ministry.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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David Jackson

Acclaimed DJ and music industry veteran

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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David Jackson

Jackson shares his journey from his childhood in Los Angeles to becoming an influential DJ and youth mentor in Portland. He discusses early music exposure, overcoming homelessness, mentoring at-risk youth, and evolving into a DJ.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Donna Kelly

Portland local, dedicated volunteer, and avid traveler

Portland, OR

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Donna Kelly

Kelly shares her reflections on childhood, navigating the complexities of identity and race, her career transitions, and the evolving nature of social justice. Kelly also expresses her hopes for her grandchildren's future.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Michelle Lewis

Wellness practitioner and co-founder of Portland's only Black-owned bookstore

Portland, OR

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Michelle Lewis

Lewis recounts her journey from a childhood in Portland to awakenings through military service and motherhood. She also details becoming a light worker and bookstore founder, inspired by ancestral wisdom and recovered histories.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Lisa Manning-Saunders

FaithBridge director aiding women in recovery and healing

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Lisa Manning-Saunders

Manning-Saunders reflects on healing from trauma, finding faith, and founding FaithBridge Portland, offering trauma healing designed for Black and brown women and girls, to bolster hope and the capacity to dream in her community.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Renee Mitchell

Educator, poet, youth advocate, and former journalist

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Renee Mitchell

Becoming a beacon of hope through her work with I AM M.O.R.E. and the Soul Restoration Center, Mitchell reflects on racial trauma and bullying, hardships and triumps, her career, and reclaiming spaces for Black joy and healing.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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# Faith and Spirituality

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Adrienne Nelson

First Black female federal judge in Oregon

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Adrienne Nelson

Nelson shares her journey from Kansas City to Portland, reflecting on overcoming racial barriers, transformative encounters with Black leaders, her career as Oregon's first Black female judge, and her commitment to community.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Richard Pettiford

Educator, mentor to Black youth, and DJ

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
Collection

Richard Pettiford

As a beloved figure at Jefferson High School, Pettiford reflects on his childhood, career, the role Black women played in his journey, navigating fatherhood, and witnessing the impacts of gentrification in Portland.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Shalanda Sims

Portland native, World Stage Theatre founder, and performer

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Shalanda Sims

Reflecting on her upbringing, family, and work, Sims details unearthing hidden Black heritage in Portland, transforming her findings into enriching historical theater, and fostering community through her production company.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Shawnte Sims

Maintenance supervisor, gospel choir leader, and community photographer

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Shawnte Sims

Sims shares his journey from a youth passionate about electronics and sports, through leadership roles and early career explorations, to becoming a cherished community leader, devoted family man, and acclaimed photographer.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Melissa Smith-Hohnstein

Clinical director, adoptee, and child advocate

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Melissa Smith-Hohnstein

Smith Hohnstein reflects on foster care, adoption complexities, her search for and reunion with her biological family, motherhood, navigating identity, and the implications of her heritage in personal and professional life.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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Mariah Taylor

Portland community servant, clinic founder, and Oprah awardee

Portland, OR

Renée Watson
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Mariah Taylor

Taylor shares her life story, from immigrating to Vanport as a child and surviving the 1948 flood, to becoming a nurse and activist, reflecting on family history, faith, musical passions, and serving Portland's underprivileged.

Renée Watson collection

Portland, OR

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‘Give them all the truth.
They can make the determination on their own.’
Damon Jackson
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