Interview Index

Interviews:

Nathaniel Banks

Erma Bridgewater

Catherine Hogue

John Lee Johnson

Martel Miller

Ivon Ridgeway

Kathleen Slates

Hester Suggs

Fannie Taylor & Nina Patterson

Arnold Yarber

Students:

Markisha Motton

Tamika Lee

Deanna Carr

Jessica Austin

Tiera Campbell

Yakera Barbee

Veronica Martin

Nathaniel Banks

Nathaniel Banks is director of the Afro-American Cultural Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mr. Banks is former principal of Judea Christian School and a current member of the Champaign School Board. His family has lived in the area for generations.

listen to the Nathaniel Banks interview

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Interviewed by Deanna Carr

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Erma Bridgewater

Erma Bridgewater integrated her neighborhood elementary school, Lincoln School, in 1919. She was director of the Douglass Community Center for 24 years and has a master's degree in sociology. She was born and raised in Champaign-Urbana, IL.

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Interviewed by Tamika Lee

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Catherine Hogue

Catherine Hogue is a former supervisor and chief union steward at AT&T in Champaign.

listen to the Catherine Hogue interview

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Interviewed by Tamika Lee

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John Lee Johnson

listen to the John Lee Johnson interview

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Interviewed by Markesha Motton

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Martel Miller

Martel Miller was born in Champaign in 1960 and was one of the first group of Black school children to be bused from the north end to the south end of town to desegregate the schools. He is an educational consultant.

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Interviewed by Markesha Motton

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Ivon Ridgeway

Ivon Ridgeway is a radio announcer and cab driver. He was among the first group of Black school children to be bused from the north end to the south end of town to desegregate the schools.

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Interviewed by Markesha Motton

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Kathleen Slates

Kathleen Slates was born in Urbana in 1940. She has worked in a variety of office work. In high school, she picketed local department stores in the late 1950s over their hiring practices.

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Interviewed by Tiera Carr

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Hester Suggs

Hester Nelson Suggs was principal of Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Champaign for 22 years. Before that, she taught at Dr. Howard School and was the first Black teacher at Leal School. She has a master's degree in teaching administration. She was born and raised in Champaign-Urbana, IL.

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Interviewed by Veronica Martin

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Fannie Taylor & Nina Patterson

Dr. Nina Patterson is the daughter of Fannie Taylor (pictured left). Nina was among the first group of African American students to be bused from her neighborhood in the north to schools in south Champaign.  Dr. Patterson earned her Ph. D. from San Francisco State University.  Her mother, Ms. Fannie Taylor, raised Dr. Patterson, and her brother, Dr. William Patterson, as a single mother.  Ms. Taylor moved from the south to Champaign in the 1950s and attended schools here.

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Interviewed by Jessica Austin

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Arnold Yarber

Arnold Yarber is owner of Po' Boys Barbeque. He went to chiropractic school in the 1940s but was not allowed to get his license because Illinois denied licenses to African-Americans at that time.

listen to the entire Arnold Yarber interview

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Interviewed by Veronica Martin

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