Search Interviews

Siblings Ambar Rizwan (36) and Daanish Rizwan [no age given] discuss their childhoods, going to a predominately white High School, and expectations from their parents. Daanish describes his UX work and his efforts to bring about representation and inclusion. Ambar...

Twin sisters, Fatimah Fanusie (46) and Faridah Abdul-Tawwab Brown (46), share a conversation about their unwavering and unquestioning identity as Muslim African-American women.

Today, I, Lacey Clark, talked with Bonnie Curry in Oxford, Mississippi about what it was like growing up in the south. The interview was held November 18, 2018. We talked about her experience with racism. Bonnie was born in 1947,...

One Small Step partners Katina Moss (49) and Qian Cheng (31) share a conversation about their identities and their experiences in the United States. Qian talks about her experience as an immigrant from China and Katina speaks about her experience...

Elizabeth Daphne Foggie (34) interviews her friend and mentor, Traci Bartlow (54), about her work, Oakland Picture Lady, and the importance of creating documentary photography for and by black people.

Friends, colleagues, and current college students Kelsey Barnes (19) and Kyana Sanchez Rodarte (19) share a conversation about protecting and celebrating Black hair and expression. They also talk about their work as youth leaders on anti-hair discrimination legislation and supporting...

Sartura Smith (62) talks with her friend LaTamarah "Tammi" Stackhouse (48) about growing up in Tampa, Florida during segregation. She describes Central Avenue, a historic district for black owned businesses, her parents being restaurant owners there, family dinner traditions and...

One Small Step partners Lisa Lester (48) and Michelle Smith (57) discuss their backgrounds and differences religious and political views, but also find commonality on education, empowering women, and always wanting to respect others and embrace them as they present...

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

One Small Step conversation partners Simon Biasell (42) and Dale Oquist (61) talk about the differences between their congregations, the effects of representation, the drawbacks of echo chambers, and their journeys to becoming pastors.

There has been a historically black neighborhood in Swarthmore, PA the area South east of Yale Avenue where Bowdoin, Brighton, Kenyon, and Union come together, there has for at least about 100 years. Swarthmore Public Library asked Calvin Coleman and...

I interviewed my roommate Anh Nguyen about the difference in culture between her and her parents, how she feels about Americans fascination with Asian culture, and the importance of representation

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...

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...

Jude O'Dell (42) and Jeffrey "Jeff" Farr (69) discuss mid-career changes, the importance of connection with other people, using the bible, history and their own life experiences as a guide of how to move through the world with compassion and...

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...

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...

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...

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....

Colleagues and friends Shirley “Mama Shirley” Pino [no age given] and Sage Mountainflower (47) reflect on their journeys in the fashion industry, the people who inspire them, and the future of Indigenous fashion.

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...

Me interviewing my mother for the great Thanksgiving listen. In the Interview

Food is more than a source of sustenance, it is a tool for socioeconomic advancement, and a symbol that generates individual or collective memories that help establish identity. Food highlights cultural identity because it is a force that defines social...

As a Black woman, Karen has faced racism in the workplace and has been the only person of color in a meeting many times throughout her career. She shares with Mike what drew her to the DEI work she does...

WeRISE launch team member Vashitta Johnson shares her journey through advocacy work, her commitment to racial justice, and her hopes for an equitable future. This interview is part of Westerville Public Library's Westerville Voices project.