L.A. African American Oral History Project

Cecilia Tapscott

Cecilia Tapscott, born in 1935, grew up on 14th and Essex St. in Los Angeles, CA. As a young child, she held dance performances and piano recitals. At the age of 13, Cecilia ran for “Girls Vice President” at LaFayette Jr. High School, where she met Horace Tapscott, her future husband. Cecilia married Horace in […]

Cliff Johnson

Cliff Johson grew up in Abilene, Texas in a working-class, segregated Black community. He attended Carter G. Woodson Junior Senior high school where he was an honor student and class president. At twelve years old, after being given a tour of the bank where his mother worked as a cook, Cliff decided that he wanted […]