Clergy

Interview with Kansas City Public School District board member Dr. A. Odell Thurman. Thurman discusses his family and early life in Mississippi and St. Louis, his father's work as a minister, attending (and later teaching at) Dunbar School, attending high school in Liberty and St. Joseph, attending Western University and later graduating from Lincoln University, getting a masters degree, and working as an educator in Kansas City, Missouri. He shares his thoughts about segregated schools in Kansas City, earning his PhD, and becoming an assistant superintendent for the school district.

Interview with Congressman and former Kansas City mayor Emanuel Cleaver II. Cleaver discusses the importance of sports in maintaining social ties, the individuals who are a part of the Monday Nite Footballers group, a number of whom were members of his congregation, and the lifetime membership the group received from the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the NAACP. He also discusses the role of women in the civil rights movement, traveling to Africa with President Barack Obama, Tell's work with the family of Emmett Till, and both men's relationships with Rev. Wheeler Parker, Jr.

Interview with former Penn School teacher Mai Gray. She recalls her early life and education in Tennessee, attending college and meeting her husband in Atlanta, Georgia, and moving to Kansas City with him as he became pastor of Centennial Methodist Church. She discusses his work there in the 1960s and '70s, her teaching career which began at Penn School, and the Steptoe community surrounding Penn. 

Interview with Paseo Baptist Church pastor Charles J. Briscoe. Briscoe discusses his childhood, his experience at R. T. Coles Vocational High School, his theological education and early experiences as a pastor, and returning to Kansas City and eventually the Paseo Baptist Church. He also discusses his views on race relations and the Black community in Kansas City, the role of the church in community building and politics, the history of Paseo Baptist, its mission work, and his views of other religions.

Two-part interview with Reverend C. L. "Clemmie" Bachus, pastor at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Reverend Bachus discusses his family background, his education and formative church experiences growing up in northwestern Mississippi, his journey into ministry at churches in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and later, Kansas. He also discusses his engagement with civil rights activism, community politics, the local education system, and the church's involvement with local youth.

Interview with Dr. Stanley Counts, former pastor of St. Luke's Church in the Steptoe neighborhood. Dr. Counts discusses his family and early life near 24th & Vine, his education, serving as pastor of St. Luke's, as well as other area churches, and his work at Western Baptist Bible College. He also discusses the role St. Luke's Hospital played in the community and his wife and children.