Search Interviews

Originally a celebration of Black History Month, February 2018, Middlebury College's Davis Family Library initiated a series of oral interviews, "In Your Own Words." In them, Literatures & Cultures Librarian Katrina Spencer engages members of the community who trace their...

Jodie Reams tells his sister Lula Reams about growing up in TN and WI, and his experience at the SE Johnson Wax company.

Friends Sandra Bailly (53) and Robin Lualdi (82) talk about their families meeting each other through the METCO Program and reflect on the special relationship they have continued to foster for 48 years.

Lauren Graham (17) talks with her grandmother Lavonda Graham (77) about racism and segregation in Milwaukee. In her eyes, integration wasn't so great for us and still isn't today. Join us as we uncover the truth in Milwaukee and its...

Rosel H. Schewel, 80, is interviewed by her daughter Susan Schewel, 53.

Raina Moseley (17), a rising senior at Atlanta's Pace Academy, talks with history teacher, Patrice Wright-Lewis (56), about race and racism.

Allie Francis Saxon (90) has a conversation with her great niece Sheereen Brown (30) about being one of the first black students to attend Emory University.

National Coalition on School Diversity #NCSD2017 participants Courtney and Aneth share why they joined the school integration movement

Andrew Sonner (age 88) interviewed by his daughter and granddaughter.

Grace Mehrer (18) interviews with her grandmother, Judy Houston (74) at her house in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. They discuss her childhood, specifically growing up as one of 8 children in a family with little. As well, they talk about marrying...

Part 3: My grandma and I continued our conversation, talking about politics in the 1970s and positive moments in her life. Additionally, we talked about lessons she learned when teaching at a Milwaukee Public School.

Hamp tells various stories from his life in Hardaway, Pleasant Springs, and Tuskegee, Alabama

Sherri Taylor (67) interviews her father, Vernon Frank Reeves (96), about what it was like being an educator in Okeechobee County, Florida during integration. They also talk about Vernon's childhood in Okeechobee and remember some characters from his hometown.

In this interview, conducted in November 2021 in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, Channon Wilson(16) interviews her mother(46) about her life and the lessons she learned in the city she grew up in. Ms. Taylor shares stories about her happiest...

Laura Peterson (52) talks with her sorority sister Amanda Brown Olmstead (80) about her work in Public Relations and her time at Ole Miss.

I discuss the election of 2008 to my father, a Caucasian male at the age of 52. He shares with me his hopes that he held for Obama and whether or not he found Obama to be a promising candidate....

Eugene Milton Williams, also known as "Milton," discusses his life and experience as a member of the Oakland Fire Department. Milton was the first African-American firefighter to integrate Oakland fire houses between 1954 and 1955. This interview was conducted by...

Friends Sheila Wise Rowe (63) and William "Bil" Mooney-McCoy (66) remember their childhoods amidst Boston's efforts to desegregate public schools.

Lusharon Wiley (70) and her fiancé Ernest Dawson (70) discuss Ernest's family, his time attending Pensacola High School during integration, being the first black football player on the team, his time at Tuskegee University and those who encouraged him along...

Phyllis Wimberly ( My Grandmom ) spent her 40 year career as a Washington DC public school teacher integrating her AP English classes. As an activist and teacher her goal was to send kids to college that wouldn’t have otherwise...

My father, Rudolph Burwell Sr, was one of early group of black police officers that joined the Norfolk Police Department in 1968. This is his story of his experience.

Friends Beto O’Rourke (50) and Rus Bradburd (63) discuss the Segundo Barrio neighborhood in El Paso, Texas, the intersection of politics and sports and integration efforts in El Paso.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Amanda Stone (30), Natalie [No name given] (33) and Tanya Smith-Sreen (25) share about their Peace Corps Guatemala experience. They talk about some of the challenges they faced as Peace Corps Volunteers as well as what...

Danny Bell (73) talks to his friend Patti Palmer (61) about his life growing up in a Native American community in North Carolina. He shares the untold story of the American Indian and he talks about the importance of bringing...

Monica Whatley (32) interviews her friend, Bandele [no name given] (73), about his incarceration in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Bandele reflects on what he learned during the 33 years during which he was detained, his relationship...