Oral history roundtable discussion with members of Culinary Workers Union Local 226 conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 26, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. The members present for the discussion included Michael A. Tirabassi, John D. Walter, Margarita Piñon, and Robert Gladstone. The members discuss their backgrounds, experiences working in various casinos, hotels, and restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada, and being members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. They describe the benefits of being in the union and the differences the union made in their work and personal lives.
Oral history interview roundtable with the Austin Family and Chazz Young conducted by Claytee D. White on August 06, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, the Austin family discusses their dance school, Austin Dancers, which they brought with them when they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada from New York City, New York in 1993. Linda Austin discusses her early interest in drumming, which later lead to a successful career as a musician, where she performed for celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou, and played with other musicians such as Quincy Jones. Charles "Chazz" Young also discusses his career as a dance teacher at Austin Dancers and the West Las Vegas Arts Center. The family discusses the cultural differences between Las Vegas and Harlem, where they came from in New York City, as well as the differences between teaching the children of Las Vegas compared to the children they taught in New York.
Oral history interview with Kimberly Bailey-Tureaud conducted by Patricia Holland on April 21, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Bailey-Tureaud discusses her career in radio broadcasting and her personal magazine, Las Vegas Black Image, which is published in Las Vegas, Nevada. She describes organizing a concert with a former radio station run by the Economic Opportunity Board, which featured African American musical talent, and working in conjunction with local African American radio station KCEP to promote Las Vegas Black Image, a publication which focuses on the African American community in Las Vegas. Bailey-Tureaud also discusses the lack of African American media in the Las Vegas area, how she sees Las Vegas and African American media in the city progressing in the future, and how she feels political and business interests suppress African American media in some circumstances.
Oral history interview with Harriet Barlow conducted by Elsha Harris-Tolanda on April 27, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Barlow discusses her personal history and growing up in Robbins, Illinois. She talks about her education, discrimination in schools, and the process of school integration. Barlow then recalls her first impressions of Las Vegas, Nevada and her employment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Lastly, Barlow describes going through graduate school as an African American and explains why conversations about race relations can be difficult.
Oral history interview with James Walker conducted by Larmaya Kilgore on November 14, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Walker discusses his personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s. He talks about his employment at the Fremont Hotel in 1966 and working on the Las Vegas Strip the following year. Walker recalls the African American experience working on casino floors, facing discrimination, and the process of integration in schools. He then describes the jobs given to African Americans at the casinos, being unable to live in certain areas of the city, and the increase of African American workers in construction. Lastly, Walker discusses his ownership of the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino, casino licensing, and the increase of businesses in West Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Willard Booth conducted by Larmaya Kilgore on November 14, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Booth discusses his personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1956. He describes his employment at the Sands Hotel and Casino and later at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino. Booth then talks about segregation issues for African Americans working on the Las Vegas Strip. Later, Booth discusses his involvement with the Second Baptist Church and describes the work he would do for the church. Lastly, Booth describes West Las Vegas and entertainers who would perform at the Carver House, the Moulin Rouge, and the Town Tavern.
Oral history interviews with the family of Joe Louis conducted by Claytee D. White on November 18, 2014 and February 06, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In these interviews, the family of Joe Louis discuss his life and career as a famous African American boxer from the 1930s to 1950s. They describe charity fights he held to raise money for the Navy Relief Fund during World War II, which later became an issue for him when the Internal Revenue Service claimed he still owed taxes on the money he raised despite it being donated. The family discusses what it was like growing up and meeting celebrity friends of Louis', such as Frank Sinatra and Muhammad Ali, Louis' involvement with the Moulin Rouge Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Louis' status as an African American sports hero. They also detail his eventual retirement from boxing, his job working as a greeter at Caesars Palace, and his death.
Oral history interview with Lawrence Weekly conducted by Elsha Harris Yolanda on November 19, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Weekly discusses his personal history and growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about the importance of religion in his upbringing and his parent’s employment in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas. Weekly describes the racial discrimination he experienced in education, attending the College of Southern Nevada and later transferring to Grambling State University in Louisiana. Later, Weekly discusses his rationale for attending a historically Black college, his career as a Clark County Commissioner, and the reopening of F Street. Lastly, Weekly talks about the lack of progress in race relations across the United States.
Oral history interview with Donna Rodriguez conducted by Justin Burrows on November 24, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Rodriguez discusses her personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993. She describes her first impressions of the city, her employment at McCarran International Airport, and working as a security dispatcher for casinos. Rodriguez then talks about the development of security surveillance at casinos, discrimination towards African American gamblers, and recalls the training she received. Later, Rodriguez discusses her church involvement, teaching at her church's Sunday school, and shares how she managed to raise her children on her own. Lastly, she talks about the role that politics had on minority communities, the importance of education, and changes in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Keena Smith conducted by Winita Frederick on November 25, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses her personal history and growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. She describes what Las Vegas was like as a child, her upbringing in dance, and the significance that participating in the arts has on her life. Smith describes the auditioning process for shows in Las Vegas, her experience as an African American dancer, and being a cast member for The Lion King. Lastly, Smith talks about teaching dance courses at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.