In 1984, a Moroccan national named Abdelkrim Belachheb walked into Iannis Restaurant, a trendy Dallas nightclub, and gunned down seven people. Six died. Despite the fact that the crimes occurred in a state that prides itself on being tough on criminals, the death penalty was not an option for the Belachheb jury. Even though he had committed six murders, and his guilt was never in question (despite his insanity defense), his crimes were not capital murders under 1984 statutes. As a direct result of this crime, during the 1985 regular session the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 8--the “multiple murder” statute--to make serial killing and mass murder capital crimes. Belachheb’s case serves as an excellent example to explore capital punishment and the insanity defense. Furthermore, Belachheb’s easy entry into the United States (despite his violent record in Europe) highlights our contemporary fear over lax immigration screening and subsequent terrorism. The case is unique in that debate usually arises from an execution. Belachheb was given life imprisonment and is currently under maximum security--a fate some would argue is “worse than death.” He is scheduled to have his first parole hearing in 2004, the twentieth anniversary of his crime. “This is a …

Interview with attorney and Army Air Forces veteran Edward J. Drake. The interview includes Drake's personal experiences about being a B-17 pilot in the European Theater during World War II, youth and education in Dallas, Texas, enlistment in the Aviation Cadet Program, various training programs, bombing transportation facilities during and after the Ardennes Offensive, crash-landing in Belgium after his plane was hit, and linking up with American troops. Additionally, Drake talks about his assignment to the 91st Bomb Group, the routine for a typical mission, formation flying, flying through enemy flak, rest and relaxation on-base and in London, recuperating from a collapsed lung, his return to combat for three more missions, and his return to the crash site of his plane 57 years later. The interview includes an appendix with "The Last Flight of 'Jezebel,'" written by Drake.

Interview with Miguel Soria, Mexican-born immigrant to Plano, Texas. The interview includes Soria's personal experiences about childhood in Mexico, his first visit to the U.S., illegally crossing the border to live in Dallas, Texas, and experiences with a human smuggler, along with his experiences as an undocumented person and with discrimination. It also includes his thoughts on the DREAM act and the immigration process, and advice for future immigrants.

Interview with assistant professor of music history at UNT Ana R. Alonso-Minutti, Mexican-born immigrant to Dallas, as part of the DFW Metroplex Immigrants Oral History Project. The interview includes Alonso-Minutti's personal experiences of childhood and education in Mexico, attending college at Universidad de las Americas, discovering music history as a discipline of study, a one-year course of study in theology in Dallas, choir direction at a church in England, attending graduate school, and accepting a job offer from UNT. Additionally, Alonso-Minutti discusses family history, her grandparents' migration from Spain and Italy, her first impressions of the U.S., the decision to study musicology in the U.S. or Great Britain, the citizenship process, and the contrast of life in Mexico, England, California, and Texas.

Interview with Sharon "Tommie" Acierno, Vietnam War veteran, as part of the Tarrant County War Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes Acierno's personal experiences about childhood, dropping out of high school and enlisting in the U.S. Army, basic and clerical training, working as drill sergeant at Ft. McClellan, struggling with alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder, and working with the Vietnam Veterans of America group. Acierno also discusses her coming out experience, volunteering for assignment to Vietnam, her clerical duties with a logistics unit at Long Binh, the camaraderie among gay and straight troops, her experiences with apathetic citizens and antiwar protesters upon return to the U.S., deciding to leave the Army and relocate to Dallas, her experience in the Veterans Administration psychiatric ward, and her opinions regarding the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy and the treatment of women in the military generally. The interview includes an appendix with photographs.

Interview with David Braden, an Army Air Force WWII veteran from Dallas, Texas. Braden served as a navigator/radar-bombardier on a B-29 Superfortress in the Pacific; he recounts being in ROTC at North Texas Agricultural College and signing up for the Air Corps Reserves, flight training, the B-29, his crewmates, assignment to Saipan, organization of a bombing mission, the jetstream, flak and fighters, being shot down, switching crews, targets, briefings, recreation, Japanese holdouts on Saipan, fighter escorts, returning stateside, and leaving the service. In appendix is a letter sent to Dr. Marcello by Braden containing some corrections for the interview.

Interview with Tyrel James Billingsley, an Airman in the US Air Force Reserves from Dallas, Texas. Billingsley discusses his childhood and education, enlisting in the Air Force, basic training and technical school, his duties as a Aircraft Armament Systems specialist, memorable experiences, and plans for the future.

Interview with Dr. Shazia Ali, a professor from Dallas, Texas. Ali discusses her life and career as a Pakistani-American, including her family origins, growing up in Karachi and Dubai, her education, her work for a newspaper, the slums of Karachi, meeting her husband, being married over the phone, emigrating to Dallas, employment at UT-Dallas, having children, attending Richland College, cultural effects of September 11th, getting a PhD, parenting, and navigating cultures.

Interview with Charles M. Lagow, a Army WWII veteran from Dallas, Texas. Lagow discusses his family history, attending Texas A&M, joining the CCC, the lead up to war, activation and training with the 352nd Engineer Battalion, deployment to Khorramshahr, Iran, building roads, delivering supplies to the Soviets, crash landing in a B-17 in Palestine, returning to the States and transfer to the 1346th Eng. Bat., deployment to Okinawa, occupation duty and Japanese holdouts, thoughts on Hideki Tojo, attitudes towards the Japanese, shell shock and mental breakdowns, the atomic bomb, and life after the war.

Interview with Diego Echevarria, an Mexican-American immigrant from Mexico City. Echevarria discusses his childhood, life in Mexico City, living in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, moving to Texas City, experiences in school, moving to Irving, Texas, ESL, reflections on Mexico City, the visa process, the DREAM Act, employment, and immigration rhetoric in America.

Interview with Mary Franklin, an activist in the Dallas LGBT community from Riverhead, New York. Franklin discusses her family background, the neighborhood she grew up in in, dyslexia and struggles in school, her sexuality and coming out, the LGBT scene on Long Island, "gay" as a term, her first girlfriend, Anita Bryant, applying for a marriage license on National Coming Out Day, feminism and activism, moving to Dallas, the decriminalization of homosexuality in Texas, the HIV-AIDS epidemic, threats, involvement with the Unitarian Church, working at the Food Pantry, and changes in societal attitudes towards LGBT.

Interview with Robert Moore, a LGBT-focus journalist from Hurst, Texas. Moore discusses attending Texas Tech University, his career, working for Dallas Gay News and starting Dallas Voice, changes in attitudes toward LGBT people in Texas, HIV-AIDS, LGBT guilds and associations, and keeping up with changing media.

Interview with Lissette Moreno, a Mexican-American immigrant and activist from Monterrey, Mexico. Moreno discusses her childhood, moving to Dallas, family struggles with poverty, education, testifying in favor of the Texas Dream Act, college, reflections on immigration, the DREAM Act, being present for Pope Francis' 2015 address to the US Congress, and her faith.

Interview with Francisco Gonzalez, a journalist from San Miguel, El Salvador. Gonzalez discusses his education, growing up during the civil war, having his appendix removed, his brother's involvement in the war, attending medical school, transition to law school and working as a journalist, moving to the US and attending UNT, work with the Dallas Magazine, his marriage, and revisiting El Salvador.

Interview with Lloyd Shipman, a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Dallas, Texas. Shipman discusses his family and education, the impact of the Great Depression, joining the CCC and assignment to Bartlett, Texas, work as a typist, discipline and regimentation in the camp, daily routine, education services, recreation, and his thoughts on the impact of the CCC. In appendix are a chapter from an autobiography by Shipman, and two poems that he wrote.

Transcript of an interview with Kathy Jack concerning her childhood and education in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Dallas; "coming-out" narrative; social life in Dallas's gay and lesbian bars; effects of AIDS epidemic on Dallas gay community; career as employee, manager, and eventually owner of various bars; involvement in and support of various Gay Pride events; thoughts about future of gay rights movement.

Transcript of an interview with Claudio Durand, an Argentinian-born immigrant to Dallas, Texas, entrepreneur, and businessman. Durand shares concerning his childhood in Buenos Aires; educational and work history; living in Puerto Rico; visits to New York; immigration process; differences between Argentina and the United States; becoming American; and his thoughts on current immigration laws.

Transcript of an interview with Mike Anglin, lawyer and longtime Dallas LGBT activist, for the Dallas LGBT Oral History Project. Anglin discusses his childhood as a Navy brat; education; time in the Navy; coming out; Dallas LGBT history; LGBT activism; Baker v. Wade; AIDS crisis in Dallas; The Dallas Way; importance of younger LGBT generation knowing and preserving LGBT community history.

Transcript of an interview with Evilu Pridgeon, educator and longtime Dallas LGBT activist, for the Dallas LGBT Oral History Project. Pridgeon discusses her childhood in Austin, Texas; education; work history; coming out; Dallas LGBT history; AIDS crisis in Dallas; LGBT activism; The Dallas Way; diversity in the gay community.

Transcript of an interview with Dr. Valerie Martínez-Ebers, professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas and former UNT student. Dr. Martínez-Ebers discusses her childhood as an Army brat; education; family background; discrimination against Mexican Americans; attending UNT with a Mexican American ancestry; growing awareness of ethnicity and ethnic identity; student activism; differences in treatment and attitudes towards Latinos/Latinas in various parts of the United States; teaching politics of race and ethnicity at UNT; continued activism; UNT organizations for Latinos/Latinas.

Video footage from The Black Academy of Arts and Letters recorded during the 3 pm matinee show of Flatback and Collared Greens at the Clarence Muse Cafe Theatre on October 21st, 2000. The footage shows the stage set with a dining room and the play begins with the introduction of all the members of the family. After the introductions, the drama ensues in heated conversations around the table about morals, religion, generational differences and comedy.

Interview with Tracy Hayes, former writer and editor for the Dallas Morning News from Dallas, Texas. Hayes discusses her background and family, change in the fashion industry over time, being hired at the Dallas Morning News, becoming the founding editor of FD Luxe, a monthly fashion magazine, covering fashion shows, and her current life and interest in fashion.

Interview with Clarence Shockey, a farmer and former member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Ridgeway, Texas, regarding his experiences and memories of participating in the CCC during the Great Depression. It includes an appendix with newspaper clippings about Shockey's efforts to host a reunion.

Interview with Rudolph Garza, a former member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Donna, Texas, regarding his experiences and memories of participating in the CCC during the Great Depression and living in camps.