Interview with Vivian Wells, a realtor from Fort Worth, Texas. In the interview, Wells discusses her early life, living under Jim Crow segregation, civil rights activism, her work and family, meeting Martin Luther King, Jr., and community organizing.

Interview with Betty Joyce Bivens, a retired educator from Fort Worth, Texas. In her interview, she describes her childhood experiences, growing up during the Jim Crow period, her education, her work at General Dynamics and in the public school system, community engagement, church leadership, and voter registration,

Interview with Ricardo Medrano, a former city councilman from Dallas, Texas. In the interview, Medrano discusses his family background and childhood, political activism, labor activism, the Chicano movement, and his time as an elected leader in Dallas.

Ms. Gonzales described her early childhood, learning about her culture from her grandmother, her journey to college, and her work as a social worker helping disadvantaged communities.

Mr. Mata described his experiences with racial discrimination as a child, school segregation, political changes, his military experience, and generational differences.

Ray Wilson was born in Alabama in 1939 and moved to Chicago at the age of 7. When he was in 10th grade, his mom remarried and his family moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he came of age and joined several local struggles for civil rights including a sit in. Wilson also joined the military in the 1960s, where he experienced integrated ranks within the Army. In the 1970s, he moved to Baytown where he began working for ExxonMobile. Upon his arrival, he quickly noticed racism and segregation in Baytown. Shortly thereafter, Wilson became involved in the community through different efforts including the Political Action Committee, re-establishing a local chapter of the NAACP, and Gang Activity prevention work.

Maria Jiménez was born in Coahuila, Mexico in 1957. Having grown-up in a political household, she would migrate to Houston at the age of six. Jiménez discusses Mexican American segregation in Magnolia Park and how that experience shaped her youth activism. She also discusses her involvement in the Young Democrats, the University of Houston Mexican American Youth Organization, her bid for state representative against Ben Reyes under the Raza Unida ticket, and the Dixiecrats. Jiménez also addresses fights for gender equality in the Texas Chicana/o Movement, Black and Brown collaboration, and her participation in labor movements in Mexico. Lastly, she talks about her life-long dedication to immigrant and human rights.

Reynaldo Rodriguez was born in 1947 in Corpus Christi. He discusses growing up in Corpus and briefly shared his Vietnam War experience and how it took him to Alaska. Upon being discharged from the military, he attends Del Mar College and decides to attend the University of Houston. Mr. Rodriguez discusses his activism during college in MAYO, the struggle to create the Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS), and the painting of the UH Chicano Mural. He also discusses his involvement in LRUP and the founding of Centro Aztlan in the East End.

Discussed the history of the Hispanic community in the region, the role of religion, and the ongoing struggles to integrate and include Hispanics in local politics and society.

Juan Chávez was born in Colorado of ethnic Mexicans. As a young child, his father died and his family moved from a Colorado mining town to Muleshoe, Texas. In Muleshoe, Chávez remembers facing discrimination and African American children having to go to an African American school. He, as most other ethnic Mexican children in Muleshoe at the time, left school after seventh grade and began working. As a young man, he joined Chicanos Unidos Campesinos, a Muleshoe organization. He also helped lead the Raza Unida Party in the Southern Plains of Texas. He was also a part of the Brown Berets, the UFW, and the Texas Farmworkers Union. He attended demonstrations and marches in various cities like San Antonio, El Paso, Austin, and Washington D.C. with this various parties/groups/organizations. Chavez became the first Mexican American Muleshoe city council member and later the first Mexican American Bailey County Commissioner.

Jon Holmes was born in Lubbock and grew up in a farm near the city while being educated in Lubbock’s school system. He graduated from Lubbock High School and later attended Texas Tech University. At Texas Tech, Holmes participated in the campus anti-Vietnam War Movement and in the underground student newspaper named The Catalyst. Because of his work, especially in pointing out racial discrimination in Lubbock within the The Catalyst, Holmes and his fellow student advocates faced police harassment and violence. Facing such oppression, he moved to New York where he began a successful writing career. He has published articles in numerous publications like the New York Times and has published two cultural history books.

Ms. Hatcher discussed migration from other states, the racism encountered in the 1970-80s, and her role as leader in the minority business community.

Interview with Jaspyr Sanford of Huntsville, Texas. In her interview, she describes her early life and education, experiences with desegregation, racial issues in East Texas, civil rights activism, her work as a librarian at Sam Houston State University. Much of her interview focuses on integration at Texas state universities.

Robert Shankle grew up in Lufkin and spent many years in the military. He returned to Lufkin to work with his parents business. He decided to run for city council and has served in that capacity for several years. He has been instrumental in the founding of IMPACT Lufkin, which is attempting to revitalize North Lufkin, the traditionally African-American part of town. Mr. Shankle discussed his early life in Lufkin in the 1970s, his time in the military, his return to Lufkin, his decision to run for city council, his time on the council, and the challenges facing the African-American community

Mr. Valdez grew up in Del Rio, but also spent time in California and San Antonio. While attending high school in Del Rio, he and his rock band were involved in the Palm Sunday rally. He was later drafted into the military and sent to Vietnam. Mr. Vasquez attended A&I, where he honed his art and took part in activism. Throughout the interview, Mr. Valdez talks about the role of art (visual arts and music) in Chicano activism.

Mr. Harrington talks about his early years doing work in migrant labor camps; going to law school; working as a lawyer in the valley; and his later work with the Texas civil rights project

Bobby Smith grew up in Corpus Christi. During his high school senior year, he received numerous offers to play college football, but only a few colleges in Texas accepted black players at that time. He chose to attend North Texas State (now UNT) and later played in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1960s

Ms. Gonzales discussed her career working for politician and businessman Carlos Truan and involvement in the Corpus Christi School Dist. v. Cisneros Supreme Court case

Mr. Lee was born and raised in Cleveland, Texas. He attended segregated schools until integration when he was in fifth grade. Following graduation, he attended Lamar University and began a career with the utility company and as a member of first the school board and, currently, the city council. In his interview, Mr. Lee described segregation in Cleveland, instances of discrimination, integration of schools, integration of sports, Little League, and the Boy Scouts, racial tensions in Beaumont and at Lamar University, black businesses in Cleveland, his time on the school board as both a member and president, his decision to run for city council, and the legacy of racial tensions in Cleveland.