“We’ve always been extremely close... because we know that here in Gary, we have to stick together.”

Produced by Rebecca Werner with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. www.storycorps.org

Residents of Northwest Indiana share through their experiences some of the central history that continues to shape the region.

Residents of Northwest Indiana share through their experiences some of the central history that continues to shape the region.

Residents of Northwest Indiana share through their experiences some of the central history that continues to shape the region.

Residents of Northwest Indiana share through their experiences some of the central history that continues to shape the region.

Residents of Northwest Indiana share through their experiences some of the central history that continues to shape the region.

Produced by Rebecca Werner with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. www.storycorps.org

“You can’t have racial justice and you can’t have social justice if there’s no economic justice.”

“We trained people to go south—to see entertainment, to shop, to eat.”

Produced by Rebecca Werner with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. www.storycorps.org

“Without a good school system, you’re not going to get families.”

Produced by Rebecca Werner with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. www.storycorps.org

“Well, you started the legacy; we’ll just continue it.”

Produced by Rebecca Werner with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. www.storycorps.org