Florentino "Tino" Gonzalez was born in 1959 in Galveston and came of age in the Eastend, an African American and Mexican American neighborhood. He attended Catholic school for his primary and secondary education and struggled initially to learn English. After doing construction work for a few years post-graduation, Gonzalez attended Galveston College where he recieved the individualized attention necessary to thrive and matriculate. As the Vice President of Moody National Bank, he served on many boards of historical and non-profit organizations. Gonzalez talks about how his family migrated from Monterrey, Mexico to Galveston, how his cross-ethnic experiences growing up provided him a broad perspective, how his high school did not prepare him to go to college, and how Galveston College provided him the environment necessary to gain an education and prosper in life. He also talks about how his ability to listen and read coupled with his desire to represent Latina/o perspectives afforded him the opportunity to serve on several institutional boards, such as the Family Service Center, the Galveston Sustainable Community Alliance. Gonzalez describes his position as a Galveston College Board of Regents member and how he has focused on the recruitment and retention of working class, ethnic, and …

Jesse Shead was born in 1947 in East Austin, a segregated African American neighborhood with thriving businesses. He grew-up going to African American schools, such as Campbell Elementary and Kealing Junior High, and experienced a middle-class lifestyle in his ethnic enclave. Shead went to Anderson High School before its closure and and reopening as an integrate school in 1971. After attending Huston-Tillotson University in Austin for two years, he was employed for the Humble Oil and Refinery Company in Baytown as it was transitioning to Exxon. While in Baytown, Shead witnessed instances of discrimination where he was refused service at local businesses. He talks about how desegregation efforts in Austin lead to the drain of African American professionals in the schools and overall community of East Austin, the weak company union at Exxon, how he was one of the few African Americans to work in the Exxon's processing department, his inability to rent in certain areas of town due to his race, and racial discrimination at Lee High School during the time that his two sons were attending. Shead also describes his unsuccessful bid to serve on the board of regents for Lee College, organizing around the police brutality case …

Izola Collins was born in Galveston, Texas in 1929. Her mother's family has been on the island since the 1860s when her great grandfather, Horace Scull, moved his children and wife into the area. Her grandfather, Ralph Albert Scull, was one of the first African American teachers in Galveston. She grew up in the East End of the Island, where she believed a life of luxury although her family was poor. She attended Central High School and joined the band and learned about African American history. She left the Island in the late 1940s to attend Prairie View A&M and graduated with a degree in music. She began teaching the Bay City band, then left to Evanston to attend Northwestern where she received her Master's in music in 1953. Collins returned to Galveston and taught music at different schools in the area (Hitchcock) and at Goliad and Stephen F. Austin schools. She became celebrated as her students represented Galveston in different state competitions. In 1986, she ran for the board of the Galveston Independent School District and won. Collins served for 9 years and became president of the board during her last term. She has been recently involved in the …

Jew Don Boney, Jr. was born in 1951 in Temple. His first experience with segregation was when his mother was initally denied entry into Scott and White Hospital when she went into labor with Boney. His parents were educators and his father wrote a dissertation on the racial biases in standarized testing while pursuing a doctorate in Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Boney relocated to Austin in 1966 and attended the University of Texas at Austin in the Fall of 1969. He became involved in Black-Brown student activism at this time. After spending a few years in radio and TV, Boney worked for the Urban League and became the Chairman of the National Black United Front Chapter in Houston. He later served as a city councilman for District D and a Mayor Pro Tem. Boney dedicated three years to the Free Clarence Bradley Campaign in order to exonerate a man falsely accused of the rape and murder of a white woman in Conroe, spent time bridging African and U.S. relations, advanced economic initiatives in Africa, and secured grants to process the Mickey Leland Papers at Texas Southern University while he served as the Associate Director for …

Discussed his career as president of the local Hi-Alco neighborhood organization

Doug W. Matthews was born in 1951 in Galveston and was raised in the Westend community. While he experienced the segregation of public venues, such as the seawall, restaurants, and movie theaters, Matthews' parents encouraged him to control his own future by working twice as hard. Matthews attend Central High, the first African-American High School in Texas, for three years and benefited from the school's academic rigor and dedication to all of its students. His senior year at the integrated Ball High played a critical role in Matthews' career path, as his academic and athletic achievements along with the relationships he forged paved the way for his tenure as a grants coordinator and city manager. He talks about the multitude of federal grants available in the 1970s and how he secured monies for urban planning and employment training. Matthews also discusses his experiences at Lamar University, how he worked to bridge the gap between the city government's middle class perception of neighborhood improvement and the unmet basic needs of the African-American community, how Galveston cultivated its tourist industry, the resurrection of Mardi Gras celebrations on the island, his role in the maintenance of Juneteenth celebrations, the struggles to preserve the …

Cornelia Harris Banks was born in Galveston in 1947.She grew up in a neighborhood on the South of Broadway, which was a mixed neighborhood. Harris Banks witnessed segregated public spaces on the Island and the integration of schools in the 1960s. She graduated from high school in 1965 and attended Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, where she remained until 1996. Upon her return to Galveston in the late 1990s, she became very involved in the community. Subsequently, Harris Banks became the first African American Woman City Council member on the Island in 2000. During her tenure, she became involved in housing efforts (which she continues to work on in present day), in creating parks and recreation spaces, and revitalizing Galveston in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008. Harris Banks is also involved in the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and in local preservation efforts that highlight the history of African Americans in Galveston.

Patricia "Pat" Gonzales was born in 1967 in Houston in the Gulfgate area. She moved to the toxic Manchester neighborhood, a predominately Latina/o area of town next to the oil refineries, after she graduated from high school. Gonzales became active in the environmental justice movement due to the health issues she acquired while living next to the refineries. She later worked for the Texas Organizing Project to address the lack of infrastructure in the Northern Pasadena area. Gonzales discusses the risk of explosions in Pasadena, attending EPA conferences and addressing environmental racism, how the Anglo power structure functions in Pasadena, and how both African Americans and Latinas/os are neglected. She also talks about the recent voting rights violations in Pasadena and how the city capitulates to the interests of the oil industry.

Described her family's rural life, her travels, and her parents attempts to shelter her from racism. Also, she described her own encounters with racism in Texas and elsewhere, and her work on behalf of civil rights.

Discussed his early life in a segregated Port Arthur, his education, and his work with youths in the criminal justice system, and later, in education.

Described her childhood in a working class Mexican American family, the obstacles she had to overcome to become lawyer, and her history working on both sides of the criminal justice system.

Walker discussed the experience of integrating Texas and Louisiana universities and working as a Black supervisor during the late-1970s. He was also raised Catholic and gave some interesting details about colorism and privileges of Catholicism for some Black people.

Mrs. Prados is the first Black female car salesperson, a long-time NAACP member, and was raised in segregated Beaumont. Her job and later business ventures exposed her to many facets of discrimination in the city, and she shared a lot about being ignored on boards like the Chamber of Commerce or in Black, male-dominated spaces. She also discussed dealing with a racially "transitioning" business as well as difficulties she continues to experience with the city when attempting to pass inspection and reopen her beauty salon.

Mr. Johnson was born and raised in Conroe, Texas. He grew up on land his grandparents purchased after years spent sharecropping. He attended Booker T. Washington until integration, when he then attended Conroe High School. He joined the Air Force and spent time in Italy and Abilene, Texas. Upon returning to Texas, he attended Sam Houston State University and began working in radio, photography, and as a disc jockey, among other jobs. In his interview, Mr. Johnson describes segregation in Conroe, his family's landownership, integration in Conroe, his experiences in the Air Force, his multiple jobs, discrimination at work, and the many ways that Conroe has changed over time.

Yates grew up in segregated Conroe and attended both segregated and integrated schools. Yates was a member of the Conroe High football teams that sought to increase the amount of Black women representation on the cheerleading team and during homecoming pageantry in the early 1970s. Yates also became one of first Black football players on the University of Texas-Austin football team in the mid-1970s. Yates also discussed working in various jobs including law enforcement and the oil industry.

Ms. Moore was raised in Houston, Texas. Her family is from Conroe, and she spent time growing up visiting relatives in Conroe, including her aunt Lucille Bradley. In her interview, Ms. Moore describes her family's history, the career and life of Ms. Bradley in Conroe's schools, and her observations on how Conroe has changed over time.

Mrs. Reece was born in 1929 in what is now Montgomery. Reece grew up in the outskirts of Conroe. Her most memorable childhood racist moment occurred when she was told that she could no longer check out books from a book store because of her race. Because of that incident, Reece vowed to become a librarian and allow every child to have access to books. Reece graduated high school in Oklahoma after the death of her sister. Reece heard about the lynching that occurred at the court house in the 1940s. Reece had difficulties finding schools in Texas that would allow her to get a degree in Library Science. She had to go to school in Denver. Reece received another degree in Atlanta during the 1950s. During that time, she met Martin Luther King, Jr. at his father's church. Reece spoke of the importance of education and the lack of resources at the library of Booker T. Washington. Reece discussed some resistance that she and other Black teachers carried out following integration. One notable act of resistance occurred when she refused to move to another school following integration.

Ms. Shaw was born and raised in Willis, Texas. Shaw described her experiences with racism and Jim Crow discrimination. Shaw discussed one surprising impact of racism in Willis, she was fearful of Halloween. During Halloween in Willis, white youth would throw things at Ms. Shaw's house. A great aunt of Shaw was able to live in the white part of Willis while a uncle of Shaw became the first Black person to vote in the Willis/Conroe area. The first time he was able to vote was when he was elderly in the mid-twentieth century. Shaw also discussed difficulties in the workplace in Conroe.

Mr. Carl White was born in Conroe and Mrs. Gloria White was born in Willis, Texas in 1957 respectively. After attending segregated schools, both Whites ultimately graduated from desegregated schools. Both Whites experienced workplace discrimination in their careers in a local factory and at the postal office. Mr. White also served as a reserve police officer in Conroe while his father served as one of the first Black police officers in Conroe. Mr. White described being targeted by police in Conroe and other issues with the local criminal justice system. Both Whites were also involved in the efforts to free Clarence Brandley which included marches and other demonstrations. Also, the Whites discussed issues with discrimination in the school system.

Described growing up in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood, memories of marching with Cesar Chavez, his work on behalf of the Hispanic community, and his political conservatism.

Described her family's Texas heritage, her father's work with the community, and her own work in public and private jobs.

Mr. Vinson was born in Montgomery, Texas and raised in Conroe. He attended Booker T. Washington school and Conroe High, participating in football at both schools. After graduation, he went to work in Houston for a utility company. He returned to Conroe and became very active in political campaigns and community organizations. In his interview, Mr. Vinson described segregation in Conroe, a march in 1968, integration of schools, experiences playing football, discrimination at work, political activism in the African-American community, African-American community organizations, and how Conroe has changed over time.

Mr. Burrell was born in Turkey Creek (Liberty) in 1946. He discussed his experiences living in a segregated neighborhood and attending segregated schools. Burrell also discussed how who you knew or were affiliated with influenced your experiences during segregation. He mentioned some fights between white and Black children that occured during his childhood. Burrell was the first of his family to attend college. He was drafted into the army after dropping out of school to work following his sophomore year in college and served in Vietnam. Burrell descibed the lack of Black officers within the military structure despite a large and disproportionate amount of Black soldiers serving. He believed that it may have been attempt to "get rid" of Black folks. Burrell discussed the stigma that Vietnam veterans faced. He went back to school after leaving active duty. Burrell described benefitting from the Civil Rights Movement in terms of affirmative action in the workplace. He also described his experiences dealing with discrimination in the workplace and housing. Burrell worked as an engineer. He ultimately worked for and retired from NASA. Burrell along with his wife and others (Concerned Citizens for the Future) fought racist and discriminatory practices in the local …

Ms. Lange was born in Raywood, Texas. Her father took a job with Exxon in Crosby, so the family split their time between the two places. She then went to Xavier University, where she became involved in the Civil Rights Movement. After moving to Houston to go to Texas Southern, she became part of the sit-in movement, participating in sit-ins at multiple places, including the Shamrock Hotel in Houston. She continued her activism in her career as a social worker and a member of many organizations. She currently owns a farm and bed and breakfast. In her interview, Mrs. Lange described the role of the Catholic Church and Creole heritage in her life, segregation, the sit-in movement in Houston, her extensive activism, how the area has changed over time, and her hopes for the community.