Storymakers Durham

The Storymakers project elicits conversations about race and class that are candid, complicated, and as intimate as eavesdropping on someone else's dinner conversation.

2016 / John Biewen / Courtney Smith / Scene on Radio, USA

Courtney and Noah

The Storymakers project elicits conversations about race and class that are candid, complicated, and as intimate as eavesdropping on someone else's dinner conversation.

We're featuring one story from the project, produced by first time radio-maker Courtney Smith. In the story, Courtney, who is black, compares the experience of growing up in Durham with a colleague who is white. Over several conversations, the two re-examine their childhood understandings that, just by living in an integrated society, racism would disappear.

Storymakers is an AIR Localore project led by veteran producer John Biewen. It's a collaboration between the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, SpiritHouse, and WUNC, with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The project provides citizens in Durham with tools and support to tell the stories that are most important to them.

You can listen to many more Storymakers segments on the podcast Scene on Radio .

Learn more about Storymakers' model and goals in our interview with John Biewen. Then, for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the process of making her very first audio story, be sure to check out our conversation with Courtney Smith.

Bonus: take a look at this video about Courtney from AIR's field documentary unit.

produced by

Courtney Smith

Courtney Smith is a womanist, activist, community organizer, budding chef and baker, daughter, sister, and friend. For the past 5 years, she has been involved in anti-racist community organizing, issues surrounding wealth inequality, and organizing to combat gentrification, both residential and commercial, in East Durham, North Carolina.

Featured in

May we recommend…

  • As Black As We Wish to Be

    2013 / 50:29

    There's a tiny town in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio where, for a century, residents have shared the common bond of identifying as African-American despite the fact that most look white.

  • Patriot Games

    2011 / 34:22

    Best friends Rich Carlson and Tom Swenor got so fed up with the political process in America that they decided to form their own Tea Party chapter in Petoskey, Michigan.

  • Mine Enemy: The Story of German POWs in America

    2015 / 49:17

    During World War II, Americans watched news reels of atrocities abroad. But, in some small U.S. towns, the enemy was hoeing the back garden - or sharing a meal at the kitchen table.