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

Nora Brooks Blakely

Educator, writer, and playwright

Chicago, IL

Eve Ewing
Collection

Nora Brooks Blakely

Blakely shares her unique upbringing as the daughter of Gwendolyn Brooks, her journey from educator to children's playwright, and her ambitions as steward of her mother's literary legacy.

Eve Ewing collection

Chicago, IL

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Joana Clayton

Artist, educator, and UNM Women’s Center director

Albuquerque, NM

Ellery Washington
Collection

Joana Clayton

Clayton discusses moving from Texas to New Mexico, recounting her evolution from a young, imaginative child to a pioneering force in arts and community healing, creating inclusive spaces for marginalized voices.

Ellery Washington collection

Albuquerque, NM

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

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

# California

Go to interview

Sylvia Ewing Harvey

Leadership coach, poet, climate action non-profit director

Chicago, IL

Eve Ewing
Collection

Sylvia Ewing Harvey

Harvey shares her journey through adolescence and early adulthood, wandering from Erie to Florida and California, encountering love, danger, and self-discovery. She also reflects on her complex family dynamics.

Eve Ewing collection

Chicago, IL

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Joseph Hawkins

Louisiana native, Texas local, and general contractor

Lancaster, TX

April Reign
Collection

Joseph Hawkins

Coming from a large family in Beaumont, Texas, Hawkins recounts his experiences with college life, entrepreneurship, and overcoming professional setbacks. Hawkins emphasizes the personal significance of community in his journey.

April Reign collection

Lancaster, TX

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Ralph Hopkins

Lindy hop champion and beach party organizer

New York City, NY

Jenna "J" Wortham
Collection

Ralph Hopkins

From Newark to the dance floors and beaches of New York, Hopkins shares stories of his childhood, his passion for cooking, his achievements as an award-winning lindy hop dancer, and bringing people together at Riis Beach.

Jenna "J" Wortham collection

New York City, NY

Play
Interview

Go to interview

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

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Landa Lakes

Two-spirit drag performer, Indigenous activist, and cultural innovator

San Francisco, CA

Carolina De Robertis
Collection

Landa Lakes

Thomas, known as Landa Lakes, describes becoming a key figure in San Francisco's drag and two-spirit communities. They discuss early gender explorations, the first Native American drag troupe, and the impact of drag on activism.

Carolina De Robertis collection

San Francisco, CA

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Cathryn McGill

Performer and founder of New Mexico Black Leadership Committee

Albuquerque, NM

Ellery Washington
Collection

Cathryn McGill

McGill reflects on her upbringing in Oklahoma, navigating racial tension, finding her voice in church choirs, and transitioning from artist to advocate, emphasizing the importance of visibility for Black communities in New Mexico.

Ellery Washington collection

Albuquerque, NM

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Muriel Miguel
Deborah Ratelle

Kuna and Rappahannock native and co-founder of the Spiderwoman Theater, seasoned theater professional

New York, NY

Natalie Diaz
Collection

Muriel Miguel
Deborah Ratelle

Muriel Miguel, alongside her wife Deborah Ratelle, reflects on her Kuna, Rappahannock heritage, founding Spiderwoman Theater, and experiences of identity, queerness, and mentorship in a multifaceted interview.

Natalie Diaz collection

New York, NY

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Taura Musgrove

Oakland school founder and multi-award-winning filmmaker

Baltimore, MD

Robin Coste Lewis
Collection

Taura Musgrove

Musgrove details founding an arts school in Oakland, becoming a film producer, navigating Sundance and Pixar, and a beekeeping sabbatical, all while never losing sight of her mission to uplift and inspire the next generation.

Robin Coste Lewis collection

Baltimore, MD

Play
Interview

# Segregation and Desegregation

Go to interview

Monica Palacios

Pioneering Chicana comedian and activist

San Francisco, CA

Carolina De Robertis
Collection

Monica Palacios

Palacios discusses becoming a pioneering queer Chicana comedian, from her early stand-up to her solo performances, her work with VIVA Gay and Lesbian Latino Artists, challenges in mainstream and LGBTQ+ spaces, and mentorship.

Carolina De Robertis collection

San Francisco, CA

Play
Interview

Go to interview

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

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Wendy Thomas

Tulsa arts promoter and community development advocate

Ann Arbor, MI

Caleb Gayle
Collection

Wendy Thomas

Thomas shares her journey from New York, to Oklahoma, her studies at the University of Tulsa, and her rise in the arts and nonprofit sector. She also discusses commitments to community advancement, diversity, and inclusivity.

Caleb Gayle collection

Ann Arbor, MI

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Alina Troyano

Playwright, performance artist, and actress

Atlanta, GA

Denice Frohman
Collection

Alina Troyano

Troyano reflects on her journey from Havana to New York, the creation of Carmelita Tropicana, her path through performance art, theater, and activism, and the crucial role of community and mentorship in her artistic development.

Denice Frohman collection

Atlanta, GA

Play
Interview

Go to interview

Harry Waters

Actor, educator, and advocate for Black theater

Minneapolis MN

Jenna "J" Wortham
Collection

Harry Waters

Waters shares his life story—growing up as a Black Lutheran in Denver, his experiences in New York before AIDS, his family and career transitions, activism, navigating his sexual identity, and his impact on theater and community.

Jenna "J" Wortham collection

Minneapolis MN

Play
Interview

Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle
Expand
‘But I would never want to live in a world
with one race. I just wouldn’t.’
Glenda Love
curtain