Honoring Black History Archives - StoryCorps

“You Kept Showing Up.” Father and Son Reflect on Black Love and Loss

Educator and advocate, Kyle Morris-Sol, curates spaces for Black men to talk about their mental health. In Philadelphia, he sat down with his father, Kyle Morris Sr., to reflect on Black love and the power of vulnerability.

This conversation was recorded for StoryCorps’ Brightness in Black initiative, highlighting the joy, aspirations, and complexity of Black voices in the United States.

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Top Photo: Kyle Morris-Sol and Kyle Morris at their StoryCorps interview in Philadelphia, PA on July 19, 2024. By Jorden Michael for StoryCorps.
Bottom Photo: Kyle Morris-Sol on his Senior Prom night with his grandmother, Cheryl Morris, right, and a family friend, left, at Kyle’s mother’s house in Philadelphia, PA in May, 2008.

This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

“She said you were a butterfly and I was not to clip your wings.” A Mother and Daughter Remember the Women Who Raised Them

As a radio host, Cherri Gregg, has dedicated her career to her voice. And the person who cultivated it was her grandmother, Maryhall Fuller Robinson Sneed. Cherri’s mom, Mary L Robinson Gregg, was also very close to her own grandmother, who taught her to love herself and others unconditionally.

Cherri Gregg’s grandmother, Maryhall Fuller Robinson Sneed, in her youth. Photo courtesy Mary L. Robinson Gregg.

They came to StoryCorps to remember the matriarchs who raised them.

This conversation was recorded for StoryCorps’ Brightness in Black initiative, highlighting the joy, aspirations, and complexity of Black voices in the United States.

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Top Photo: Cherri and Mary L Robinson Gregg at their StoryCorps interview in Philadelphia on August 5, 2024. By Destiny Jackson  for StoryCorps.

This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Originally aired November 29, 2024, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Beat by Beat

Born to beatbox.

Edward Cage & Nicole Paris

In the 1980s, Ed Cage fell in love with beatboxing through the St. Louis hip hop scene. When he became a dad, his talent became a way to connect with his daughter, Nicole Paris. At StoryCorps, Ed and Nicole talk about how he passed the beat on to the next generation.

Listen to Ed and Nicole’s original StoryCorps interview.

Para subtítulos en español, haga click en el ícono de YouTube en la esquina derecha, y escoja “Spanish” bajo la opción de “settings” y “subtitles/CC.

The Family Equation

“And to this day, I live my life trying to be half the man my father was.”

Dr. William Lynn Weaver & Kimberly Weaver

In 1964, Lynn was one of 14 Black students who integrated West High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. During this difficult time in his life, there was one man who always made him feel safe and supported—his father, Ted Weaver—who worked as a janitor and chauffeur.

At StoryCorps, Lynn talked to his daughter, Kimberly, about a lesson he learned from his father that extended beyond the classroom.

Listen to Lynn and Kimberly’s original StoryCorps interview.

Para subtítulos en español, haga click en el ícono de YouTube en la esquina derecha, y escoja “Spanish” bajo la opción de “settings” y “subtitles/CC.