Discussed historical racial relations and politics, the development of the NAACP in the area, and the challenges people of color have faced in the region.

I.D. Henderson, Jr. was the first Black County Commissioner of Angelina County, Texas. He served in that position from the early 1980s until the early 2000s. He was very involved in Lufkin politics and helped to improve the infrastructure of the Black Lufkin community. Mr. Henderson is also a war veteran who served in Vietnam and Korea. Mr. Henderson discussed the segregation and discrimination he witnessed from his birth in the Lufkin area in the late 1920s, his time in the military and his return to Lufkin in the 1970s. Mr. Henderson discussed receiving death threats before and after he won his county commissioner office. Also Mr. Henderson discussed his involvement in many other organizations.

I.D. Henderson, Jr. was the first Black County Commissioner of Angelina County, Texas. He served in that position from the early 1980s until the early 2000s. He was very involved in Lufkin politics and helped to improve the infrastructure of the Black Lufkin community. Mr. Henderson is also a war veteran who served in Vietnam and Korea. Mr. Henderson discussed the segregation and discrimination he witnessed from his birth in the Lufkin area in the late 1920s, his time in the military and his return to Lufkin in the 1970s. Mr. Henderson discussed receiving death threats before and after he won his county commissioner office. Also Mr. Henderson discussed his involvement in many other organizations.

Mr. Reyes was born in Mexico on his family's farm. One of 12 children, he excelled in school, pursuing an engineering degree. He then followed his family to Lufkin, where he worked for Lufkin Industries. After nearly twenty years working, he and his brother opened a Spanish-language newspaper, La Lengua. In his interview, he discusses his childhood and young adulthood in Mexico, assimilation and difficulties in Lufkin, his work career, the creation of La Lengua, and his contributions to the Mexican-American community in Lufkin through his newspaper and civic service.

Ms. Miranda was born in Grand Prairie but spent the majority of her childhood in the Rio Grande Valley, where she experienced segregation and poor schooling. Determined to be a teacher, she eventually obtained her degree in education and began working as a special education teacher in Lufkin, the first Mexican-American teacher at LISD. Her husband was born and raised in Diboll, where he worked for Temple Industries. In their interview, Ms. Miranda describes the discrimination she faced in the Valley, her path to becoming a teacher, and her education career. Mr. Miranda describes life in Diboll and working for Temple.

Ms. Simmons was born and raised in Lufkin, Texas. She grew up in segregated Lufkin and graduated from Dunbar High School. She then became a nurse at Woodland Heights hospital, married, became a mother, and remained civically active. Ms. Simmons described growing up in segregated Lufkin, her experiences in elementary and high school, discrimination she experienced on the job at the hospital, black businesses in Lufkin, a sit-in at Lufkin's Dairy Queen, and her son's experience integrating at Lufkin High School.

Mr. Garrett was born just outside Marshall, Texas in the late 1940s. He went to college at Wiley College in Marshall and participated in a March after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Soon after graduating, Mr. Garrett began his career working in the Lufkin State School. During the interview, Mr. Garrett discussed his life working for the Lufkin State School which housed (voluntary and involuntary) disabled individuals in multiple capacities (40+ years), he discussed his role in trying to provide social services for the Lufkin community as well through various organizations.

Dr. Pierre was born in Louisiana and moved to Port Arthur at a young age. He later moved to Lufkin, because the area lacked an African-American dentist. His wife Carol Pierre, who was born and raised in San Antonio, became a teacher in the segregated school system. Dr. Pierre quickly became active, serving on the school board as integration occurred and participating in the NAACP. He continues to operate his dentistry business in Lufkin in 2016. Dr. Pierre discusses his early life in Louisiana and Port Arthur and his time in dental school. He and his wife describe the move to Lufkin, integration, work with the NAACP, and what they saw as the complacency of African Americans in Lufkin.

Ms. Toran was raised in Nigton, a small community in East Texas, by her highly-educated father and step-mother, who were also educators. Ms. Toran attended segregated schools in Lufkin and then went on to become a school-teacher and counselor in Lufkin schools. She was the first black school counselor in Lufkin schools. In the interview, she discussed growing up in Nigton, the accomplishments of her father, schools in Lufkin, changes over time in the black community. Ms. Toran described the responses to integration, including demonstrations by the KKK in the 1970s.

Ms. Davis is a lifelong resident of Lufkin, Texas. She was born with cerebral palsy, but she adapted to her handicap. She chose to go to Lufkin High School prior to forced integration. She became a special education teacher, although she had difficulty with promotions. She has been responsible for most of the caregiving in her family. In the interview, Ms. Davis discusses what segregated Lufkin was like, the difficulty she faced as part of the integration process at Lufkin High School, her education, overcoming a disability, her experience as a victim of domestic abuse, difficulty raising her children, and her life as a caregiver for multiple family members, including her parents and grandchildren.

Ms. Benham was born and raised in Lufkin, Texas. She went to segregated schools in Lufkin before participating in integration during the 1969-1970 school year. She graduated high school and went to college at the University of North Texas. She then became a flight attendant and worked in retail. She returned to Lufkin and worked with her mother, Bettie Kennedy, in the community. In the interview, Ms. Benham describes segregation in Lufkin, experiences with discrimination, problems during integration, discrimination she experienced at UNT, her work as a flight attendant, her time spent in retail, and the work of both her and her mother in the community.

Dr. Bonner was born and raised in Fairfield, Texas. Her family was connected through bloodlines to a prominent white family, which helped shelter them from some of the harshness of segregation. Dr. Bonner than went to college in New Orleans, where she became active in civil rights. She moved all over the country, including California, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Washington DC. She returned to the area to take care of her parents. She revived the local NAACP and currently serves as president. She was also elected to the city council. Dr. Bonner discusses her early life in Fairfield, her educational background, activism across the nation, reviving Lufkin's NAACP, and her election to city council.

Ms. Ali was born in Beford, Texas. She was raised in her family's community, County Line, outside of Nacogdoches. Ms. Ali went to Cushing High School, UT-Austin, and is currently a librarian at the Nacogdoches Public Library. She is also a hip-hop artist. In her interview, Ms. Ali described the rich history of her family's community, dating back to newly freed slaves moving in from Tennessee. She relates stories of racism and violence as well as community building and endurance. Her personal account describes racism at Cushing schools in the 2000s and her efforts to build a sustainable homestead for herself in County Line.

Mr. Herbert Cross was born and raised near Fort Worth. He was drafted into the Marines during the Korean War, where he served for two years. He then went to college and was hired by Dunbar High School in Fort Worth. He then became principal at an elementary. He was tapped to be assistant principal of Lufkin High School the first year of integration and continued as a principal in the Lufkin School District until his retirement in the 1980s. In the interview, Mr. Cross describes the discrimination he and his family faced as a child, particularly after the family joined a lawsuit for better facilities in their school, his time in the military, his fight for equal treatment as a teacher and administrator in the Lufkin school system, how integration went during his time as principal, and the discrimination he faced from his colleagues.

Mr. Estes was born in a small town in Texas. He spent time in the military before coming to Lufkin in the 1970s. He then worked for Lufkin Industries. His interview focuses on life in small-town Texas, his time in the military, labor activism at Lufkin Industries, and how Lufkin has changed over time.

Mr. Kegler was born in Lufkin and raised in North Lufkin. In eleventh grade, his parents forced him to be part of voluntary integration; he was one of six African-American children to enter Lufkin ISD in his grade. He then spent time in the military before returning to Lufkin to work at the State School. He served as city councilman and on the school board. In his interview, Mr. Kegler describes segregation in Lufkin, the long process of integration, life as an African-American in the military, and his politician and civic activism.

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

Ms. Benemon was born and raised in Lufkin, Texas. She attended segregated schools in Lufkin until the schools integrated in 1970, her senior year. Ms. Benemon went on to work for the Lufkin State School for decades before retiring in 2016. During her interview, Ms. Benemon provided information about the community of North Lufkin when she was growing up. Ms. Benemon also described businesses and people that were prominent in the North Lufkin community. Further, Ms. Benemon described the many conflicts that occurred during the first year of integration, such as an incident when armed white parents came to Lufkin High school in efforts to confront Black students. In response, some Black students staged a walkout/march. Ms. Benemon also discussed ongoing issues, including infrastructure, that the predominately Black community in Lufkin still face.

Document describing the history of the opening of Leslow Lumber Stores in Lufkin, Crockett, Hemphill, and Bryan Texas. The document was written by Alta Slack who is married to Albert Slack. Albert and his brother Leslie Slack opened the stores.

Ms. Brown was born and raised in Lufkin, Texas. She attended segregated schools in South Lufkin prior to moving to North Lufkin, where she attended and graduated from Dunbar High. She became a teacher at a private school and implemented African-American history into her curriculum. In her interview, Ms. Brown describes segregation in Lufkin, the violence and fear of white reprisals, the African-American community, and her career as a teacher.