Interviews and oral histories

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Residents have deep expertise on the impacts of coal dust pollution in Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point, organizing in resistance, and priorities around solutions and visions for the future. Several themes emerge in these interviews and oral histories, including life in the now-demolished Harbor Homes public housing complex, effects of coal dust on property, home value, and household finances, and the prevalence of health impacts on residents, especially respiratory illness.

Oral Histories 2023–2025

Name Date Type Notes Audio Transcript
Atsuko Bernot and Imani Newsome 8/2/2025 Resident Comprehensive description of anti-coal dust activism in Lambert's Point, Norfolk, from 2010-2025, including key points of failure and demands for what comes next. Atsuko Bernot and Imani Newsome Audio Atsuko Bernot and Imani Newsome Transcript
Lawrence Turner 7/7/2023 Resident One-on-one interview with East End Newport News resident and football coach about East End history, growing up in Harbor Homes, gentrification, and TAME. Lawrence Turner Audio Lawrence Turner Transcript
Donquitta Clements 6/28/2023 Resident One-on-one with lifelong East End Newport News resident that narrates health issues, nuisance and mental health problems caused by coal dust. Also discusses gentrification due to Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) and Tidewater Air Monitoring Evaluation (TAME). Donquitta Clements Audio Donquitta Clements Transcript
Carl Poole 7/1/2023 Resident One-on-one with organizer and resident of Lambert's Point, Norfolk. Touches on resident attitudes toward Norfolk Southern; history of organizing against coal dust in Norfolk; history of Lambert's Point neighborhood and Tidewater Air Monitoring Evaluation. Carl Poole Audio Carl Poole Transcript
Yugonda Sample-Jones 6/30/2023 Repair Lab team member Walking interview with East End Newport News resident and leader of EmPower All about the Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) development project and the effects of coal dust on new and existing residents. Yugonda Sample-Jones

Audio (1 of 3)

Yugonda Sample-Jones Transcript (1 of 3)
Millie Taylor and Raymond Wazeeradin with Yugonda Sample-Jones 6/30/2023 Resident Porch conversation with lifelong East End Newport News residents touching on East End's Black history, renaming projects, the Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) and gentrification, as well as the history of CSX and coal dust as a nuisance. Millie Taylor and Raymond Wazeeradin Audio Millie Taylor and Raymond Wazeeradin Transcript
Jannie Bazemore 5/1/2025 Resident Porch interview with a former resident of Ridley Circle who remembers her mother's advocacy for sprinklers to be installed at Dominion Terminal in East End Newport News. Jannie Bazemore Audio Jannie Bazemore Transcript
Kim Williams 4/11/23 Resident Conversation with Lambert's Point resident and organizer Kim Williams about neighborhood gentrification by Old Dominion University, TAME, her demands for Norfolk Southern to cover their coal, and the history of organizing against coal dust in Lambert's Point, Norfolk. Also with Malcolm Jones. Kim Williams Audio Kim Williams Transcript
Yugonda Sample-Jones 2/27/2024 Repair Lab team member Driving tour exploring CSX's Dominion Terminal and the whole Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) redevelopment in East End Newport News. Also discusses TAME and gentrification. Yugonda Sample-Jones Audio (2 of 3) Yugonda Sample-Jones Transcript (2 of 3)
Uneita Scott 4/20/2024 Resident Media interview and testimonial from former East End Newport News resident whose sister had a lung amputated at 14 years old due to diagnosed miner's lung from living adjacent to Dominion Terminal in the 1970s-80s. Uneita Scott Audio Uneita Scott Transcript
Anonymous 2 4/20/2024 Resident Testimonial from a couple who regret buying their house in East End Newport News due to the coal dust. Anonymous 2 Audio Anonymous 2

Transcript

Renee Hoyos 5/4/2023 Government figure Phone interview with former director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Environmental Justice department (now defunct). Renee Hoyos Audio Renee Hoyos Transcript
Sheila McAllister 11/14/2023 Government figure Short phone interview with Newport News Director of Planning about the demolition of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court. Sheila McAllister Audio Sheila McAllister Transcript
Faith Harris 10/1/23 Government figure Studio interview with co-founder of the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice and leader of Virginia Interfaith Power and Light. Faith Harris Audio Faith Harris Transcript
Malcolm Jones, Lathaniel Kirts and Billy Mercury 5/30/2023 Repair Lab team member 3-way studio interview with Lathaniel and Malcolm, 2 practitioners-in-residence with the Repair Lab, and their lifelong friend Billy Mercury about growing up in Park Place adjacent to the Lambert's Point Norfolk Southern coal terminal and seeing gentrification unfold. Malcolm, Lathaniel and Billy Audio
Mr. Smiley 6/30/2023 Resident Short interview and testimonial from East End Newport News shop owner whose business is adjacent to Dominion Terminal. Mr. Smiley Audio Mr. Smiley Transcript
Patricia Taylor 11/2/2024 Resident Porch interview with East End Newport News neighborhood matriarch about what it takes to make systemic change. Patricia Taylor Audio Patricia Taylor Transcript
Frankie Williams 2/27/2024 Resident Short street testimonial from East End Newport News resident about the coal dust and its effects. Frankie Williams Audio Frankie Williams Transcript
Anonymous 4/20/2024 Resident Testimonial from an East End Newport News resident about his experiences growing up in Southwest Virginia, his memories of community defense against polluters there, and comparisons to the present in Newport News. Anonymous Audio Anonymous Transcript

All interviews above collected by Adrian Wood with the Repair Lab. Transcriptions by Adrian Wood and Jackie Hertz.

Media featuring resident interviews

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