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
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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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    # Mentorship

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    Margaret Carter

    First Black woman elected to the Oregon State Legislature

    Portland, OR

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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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    # Athletics

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    Mary Hamilton

    Retired educator and longtime North East Portland resident

    Portland, OR

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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

    Renée Watson
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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
    Collection

    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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    ‘If you want to learn about the history of the place,
    learn about its ocean, as well as the land.’
    Thomas Kaulukukui Jr.
    curtain