Browse Interviews

Michael R. White is the former mayor of the city of Cleveland, Ohio. This 2014 interview covers a range of topics, including White's student government activism at Ohio State University and his political career in Cleveland.

Willa Morgan was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, and her family moved to Dayton, OH when she was 5. After one of her friends opened a salon in Cleveland, OH, Willa and another friend of hers moved to Cleveland to work. Willa later opened up her own salon, which was attached to the back of her Fairfax home. Willa was a major part of Antioch, working in the kitchen during events as well as traveling to many places, including marching in D.C. for civil rights.

Peter Lawson Jones, a Cleveland native, is a member of the Board of Directors at Karamu House and also the Event Manager for the Karamu House Hall of Fame. Jones shares about how he became involved with Karamu House after working in the political sphere of Washington, D.C. He also discusses the significance of the institution Cleveland, and what he predicts for the future of the institution.

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Dionne Thomas Carmichael discusses growing up in the Fairfax area, the changes in the community and her hopes for its future

Renee Howard Bonner describes growing up at Union Grove and the aspects of the church that have changed and the aspects that have stayed the same.

Gregory Roberts recalls growing up in the Fairfax neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. He remembers the businesses and unity of the community and looks forward to what the future holds for the area.

Constance Zachery discusses living in Fairfax and her membership and experiences at Antioch Baptist Church.

Esther Kinds discusses her family, her time at Antioch Baptist Church, church activities, and her personal faith.

James Hardiman is a lawyer who assisted in lawsuits regarding discrimination. He graduated from Cleveland State University with his law degree and later became the president of the Cleveland chapter of the NAACP twice.

Geraldine Evans discusses her involvement as an active member of Antioch Baptist Church and some of the ways the church has changed since she first joined in 1953.

Rev. Stephen Rowan is the pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, located in the Glenville community. Rowan shares his memories growing up in Glenville, his path to taking over his father's position as pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, and church involvement within Glenville.

Reverend Hilton Smith was the first African American senior Vice President of a construction company in the country and has worked for Turner Construction for 43 years. Smith recounts his work with the Civil Rights Movement, working to get the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the national mall, and his calling to the church.

Thomas Flewellyn recounts growing up in the Central and Glenville neighborhoods, the jobs he has held over the years, and his work with Calvary Presbyterian Church.

Terrence Spivy is the Artistic Director of Karamu House. Spivy recounts his working with Ruby Dee over the years, the centennial celebration of Karamu House, and plans for the future.

Theresa Bumpers is the current organ player at Antioch Baptist Church. She was born in Maryland and moved to Fairfax with her family. In her teenage years, she moved to Glenville, where she attended Glenville High School. Music became her hobby and later a career for her, where she would play with her family performing group at various churches around the Greater Cleveland area.

Paul Lewis recalls his life in the Fairfax neighborhood, growing up during segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, the ways in which the community has changed, and what must be done to better the area.

Morton L. Mandel discusses growing up in an immigrant family in Glenville, his life that led to success in business, and the origins of his philanthropic endeavors.

Rev. Kenneth Rogers is the pastor of Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Rogers discusses how he became a member, and the process of membership and baptism at Union Grove.

Stanley Miller was born and raised in the Glenville area. He spent 31 years with the Bell Telephone Company and retired as the Vice President of External Affairs. He later became the Cleveland NAACP executive director. Miller recounts his life and career, what it was like growing up in the Glenville area and the current condition of the neighborhood.

Velma Carson grew up attending Antioch Baptist Church and is still an active member today. She describes her upbringing in the church and how things have changed over the years.

Harriet Young was born in Cleveland and attended Antioch Baptist Church since she was an infant. During her time at Antioch, she participated in many clubs and community outreach programs, including making meals for the grieving and going to assisted living homes to visit the elderly. In addition, she enjoyed teaching the Bible to the youth in Sunday school. She taught in public school as well, where she was a principal in several school for years.

Elaine Turner recalls her involvement with Antioch Baptist Church, where she has been a member since the age of thirteen.

Dennis Woods discusses his time as a teacher and baseball coach at Glenville High School.

Curtis L. Drake is a deacon at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church. He has been a member since 1959 and met his wife at the church. He first moved to the Central neighborhood from Alabama with his family and has been here ever since.

Howard Bush discusses his involvement as a member of Antioch Baptist Church. Bush also discusses his early life prior to moving to Cleveland, memories of living in the Glenville neighborhood.

Wilburn Baker shares his experiences with Antioch Baptist Church including the various programs and parish leaders that have come and gone through the years.

David Mack shares his experiences growing up at Antioch Baptist Church and growing up in Cleveland.

Candace Woods-Evans was raised by her parents in Glenville, who also grew up in Glenville as well. Her parents were involved in their local street club, where meetings would sometimes be held at their home. As a child, Woods-Evans played tennis in the National Junior Tennis League, collected bottles for cash, and played an instrument in the band. She later went to Beaumont for her high school education, where she encountered discrimination along the way.

Doris Walter grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, where she lived there up until her second marriage. Walter was given the opportunity to move to Cleveland, where she maintained her career as a secretary at Antioch for 32 years. Some of her activities at Antioch include the Ruth B. McKinney mission circle, the Carl Stokes campaign, AGAPE, and the search committee for pastors.

Annette Bailey has worked at the Karamu House since 1970, when she was hired as its secretary to the executive director. In this interview she recounts various productions that Karamu has put on over the years and her view on how things have changed over time.

Louis Brownlowe discusses how he established himself in Cleveland after he moved from Alabama. Brownlowe also shares his experience and involvement as a member of Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

Betty Woods was born in Maryland, and moved to Cleveland at the age of 5. She grew up on Hampton Ave. in Glenville, and raised her family in Glenville as well. She worked for the city of Cleveland as a secretary for over 30 years. She enrolled her children in Catholic school rather than the local Glenville schools, but at the time of this interview, her children still live in Cleveland.

Peter and India Lee describe growing up in Glenville, the changes they have observed in the neighborhood, and also provide advice for what will benefit Glenville in the future.

Tommie Bryant has been an active member of the Antioch Baptist Church since 1950 and recounts her experiences with the various Reverends and programs that have come to Antioch through the years, and how the church has changed.

Robert Banks, Sr. discusses growing up in Cleveland attending Antioch Baptist Church. Banks also includes his experiences serving in the Chemical Corps during World War II

Gayle Ivory describes life growing up in the Glenville neighborhood. She recalls the places that the teenagers would frequent, the shops, and the music scene of Cleveland.

Grace Lee Mims discusses her upbringing in Alabama and her life path that brought her to Cleveland. Mims became the head librarian of Glenville High School and emphasizes the importance of black history. Mims also is a music teacher at the Music Settlement in University Circle and, in this interview, shares her passion for spirituals and jazz.

Louise Vincent discusses her involvement as a member and Sunday School teacher at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church, and her move from North Carolina to Cleveland.