Abstract

Ms. Curry describes growing up in Shaw and Eastgate, the influence of music in her early life, coming into her own gender and sexuality in her teens, joy and pain on the streets and in the clubs, traumatic experiences in Lorton prison, organizing against discrimination against transgender women, her continued advocacy, and the importance of helping and loving each other.

Scope and Contents This oral history interview was conducted with Lashonia Thompson-El by Kristin Adair in Washington, DC. Lashonia Thompson-El was born in 1973 in Washington, DC. In the interview, Lashonia speaks about growing up in Southeast Washington, in a family that had migrated from North Carolina. As a teenager, she got involved in a life of crime. At the age of 19, she was arrested and later sentenced to 20 to 60 years in prison for a double homicide. She was granted parole in December 2011, after...

Scope and Contents This oral history interview was conducted with Lashonia Thompson-El by Kristin Adair in Washington, DC. Lashonia Thompson-El was born in 1973 in Washington, DC. In the interview, Lashonia speaks about growing up in Southeast Washington, in a family that had migrated from North Carolina. As a teenager, she got involved in a life of crime. At the age of 19, she was arrested and later sentenced to 20 to 60 years in prison for a double homicide. She was granted parole in December 2011, after...

Abstract

Ms. Sarvis discusses growing up in D.C., mostly in Carver/Langston in Northeast, her early sense of herself as different and coming into her gender and sexuality, her older sister also being trans, going to clubs and performing, the impact of the AIDS epidemic, her time in prison, her involvement with transgender and HIV/AIDS organizations including Transgender Health Empowerment, and the changes in the city.

Scope and Contents This oral history interview was conducted with Nicolette Williams by Kristin Adair in Washington, D.C. Nicolette Williams was born in Washington, D.C. She talks about being raised by her aunt in Southeast D.C., because both of her parents were on drugs when she was a child. She describes returning to live with her mother at the age of 13, at which point she started getting involved in street life. She was in and out of the 14 years to life for murder. She served 16 years in prison and...

Scope and Contents This oral history interview was conducted with Nicolette Williams by Kristin Adair in Washington, D.C. Nicolette Williams was born in Washington, D.C. She talks about being raised by her aunt in Southeast D.C., because both of her parents were on drugs when she was a child. She describes returning to live with her mother at the age of 13, at which point she started getting involved in street life. She was in and out of the 14 years to life for murder. She served 16 years in prison and...

Scope and Contents This oral history interview was conducted with Petrina Williams by Kristin Adair in Washington, D.C. Petrina Williams was born in 1967 in Washington, D.C. She attended Spelman College and later moved to Washington, D.C., in 1998. She talks about moving to D.C. to live with her aunt and developing a drug addiction. She talks about having two children during that time, and she was pregnant with her third child when she was convicted of a non-violent narcotics-related crime. She gave birth to...

Abstract

Ms. Earls discusses growing up in D.C., mostly in Shaw, her early sense of herself as different and coming into her gender and sexuality, the importance of dancing and performance to her from an early age, her struggle with addiction and time in prison, go-go and hand dancing, being in the National Museum of African American History, remembering everyone who has passed and her thankfulness for living to such an age.

Scope and Contents This oral history interview was conducted with Saundra Sanders by Kristin Adair in Washington, D.C. Saundra Sanders was born in 1962 in Washington, D.C. She talks about being raised at 19th and Maryland Ave NE. She gave birth to her only child, a son, just after her graduation from Dunbar Senior High School in 1980. She discusses how she became involved in drug use and criminal activity. In 1984, she was incarcerated for the first time, serving six years. She talks about how she came to...

Scope and Contents The Women of the WIRE oral history project contain five video interviews conducted by Kristin Adain in 2018. Transcripts are included for all interviews.In Washington, D.C., only about five percent of those behind bars are women. But a substantial majority of these women are mothers, and many leave small children behind when they are sentenced to years or decades of incarceration. Women’s experiences of incarceration are dramatically different than those of men. Moreover, their...