Search Interviews

Halicue Hanna (50) talks to StoryCorps facilitator Jeb Backe (26) about her spiritual path to Hoodoo. She reflects on her family roots in Mississippi, her connections to her ancestors, and her experience practicing Afro-Cuban dance.

Deborah Davidson (68) sits down with her friend Patricia Thomas Ivery (63) to ask about Patricia's childhood, the wisdom that she has gained throughout her life, and the dreams that she still hopes to achieve.

Anasa Hicks (32) interviews her mother, Brenda Sherard (67), about her family, her upbringing, and memories from her childhood.

Yolanda Lakes (50) sits down with her father, Raymond "Ray" Lakes (72), to ask about his upbringing in Columbus, GA and the world events, as well as personal experiences, that have shaped his current worldview.

Marta Pearson (72) talks with her friend DeAnna Hadley (52) about sympathy, empathy, racism, the pain it causes and the need for African-American stories to be shared. She describes seeing a raw cotton field for the first time, being denied...

Friends Diana "Dee Dee" Romo (46) and Bryan Massengale (47) talk about the way community looks during these times of the COVID pandemic, the Destiny Arts Center Black (W)hole and Elders project, and their connection to spirit, ancestors, and healing.

Spouses Wanja Ngugi (35) and Steve Rutledge (49) sit down together to tell their love story and express their deep appreciation for one another.

Leroy Moore Jr. (53) is interviewed by his friend, Kathleen Kiley (59), about the process of co-creating Krip-Hop, a music collective and label for artists with disabilities. They discuss the importance of visibility for hip-hop musicians with disabilities and the...

Friends and colleagues Betty Sawyer (69) and Mama Charlotte Starks (74) reflect on the community building, education, and healing work they have dedicated their lives to. They discuss those who have influenced them, the importance of the work, and their...

Cousins and colleagues Erica Fox (48) and Dr. Lindsay Gary (33) discuss the African roots of Creole culture and feeling called by their ancestors to carry on the work they are a part of.

Kiplyn Primus (61) and Bilal K. Shareef (42) are fellow pilgrims who traveled to Ghana in 2019 for the inaugural Year of Return. They talk about how that journey continues to resonate with them.

Friends and fellow "Rattlers," Darius Young (42) and Joe Kershaw (73), discuss the work Joe's family has done to keep Florida A&M University open, as well as the work Darius now does to preserve the legacy of those who fought...

Bernard Scott Rush, 68, by his daughter, Nicole Rush (Maat Free), 35, about growing up in Mississippi then moving to New York City.

Sisters Gloria Weston-Smart (66), Joyce Thomas (64), and Joann Bynum Johnson (61) reminisce about their childhood together, remember family members who have passed away, and express gratitude for the tight-knit community that they grew up in.

Longtime friends Harriette McCauley (76) and Rosemary Smith (71) discuss the diverse environment of their upbringing in Santa Monica.