Looking Back~Historic Gainsboro

Roanoke's Historic Gainsboro dates back to the founding of the Star City. The neighborhood became a city within the city as its African American residents built a thriving community. It was self-sustaining, with shops, doctors. lawyers and schools. It thrived until urban renewal split it in half and cast some of its residents into public housing outside of the community that supported them.
This episode of Looking Back includes FBI surveillance film of the black community, shared with us by WBRA in Roanoke. Many of the interviewees have died since this recording, It was a privilege to be able to speak with those who made such a big difference in their community.
Looking Back was a documentary series produced for Cox Communications. Its goal was to tell the stories of the region's landmarks and institutions.