Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Bernice Morehead conducted by dindria barrow on August 16, 2022. In this interview, Bernice tells us that she was a born into a family of sharecroppers who descended from slaves forcibly brought to Mississippi. Bernice lived on a farm until she was 16 years of age who spoke the language of animals until she moved to Iowa and worked with her mother as a Domestic Engineer. Bernice describes how she enjoys a challenge such as running four marathons, learning to swim at 50 years of age, finishing a triathlon, driving from Iowa to Washington state with two children and a grandchild, then earning two college degrees. She has worked for the state, run her own business, been a substitute teacher, is a certified Life Coach and is now helping others at the Bethlehem Baptist Church Shelter. Bernice reminds us to dream of new challenges and to take pride in whatever you do.

Visible signs in photo read the following:
"NO
U.S. DOUGH
TO HELP
JIM CROW
GROW"

"We demand
an end to bias
now"

"We march together
Catholic
Jews
Protestant
For dignity
and brotherhood
of all men under god
NOW!"

Reverse side of photograph contains following text:
"listening to speakers -
Leua Horne
Air-line Stewardess
Note maj. and minority crowds"

From back of image: "Only a minute example of the buses which arrived- also note negro population."

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Anita Latch conducted by dindria barrow on August 30, 2022. In this interview, Anita outlines the places she calls home using artwork that her daughter created of locations Anita has lived in. Her grandparents had a farm near Traverse City, Torch Lake, Michigan. She watched trains pass by in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She lived in a ground floor apartment in Nerburgh, New York after living in Wallkill near Woodstock. Anita’s dad drove the family on Interstate 80 in a Super 88 to McChord Air Force Base and Spanaway, Washington. She remembers listening to a transistor radio in the back of the car during the trip. Anita left home at 15 years old and hitchhiked to Grants Pass, Oregon. She went to college in Redlands, California and then learned silversmithing in Jerome, Arizona. Anita also spent time in Tahiti when her daughter was young. She moved around often between her homes. Anita is a traveler, a journalist, a teacher, a political advocate, and an artist with many life stories. She has been a Precinct Committee Officer and has served on the Tacoma Civil Service Board. “Democracy is not a spectator sport!” Anita declares towards the end of her interview, “so, get involved in voting for each election.” Her openness and honesty are palpable in this oral history and there is some strong language and adult content.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Melissa Knot conducted by dindria barrow on August 20, 2022. In this interview, Melissa describes how difficult it is to identify what home means. “Home is inside of me and it has to be.” She learned early in life the difference between stability and frequent movement. Melissa talks about how her grandmother, Betty, who was her rock. She recounts her teenage life after her mom left her to fend for herself and how a group of black women fed her. “I have these understandings in my mind…of who helped mold me and they don’t always fit what society wants me to be, ever, and that’s kinda hard to get people to understand…someone might try to look at me in a specific way and think that I am a certain way…and it’s been a hard and long journey to continue to stay me in a world that continuously wants to put me in a box that I just do not fit.” When asked about her twitter handle: Inspector Ratchet, Melissa said, “I still am this ratchet little girl… [and] I want for everyone to be able to just breathe in their own skin…without being forced to mold themselves into the dominant culture to be able to survive.” Melissa ran for the Washington House of Representatives, District 29, Position 2 against Steve Kirby. She is involved in local politics, has multiple degrees and certifications, is a South End Neighborhood Board Member and is an advocate for Whole Washington Health Care.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Janice Kampbell conducted by dindria barrow on August 25, 2022. In this interview, Janice tells the story of how her parents met each other after World War II in rural Michigan on a blind date. Farming and the military were a part of her parents’ lives and Janice grew up a child of a military pilot and a nurse. Her family moved to a variety of locations in the United States. Janice became a nurse like her mother and retired after 43 years. Janice is a Pierce County Master Gardener and shares her first encounter with planting seeds into frozen dirt with a spoon. Janice concludes her oral history by sharing the history of the Tacoma Urban Land Trust (2010) also previously known as the Guadalupe Land Trust located on Hilltop, Tacoma. The Tacoma Urban Land Trust's website is https://www.tult.org

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Kyle Jolibois conducted by dindria barrow on August 17, 2022. In this interview, Kyle tells us about his birth and how he is connected to the grittiness of Tacoma. To paraphrase him, "Tacomans are fighters and survivalists no matter who is in control of the city." Kyle’s story is about resilience and speaking truth to power. He leads his life with a direct and realistic view about our environment and our social/political issues. Kyle is open about his views, his sobriety goals, and his physical disability. His strength is his voice and his desire to stand up for what is right.

Cynthia Tucker's mother (6/17/31-2/23/2010).

Oral history interview with Dr. Thelma Jackson conducted by dindria barrow on May 11, 2023. In this interview, Thelma shares about her childhood, her education, her move to Washington and her work in many different academic areas and social arenas. Thelma discusses how we need to be present about the past and future. To paraphrase, staying present will help us realize what work needs to be done in our community and society. Thelma shares her new book and how oral histories were a key component of telling the Black community’s story in Lacey and Thurston County.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Chace Hunter conducted by dindria barrow on August 25, 2022. In this interview, Chace talks about his family immigrating to Hilltop, Tacoma in 1993, then moving to South Tacoma in 1998, graduating from Western Washington University as well as University of Washington-Tacoma and then buying a home in Hilltop as an adult. Chace’s family fled Cambodia to escape the Khmer Rouge and were refugees in Thailand before coming to Tacoma. He is bilingual and has been married to his husband for six years. Chace has a passion for poetry, psychology, non-profits and nursing. Chace fell in love with his HIV Prevention work and is now the executive director of the AIDS Housing Association of Tacoma (AHAT Homecare). AHAT Homecare provides 24-hour home care, affordable housing/case management, and rental vouchers to the local HIV+ community. To paraphrase Chace: “I love giving back to the community, especially during a time of houselessness, and helping to provide homes to people in need.”