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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    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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    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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    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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    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

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    # Migration

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    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

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    Egyptt LaBeija

    Trans rights activist, Godmother of LaBeija, and filmmaker

    New York, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Egyptt LaBeija

    LaBeija discusses her life, including her childhood, surviving on the piers of NYC, familial acceptance, embracing her trans identity, and finding love and stability amidst chaos, forging a path of resilience and self-awareness.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York, NY

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    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

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    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

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    Lila McKay

    Chicago native and advocate for early childhood development

    Chicago, IL

    Eve Ewing
    Collection

    Lila McKay

    McKay discusses her early life at the Cabrini-Green projects, navigating teen pregnancy, fostering her children's education, attaining a chemistry degree at age fifty, nurturing her family, and her aspirations to open a daycare.

    Eve Ewing collection

    Chicago, IL

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    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

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    Janetta Pegues

    Chicago native, librarian, and community advocate

    Chicago, IL

    Eve Ewing
    Collection

    Janetta Pegues

    Pegues discusses her early life in Chicago's ABLA Homes, transformative experiences in Wisconsin and Haiti, becoming a respected librarian, the role of faith and community in her life, and her contributions to library services.

    Eve Ewing collection

    Chicago, IL

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    Cryille Phipps
    Maria-Elena Grant

    Long-time partners and visitors of Cherry Grove

    Fire Island, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Cryille Phipps
    Maria-Elena Grant

    Phipps and Grant share their evolution as a couple, reflections on gentrification in New York, cherished summers in Cherry Grove, and their pursuit of community, joy, and solace amidst changing landscapes and social dynamics.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    Fire Island, NY

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    Lydia Polgreen
    Candace Feit

    Beach lovers and Provincetown enthusiasts

    Brooklyn, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Lydia Polgreen
    Candace Feit

    Polgreen and Feit explore their connection to Provincetown, from their first visit to the impacts of gentrification to their personal reflections on water as a symbol of freedom and restoration in their lives.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    Brooklyn, NY

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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