Collection
Life Histories
In this oral history series long-term Northside residents share their personal background and connection to Northside. Most oral histories include their family heritage, education, religious beliefs, and memories of youth. Interviews may also include encounters with civil rights and gentrification.
Janie Johnson - On food, family, and growing up in Carrboro
Food takes center stage for Janie Johnson. In this interview, she describes in vivid imagery, along with accompanying envisioned smells, the kitchens of her mother and grandmother and all the food that came out of them. Several times, Ms. Johnson mentions how the sassafras tea that her grandmother…
Janie Johnson - On food, family, and growing up in Carrboro
Doris Wilson - On racial inequality, education, and faith
Doris Wilson was born in 1936 in Robeson County, North Carolina and moved to Chapel Hill in the mid 1950s. She has lived in her same home on Church St. in Chapel Hill ever since. In the interview, she discusses the transition to Chapel Hill when she was college-aged and the first times she…
Doris Wilson - On racial inequality, education, and faith
Brenda Jackson - On family, church, and community
History of family at St. Joseph; Mr. Henry Baldwin donating to church; changes in church; fast pace nature of new generation; church’s role in community and individual’s role in church; meaning and power of singing and why singing is such a big part of St. Joseph; feeling of gratitude among…
Brenda Jackson - On family, church, and community
Christian Foushee-Green - On the role of church and the future of Northside
Christian Jacobi Foushee-Green is the lead singer, songwriter, and keyboardist for the “Chit Nasty Band” which he created in 2011, one year after graduating from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Born on April 26 in 1988, Christian (or “Chit” to some of his fans) has been involved in both…
Christian Foushee-Green - On the role of church and the future of Northside
Nathaniel Lee - On his childhood, bricklaying, and family
Nathaniel (Pee-Wee) Lee was a brick mason and laborer, and has worked and lived in the Chapel Hill area for most of his life. He was born in 1944 at UNC Hospital. When he was first born he lived with his grandparents on the farm that they sharecropped in Durham. Pee-Wee reflects on growing up on a…
Nathaniel Lee - On his childhood, bricklaying, and family
William Smith - Speaking about his masonry career and business
William E. Smith, also known as Smitty, grew up in Durham with his parents and seven brothers. His strongest influence growing up was his grandfather, who he spent a great deal of time with – including helping out on his farm in Orange County. He graduated from Hillside High School, which he…
William Smith - Speaking about his masonry career and business
Albert Washington - On his business, church, and growing up in Northside
This interview is part of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center’s Oral History Trust. Albert (Bruce) Washington, III grew up in Chatham County with his mother and in Northside with his father and extended family. He was an only child, but grew up in the context of many cousins, aunts, and uncles who cared…
Albert Washington - On his business, church, and growing up in Northside
Rodney Taylor - On community involvement
This interview is part of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center’s Life History Series.
Rodney Taylor Sr., a current member and trustee at Barbee’s Chapel Baptist Church, has had a lifelong passion for community involvement. Mr. Taylor was born on June 26, 1958 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His…
Rodney Taylor Sr., a current member and trustee at Barbee’s Chapel Baptist Church, has had a lifelong passion for community involvement. Mr. Taylor was born on June 26, 1958 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His…
Rodney Taylor - On community involvement
Freda Andrews - On education, teaching, and the Freedom Movement
Freda Andrews is a daughter of the Northside. Notably, her primary and secondary school education transformed her life immeasurably. Her teachers, especially at Northside Elementary, created a classroom setting that directed individual attention to each student. Fostered by these nurturing teachers,…
Freda Andrews - On education, teaching, and the Freedom Movement
Virginia Jones - Speaking about her education, career, and family
This interview is part of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center’s Life History Series. Ms. Virginia has grown up in Chapel Hill and lived here her entire life. She was born on Mitchell Lane. She is the 10th of 10 children. Her mother worked at UNC at Chase Hall and her father worked within landscaping.…
Virginia Jones - Speaking about her education, career, and family
Walt Riggsbee - On his restaurant, military service, and Chapel Hill
We conducted this interview as a part of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center’s Oral History series. Bobby Riggsbee, commonly referred as Walt own his own restaurant named Walt’s Grill. Walt was born and raised in a segregated Chapel Hill and attended Lincoln High School located in the Northside…
Walt Riggsbee - On his restaurant, military service, and Chapel Hill
Robert Campbell - Speaking about community, faith, and activism
Min. Robert Campbell is a well-known local activist who was raised by his grandparents in the Northside neighborhood. He attended Northside and Lincoln and was in the first desegregated graduating class at Chapel Hill High School (Class of ’67). He moved to Rogers Road in the 1970s where he has been…
Robert Campbell - Speaking about community, faith, and activism
Andrea Harris - On building relationships and bridging divides
In her oral history, Andrea Harris discusses her parents and growing up in Henderson, NC. She attended segregated schools and went to Bennett College, where she began her community organizing career by experiencing first-hand the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. King and the became aware of the…
Andrea Harris - On building relationships and bridging divides
Collene Rogers - On the importance of working together as a community and her involvement with civil rights organizations
In this interview, Collene Rogers begins by explaining the importance of working together as a community, standing up for oneself, and always working to improve one's own life. She then tells her experiences working for New York City banks, in which every branch had its own environment and diverse…
Collene Rogers - On the importance of working together as a community and her involvement with civil rights organizations
