Search Interviews

Wayne Curtis (67) speaks with his wife, Joycelyn Curtis (66), about his business Mobile Alabama Africatown Drummers. They discuss how drumming can positively impact mental health, the importance of teaching music to young people, and the historical significance of African...

Veda Robbins (54) and her mother Vernetta Henson (74) talk about food, family, and careers. They reflect on the difference between finding a passion and being a curious hummingbird.

Edward Hall (59) talks to his brother Leander "Buster" Hall (72) about early childhood memories, the Catholic church, and life in Alabama.

Rochelle Williams (55) speaks with her husband Charles Williams (53) about her family’s history in Plateau, AL, also known as Africatown. The two discuss the new attention the community is receiving in light of the discovery of the Clotilda ship...

Bandmates and friends Herbert Nelson (72) and Hosea London (75) talk about their experiences as musicians in Mobile, Alabama and their time playing with the local Excelsior band, the city's oldest marching jazz band.

Brother and sister Quincy Stephens (76) and Minnie Dewberry (80) talk about their childhood in Alabama, their careers as teachers, and the legacies they both hope to leave behind.

Ellis Jones (77) converses with his friend Scott Satterwhite (49) about growing up in Pensacola during segregation, attending Tuskegee University, the Civil Rights Movement and Movement for Change, a grassroots organization for equality.

One Small Step partners Robin Mathews-Johnson (67) and Elmo Winters (72) discuss their upbringings, their political views, and their work as ministers.

Beverly Carol Gibson (55) tells StoryCorps facilitator Kiplyn Primus (62) about her family, her career at Georgia Tech, and her involvement in the Just Us Book Club.

New friends Gabby Jones (23) and Marcus Muhich (61) get to know each other through talking about food, family, and travel.

Kelly Finley [no age given] interviews her husband, Karlos Finley (59), about his family's history in Mobile, Alabama, their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, and what he has learned from them. (Content warning: mention of rape and sexual assault)

Best friends Imogene Brooks (63) and Shirley Tarver (70) reminisce about the good times they have had together throughout their long friendship, describe what it was like growing up on the border of Columbus, GA and Phenix City, AL as...

Ava Floyd (65) interviews her aunt Marie Thomas [no age given] about her early memories, her children, her relationship with God, and the wisdom that she has gained throughout her life.

Wilson Edward Bell Sr. (77) speaks to his friend Tom Mason (69) about being an amateur astronomer and life-long learner and how he uses his intellect to advocate for himself.

Sara Barkouli (23) interviews her conversation partner Makinde Gbolahan [no age given] about being an active member of the Africatown community as both a naturopathic healer and community organizer.

Former student, Dale Hutchens (58) interviews his band director, William T. Robinson, III (74) about his career as a band director and his experience teaching students during the beginning of integration in Alabama.

Ray Nicholson (71) and Alvin "Alabama" Lovett (71) have been friends since the sixth grade. The two sit down to talk about how they met, their school day memories, and their experiences with the Davis Avenue community in Mobile.

Yvonne Matthews (69) and her conversation partner Franchesca Peña [no age given] discuss Yvonne's upbringing, what originally motivated her to pursue music, and several milestones in her career as a musician and educator.

Kiara Brown (28) talks her colleague to Jeremiah Chapmin (44) about her upbringing in Gloster, Mississippi, her journey to working in media and communications, and the many obstacles she overcame along the way.

Longtime friends Earlene McKee (63) and Laura James (63) talk with new friend Doris Smith (88) about her life, her faith, and her commitment to helping others.

Fredrick Richardson (84) interviews his friend Lisa Lambert (60) about her career as the first African-American assistant city clerk and now city clerk of the city of Mobile.

Cousins Bobby Dennison (71) and Patricia Frazier (72) speak about their family history as Clotilda descendants. The Clotilda was the last slave ship to arrive in the US. The two discuss the lives of their ancestors Lottie and James, highlighting...

Robert Edward Battles Sr. (77) speaks to his colleague Tiffany Pogue (23) about his work as a community organizer in Africatown and what true justice for Black people looks like.

Cousins Yvette Chestang (56) and Letitia Mabien (49) discuss their family's involvement in Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile and their perspectives on keeping traditions and the deep sense of community in their family alive.

Journee Murry (16) interviews her grandmother Gwendolyn Mason (79) about her life.