Ernest Morial begins by asking Kim Lacy Rogers what her research objective is, and Rogers explains the scope of her book project. Rogers asks Morial about his childhood and upbringing in New Orleans. Morial answers that his father was a cigar maker and he was the youngest of six children. He explains how his association with A. P. Tureaud influenced his later activism. He describes his family background as well as typical experiences in his neighborhood growing up. He overviews his tenure as a law student at the Louisiana State University Law School and offers his opinion of A. P. Tureaud. He details his work with the Citizens' Committee as well as his role as president of the local chapter of the NAACP. He explains how he promoted the idea of peaceful protests for African Americans among New Orleans city officials. Rogers asks Morial about personality traits that lead to his hyper achievement, and he answers that making changes in his city and community is his primary motivator and knowing that his efforts are appreciated provides him with his greatest satisfaction. Morial explains that the majority of his closest associates were also from a generation older than him, so in that sense they also served as mentors to him, particularly A. L. David, Arthur Chapital, and A. P. Tureaud. He continues to describe his work in the United States Attorney's office. Rogers and Morial discuss the importance of conducting oral history interviews with older African Americans before it is too late, and notes that relatively little has been documented on figures such as O. C. W. Taylor and C. C. Dejoie. Note: This interview is held in the mayor's office and there are intermittent interruptions to the interview.