Cohort One Oral History Projects
(2021 - 2022)
Oklahoma City’s Civil Rights Movement: Thirteen Sodas That Sparked a National Movement
by John Robert Lewis Fellow Dr. Autumn Brown
The Oklahoma Activism in Education during the Civil Rights Movement Collection is a series of interviews meant to provide context surrounding the period of segregation in Oklahoma City as well as the events, both inside and outside of the classroom, that were involved in leading the desegregation efforts in the state. The interviews were conducted as part of dissertation research by Dr. Autumn Brown.
President Rufus E. Clement, The Longest Serving President of Atlanta University
By john robert lewis fellow Dr. cameron randle
For my Oral History Project, I interviewed Dr. J. Fidel Turner, Dean of School of Education at Clark Atlanta University who shared the rich history, legacy, and leadership of President Rufus Early Clement. Dr. Clement, the sixth President of Atlanta University, was the longest serving president in the history of the institution. He won election to the Atlanta Board of Education in 1953 and was the first Black to be elected to an official office since the Reconstruction Period. Clement was born in 19000, in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Caring for the Community, Loving Thy Neighbor
By john robert lewis scholar camila gomez
In the diverse borough of Queens, nestled in Elmhurst, the New Life Community Development Corporation (NLCDC) was born from the New Life Fellowship Church's desire to empower their immigrant-rich community. Established in 1994, the NLCDC burgeoned from humble beginnings, offering an array of programs catering to various needs, regardless of economic or citizenship status. Rooted in love, cultural consciousness, and youth investment, it exemplifies effective grassroots activism. Originating from a small church, the NLCDC now embodies community engagement, from food pantries to youth empowerment initiatives, embodying a model of inclusive empowerment and transformation.
A Conversation on The City of Apopka
By john robert lewis scholar travis waters
Nestled a couple of miles north of Mickey Mouse's Magic Kingdom in Florida is South Apopka, a predominantly Black community of approximately 7,000 residents. While most kingdoms and castles are surrounded by moats and lush landscapes, South Apopka is surrounded by overflowing landfills and sewer treatment facilities that emit putrid smells—facilities that the more affluent neighborhood across the tracks, known as the City of Apopka, chose to place in this community. This oral history project recounts my conversation with Ms. Francina Boykin, a local historian and family member, about Apopka's history and its current crossroads.
In Oneness: Cherry Stienwender and the Center for the Healing of Racism
By john robert lewis scholar salena braye-bulls
There’s no one quite like Cherry Steinwender. From her founding and leadership of the Center for the Healing of Racism in Houston, TX (CFHR) 35 years ago to her ubiquitous presence as a sage, compassionate advocate, Cherry walks the walk and always talks the talk. Her work to educate, empower, and heal folks from their racial conditioning is central to the CFHR’s world famous programming. Uniquely, her personal story and dedication to embodying oneness are equally significant to the CFHR’s current efforts and legacy. In Oneness is an oral history project dedicated to and about Cherry Steinwender, her triumphs against hate, and her beautiful soul as told by her former intern and current loved one, Salena Braye-Bulls.
In a Church School That Loves Acronyms, Some Letters Are Less Desirable Than Others: A History of Discrimination Against and Activism on Behalf of the LGBTQ+ Population at Brigham Young University and Within Mormonism
By john robert lewis scholar amy griffin
As a recent journalism graduate, I chose to write a longform multimedia piece on Mormonism's (and specifically my school, Brigham Young University's) discrimination against the LGBTQ+ students and members, and highlight their activism in working to change policies and hearts. In my piece, you'll meet and hear from three incredible LGBTQ+ individuals working in different fields for the same aims, as well as flip through a timeline of action taken against and protests organized by the Mormon LGBTQ+ community. The multimedia piece also includes a ~6 minute broadcast package.
Danville Boyle County African American Historical Society: History from Urban Renewal to Now
By john robert lewis scholar jason wong
The Danville Boyle County African American Historical Society (DBCAAHS) officially formed in early 2013 with the leadership of Michael Hughes and a few others had a common goal to preserve and remember the culture that was in the Danville community. I had the privilege to not just intern with Michael Hughes but learn about the history of the Danville community.
An Interview With a Champion of the Children's Health Insurance Program
By john robert lewis fellow Dr. n’dea moore-petinak
The motivation for selecting the area of children’s health for the subject of my oral history project for the John Lewis Scholars and Fellows Program came out of my dissertation, which focused on CHIP. CHIP provides health insurance to low-income children through three state-run options: Medicaid, Separate, or Combination. In my oral history project, and in my career, I hope to shed light on the need for more effective health policy.
A Conversation With My Father
By john robert lewis fellow kevin linder
My oral history project was an interview with my father, Marion Linder, who served two tours of duty in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The entire interview spanned the course of several hours and traced his life experiences from his childhood in the segregated south and navigating segregate schools in Atlanta through his forcible conscription into the army during the Vietnam War and his experiences defending abstract democratic values for a country overseas that he and his family did not have at home in the United States. The interview was very much a labor of love and the raw footage encapsulates an important American experience that risks being lost to the passage of time.
Next Generation of Civil Rights Lawyers
By john robert lewis fellow arielle hudson
When we think of mentors and people who have a legacy of involvement in racial justice work, we often first think of changemakers who only fall into the categories of Millennials or Gen X. Rarely do our first thoughts think of changemakers in Gen Z. The three interviewees interviewed for this project were chosen because they are changemakers and current practitioners in Generation Z, who have a history of commitment to advancing racial justice on behalf of Black people and Black communities. The three interviewees are Sophia Howard, Nastassia Janvier, and Carlos Pollard Jr.
