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

Elizabeth Afriyie

Retired adult probation officer and activist

Richardson, TX

April Reign
Collection

Elizabeth Afriyie

Afriyie recounts her youth and career, including her role as one of the first female police officers in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She also discusses family, loss, resilience, adventure, community service, and continuous learning.

April Reign collection

Richardson, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Kelvin Alexander

Human resources professional

Rowlett, TX

April Reign
Collection

Kelvin Alexander

Alexander grew up in a large Texan family and reflects on foundational childhood experiences, his passion for human resources, preserving family legacies, the significance of Juneteenth, and teaching his children to give back.

April Reign collection

Rowlett, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Linda Alexander

Church events coordinator and educator

Rowlett, TX

April Reign
Collection

Linda Alexander

Alexander describes a childhood immersed in laughter and faith and experiences of navigating identity in diverse settings. She reflects on commitment to education, the cultural imprints of Juneteenth, her family legacy, and faith.

April Reign collection

Rowlett, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Armando Banchs

Educator and social justice advocate

Dallas, TX

April Reign
Collection

Armando Banchs

Banchs reflects on his upbringing as an army brat with Puerto Rican roots, the dynamics of racial identity in Texas, his dedication to education and community work in Dallas, and his hopes for his children's future.

April Reign collection

Dallas, TX

Play
Interview

# Black Power and Civil Rights

Go to interview

Patricia Calhoun

Interior designer, showroom manager, and youth development advocate

Austin, TX

April Reign
Collection

Patricia Calhoun

Calhoun discusses her prolific career in interior design, experiences with discrimination, and pioneering Texas’ Juneteenth understandings. She also reflects on Austin's transformation and her commitment to youth programs.

April Reign collection

Austin, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Margarette Davis

Long-time Texas librarian and dedicated community historian

Duncanville, TX

April Reign
Collection

Margarette Davis

Davis reflects on her familial origins in East Texas, her educational pursuits, challenges as a Black woman in the '60s to building a fulfilling career in libraries while raising her daughter as a single parent.

April Reign collection

Duncanville, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Tatia Green-Goodwin

Community advocate

Dallas, TX

April Reign
Collection

Tatia Green-Goodwin

Born in Dallas, Green-Goodwin's story spans generations, from Juneteenth activism to changes in education and policing. Green-Goodwin also discusses her family history, activism, and the harsh realities of systemic inequality.

April Reign collection

Dallas, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Marcus Hammons

Plumber and advocate for Black history education

Garland, TX

April Reign
Collection

Marcus Hammons

Raised primarily by his mother and grandmother in Texas, Hammons shares insights from his childhood to present. He reflects on single parenting, memories of segregation, and his evolving understanding of Black history.

April Reign collection

Garland, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Michell Houston

Professor of nursing and Juneteenth historian

McKinney, TX

April Reign
Collection

Michell Houston

Having journeyed from Chicago to Texas, Houston reflects on her family's history and her nursing career. She also discusses raising an adopted son, her transition to academia, and understanding Juneteenth's significance.

April Reign collection

McKinney, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Damon Jackson

Texas native advocating for Juneteenth awareness and truthful education

McKinney, TX

April Reign
Collection

Damon Jackson

Raised in Texas, Jackson reflects on the personal significance of Juneteenth and the importance of passing down cultural and historical knowledge. He also discusses his law enforcement career, his identity, and his children.

April Reign collection

McKinney, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Marshon Jackson

Advocate for victims of domestic violence

Arlington, TX

April Reign
Collection

Marshon Jackson

Jackson shares her experiences of finding healing, purpose, and strength as a survivor and advocate. Jackson also discusses her early childhood, her two sons, faith, and calling to help others, tracing many challenges and triumphs along the way.

April Reign collection

Arlington, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Karen Johnson

Daycare owner, librarian, and educator

Plano, TX

April Reign
Collection

Karen Johnson

Johnson, a care coordinator from Texas with a passion for helping others, reflects on her journey through fashion and education. Johnson also discusses spirituality, making a positive impact, and giving and receiving grace.

April Reign collection

Plano, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Sharon Jones

Educator, musician, and family historian

Houston, TX

April Reign
Collection

Sharon Jones

Jones traces her Texan heritage back generations, discussing the importance of family, education, and legacy. She sets her family's roots against a backdrop of racial history and social progress, emphasizing resilience and pride.

April Reign collection

Houston, TX

Play
Interview

# Policing

Go to interview

John Love

Historian, councilman, tennis enthusiast, and Juneteenth advocate

Midland, TX

April Reign
Collection

John Love

Love discusses his upbringing, Masonic affiliation, and city council tenure, revealing his dedication to community service, fight against racial injustice, political aspiration, and maintaining a family lineage tied to Juneteenth.

April Reign collection

Midland, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Rudolph Malveaux

Texas-born political consultant

Austin, TX

April Reign
Collection

Rudolph Malveaux

Malveaux narrates his life story, tracing his intellectual upbringing, key influences, and his journey into political consulting. Malveaux highlights extraordinary encounters and experiences that shaped his activism and career.

April Reign collection

Austin, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Yolanda Medina

Literacy activist and nonprofit founder

Murphy, TX

April Reign
Collection

Yolanda Medina

Medina shares her origins in Puerto Rico, navigating single motherhood in Texas, and her dedication to education. Medina also discusses language acquisition, financial hardship, and honoring her mother's legacy through service.

April Reign collection

Murphy, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Lydia Moore

Civil rights pioneer, educator, and local history advocate

Manor, TX

April Reign
Collection

Lydia Moore

Moore reflects on growing up in a multi-generational home in Texas, tracing her family's history back to enslavement. She reflects on her education, activism during the Civil Rights Movement, and the significance of Juneteenth.

April Reign collection

Manor, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Chiquita Prudhomme

Educator, community leader, and co-founder of Renewed Black Identity

Richardson, TX

April Reign
Collection

Chiquita Prudhomme

Born on Juneteenth, Prudhomme discusses her upbringing in New Mexico, her move to Texas, and her career as an educator. She reflects on her family history and non-profit work focusing on Black identity and community empowerment.

April Reign collection

Richardson, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Rosie Riddick

Civil rights activist, union founder, and city library board member

Pflugerville, TX

April Reign
Collection

Rosie Riddick

Riddick shares reflections on her life, emphasizing the importance of education, activism, and cultural heritage. She discusses her participation in SNCC, overcoming discrimination, and oral history's role in preserving truth.

April Reign collection

Pflugerville, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Shruronda Robinson

Entrepreneur and community advocate

Austin, TX

April Reign
Collection

Shruronda Robinson

Robinson traces her personal and professional growth through experience with activism, management, singlemotherhood, and helping found the Black Leaders Collective. Robinson also discusses community engagement and systemic change.

April Reign collection

Austin, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Marsha Roy

Social justice advocate, nonprofit leader, and champion for educational equity

Garland, TX

April Reign
Collection

Marsha Roy

Roy shares her life as a Texas-born nurse, caring for patients with chronic and terminal illnesses, dealing with personal loss, and navigating experiences with racism. She also discusses her journey from Tyler to Garland.

April Reign collection

Garland, TX

Play
Interview

# Performing Arts

Go to interview

Tammy Smithers

Philanthropist, scholar, and and Juneteenth Museum collaborator

Houston, TX

April Reign
Collection

Tammy Smithers

Smithers reflects on her family, upbringing, and the community that shaped her. She details her professional path from philanthropy to wealth management and her recent work, including with the National Juneteenth Museum.

April Reign collection

Houston, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Peggy Sostand

Beaumont native and advocate for family history and community connection

Garland, TX

April Reign
Collection

Peggy Sostand

Sostand shares her story, starting with her Texas roots, upbringing, and family history. Sostand emphasizes the importance of Black history, community, and Juneteenth, and advocates for education, mentorship, and preservation.

April Reign collection

Garland, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Calvin Stephens

Texas-born teacher

Dallas, TX

April Reign
Collection

Calvin Stephens

Stephens reflects on his upbringing, building a legacy as an entrepreneur and advocate for minority business development, military service, education, the genesis of Juneteenth rodeos, and the importance of family and community.

April Reign collection

Dallas, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Sandra Stephens

Civil rights officer and education advocate

Dallas, TX

April Reign
Collection

Sandra Stephens

Stephens shares her journey from her childhood in East Texas, her college experiences, embarking on a career in civil rights, meeting her husband serendipitously in Dallas, and the importance of community and legacy.

April Reign collection

Dallas, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Mary White

Educator and university chair

Houston, TX

April Reign
Collection

Mary White

White discusses her experiences raising two sons as a single mother in Texas, navigating educational challenges and societal stigmas, building a career as an educator, and advocating for student-centered learning.

April Reign collection

Houston, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Roxy Williamson

Teacher and Juneteenth advocate

Galveston, TX

April Reign
Collection

Roxy Williamson

Williamson recounts her Texan roots, discovering her Black identity at Savannah State, her activism preserving Juneteenth's legacy and combating gerrymandering, battling cancer, family influence, and the importance of community.

April Reign collection

Galveston, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Robin LaVerne Wilson

Filmmaker, activist, and choir member

Converse, TX

April Reign
Collection

Robin LaVerne Wilson

Wilson shares her journey from Texas to New York and back, exploring identity, activism, and the complexities of family relationships. She discusses academic pursuits, work as a political artist, and caring for her mother.

April Reign collection

Converse, TX

Play
Interview

Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle
Expand
‘These are little victories that are worth celebrating.’
Nancy Rosado & Myrna Villalobos
curtain