Search Interviews

Della Kostelnik Juarez (61) tells her daughter Julia Juarez-Kostelnik (22) about her experiences participating in a voluntary bussing/racial transfer program as an elementary school student in Seattle. Della describes how being the only white kid in a predominantly Black school...

Jeannette Holland (68) speaks with her son Erik Townsend (31) about her experience transferring high schools her Junior year at the onset of integration in Nashville, Tennessee. Jeannette recalls the safety and support she felt at her all-Black high school...

Kimberly Neil (30) interviews her mom, Beverly Neil (70), on her experience as a black student in Chicago's public school system during desegregation efforts.

Friends Gail Mondoux (77) and Tracy Shaughnessy (62) talk about Tracy's experience being bused to a predominantly Black school in Tacoma.

Friends Janise Wriddle (62) and Sylester "Miles" Miles (62) describe their experiences as young students during the period of desegregation in schools. Both recall the racism and colorism they've experienced in their lives.

Friends John Rossi (65) and Patrick Nolan (58) remember their experiences growing up amidst school desegregation efforts in Seattle, Washington.

Chika Offurum (48) shares with her colleague Chapin Montague (23) her experience advocating for a higher quality of education as a student and child of immigrant parents from Nigeria.

Mother and son Stefanie Felix (69) and Mitchell Green (38) speak about Stefanie's experience attending a multiracial high school in San Francisco, California amidst nationwide school desegregation efforts.

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law Tonia Reaves (51) and Robin Young (23) talk about their experiences in school. They reflect on the impact of racism on their educational upbringings, their experiences adapting to multi-racial school environments, and their hopes for future generations.

Siblings Dorothy Davis (69) and Benjamin Davis (67) reflect on their time growing up as children of foreign service workers. They discuss the differences between going to school abroad versus in the United States as Black students during the early...

Dwania Kyles (67) speaks with conversation partner Diane Bezucha (39) about her experience as a member of the the Memphis 13-- the inaugural class of first graders to desegregate schools in Memphis, TN. Dwania reflects on the work of her...

Diane Hayes Powers (69) speaks to her daughter Destiny McLurkin (39) about being a part of Seattle's bussing program during school desegregation. Diane speaks about the challenges she faced as a Black student at a majority white school and how...

Former colleagues Suzanne Hittman (92) and Mike Hoge (74) speak about their roles in Seattle's desegregation efforts.

Husband and wife, Gloria Pillow (75) and Thomas Pillow (76), reflect on being a part of the last generation to attend segregated schools in Nashville, Tennessee. They speak fondly of their experience at their all-Black high school, Cameron.

Leigh Anne Carr (29) asks Tess DeCosta (61) about what it was like to grow up in Boston during the desegregation efforts of the 1970's. DeCosta remembers the fear she had when her mom worked as a crossing guard for...

Jarrod Sport (37) interviews conversation partner and new friend Dr. Donald Felder (73) about his personal experience with school desegregation.

Spouses David Hundley (68) and Abigail Hundley (60) speak about David's experience growing up Black in Seattle.

Friends LueRachelle Brim-Atkins (76) and Jacquelyn Howard [no age given] discuss LueRachelle's childhood in Texas and her experiences with desegregation at the University of Texas. After college, LueRachelle took an internship as a teacher in Rochester, NY, and ultimately moved...

Dwania Kyles (67) speaks with friend and fellow member of the Memphis 13 Leandrew Wiggins (68). The two discuss their differing experiences as members of the initial group of Black first graders who integrated Memphis schools during desegregation.

Tracy Shaughnessy [no age given] discusses with her childhood friend Gail Mondoux [no age given] her tumultuous childhood being adopted by alcoholic parents and her experience as a white student attending a predominately black school through Seattle's desegregation bussing programs.

Friends Elisabeth "Biz" Lindsay-Ryan (47) and Suni Kartha (47) talk about their work on the PTA Equity Project in their home community of Evanston, Illinois. They reflect on how they first became aware of the inequities in parent-teacher association (PTA)...

Spouses Gregory Johnson (73) and Marcia Johnson (73) discuss the history of busing and desegregation in Seattle. Gregory shares his experience in the voluntary busing program.

Cindy Buske (54) and her son Josh Soldwedel (29) discuss Cindy's experiences with desegregation in Seattle. As an elementary school student, Cindy had minority students bused into her school. Then as a high school student, Cindy was bused from her...