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Esther Herst and Marie Gianola

From the Collection: Pain and Promise: Remembering the Fight for School Integration


In this recording, Marie Gianola speaks with her sister-in-law Esther Herst about her childhood in Green Lake, Seattle during the time of school desegregation in the city. Marie recalls students being bused to her school, and the tension parents and students on all sides felt during the first year. Marie also explores ways in which the tumult of the busing program could have been avoided, saying busing failed despite its best intentions.

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