In this week’s StoryCorps of Southwest Florida 85-year-old Abraham Coleman of Punta Gorda speaks to his friend Jaha Cummings about serving in the Korean War as an African-American, segregation in the military, and being active in the civil rights struggle alongside Malcolm X.

Martha Bireda interviews her friend 70-year-old Eunice Wiley about being the first black teacher in her school, East Elementary, in Punta Gorda in 1970, resisting with dignity during Jim Crow, and becoming the principal at Neil Armstrong Elementary in Port Charlotte despite the prejudice she faced. She retired from there in 2005.

Martha Bireda interviews her friend 70-year-old Eunice Wiley about being the first black teacher in her school, East Elementary, in Punta Gorda in 1970, resisting with dignity during Jim Crow, and becoming the principal at Neil Armstrong Elementary in Port Charlotte despite the prejudice she faced. She retired from there in 2005.

James and Rachel Bass of Cape Coral talk about their interracial marriage, moving to Florida, James's fears as a black man in a mostly white community, and Rachel's response to her once naive perception of race in the United States in this week’s StoryCorps of southwest Florida.

James and Rachel Bass of Cape Coral talk about their interracial marriage, moving to Florida, James's fears as a black man in a mostly white community, and Rachel's response to her once naive perception of race in the United States in this week’s StoryCorps of southwest Florida.

47-year-old Jeffrey Peterman of Alva remembers his father Jerome Peterman, who passed away recently from ALS. The elder Peterman was a pilot and a larger-than-life character who Jeffrey did not always get along with, until the end.

47-year-old Jeffrey Peterman of Alva remembers his father Jerome Peterman, who passed away recently from ALS. The elder Peterman was a pilot and a larger-than-life character who Jeffrey did not always get along with, until the end.

Kristin Ritts memorializes her late husband Roy Ritts, a notable immunologist in this week’s StoryCorps. The Purple Heart recipient had his hand in early AIDS Research and worked closely with Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackman on Roe v. Wade. Ritts was one of the first to be awarded patents on monoclonal antibodies – which are antibodies made in a lab rather than by a person’s immune system. And he was involved in some of the first transplants in the United States.

Kristin Ritts memorializes her late husband Roy Ritts, a notable immunologist in this week’s StoryCorps. The Purple Heart recipient had his hand in early AIDS Research and worked closely with Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackman on Roe v. Wade. Ritts was one of the first to be awarded patents on monoclonal antibodies – which are antibodies made in a lab rather than by a person’s immune system. And he was involved in some of the first transplants in the United States.

17-year old Lisa Gitau interviews her father Martin Ndungu about his upbringing in Kenya, his passion for his work transporting the medically disabled in southwest Florida, his proudest moments, and his dreams for the future.