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'We've Come A Long, Long Way': A Forum On Black Heritage In The Valley

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John (Lopes) Lopez was one of the first African Americans in Fresno. He is the great great grandfather of Ann Lopez Gaston, who still lives in Fresno and was part of the forum.
Courtesy of Anne Lopez Gaston

And now we’re going to introduce you to some people whose families have been in the Valley for a century or more. Moderator Kathleen Schock talks to two other long-time Fresnans, Dorythea Cooley-Williams and Anne Lopez Gaston about the obstacles and hard work their families faced that allowed later generations to prosper. They’re joined by Fresno State historian Michael Eissinger.

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Alice Daniel was News Director for KVPR from 2019-2022. Daniel has a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and more than 25 years of experience as a print and radio journalist.