What happens when two neighbors—one Black, one white—move beyond small talk and start sharing their real stories?
In this episode, Simma talks with Sandra Eggleston and Bill Byrne, whose unlikely friendship led to the book MLK to Brother Ray: A Woman’s Adventure of Social Transformation, Political Revolution, and Personal Affirmation.
Sandra spent four decades as a United Airlines flight attendant during a time when the U.S. was being reshaped by the Civil Rights Movement and the Women’s Movement. Along the way she met cultural icons, witnessed historic events, and navigated racism and sexism in ways many younger Americans have never heard about firsthand.
Bill, her white neighbor in Virginia, started hearing Sandra’s stories around neighborhood gatherings. The more he listened, the more he realized these weren’t just personal memories—they were living history. What began as curiosity turned into a book and a friendship that changed how he sees the world.
Their conversation with Simma explores how stories build understanding, why personal relationships matter in conversations about race, and how history still shapes our lives today.
PS- I did not want this conversation to end, and neither will you.
Key Moments
00:00 – Simma introduces the show and the guests
03:00 – How Sandra and Bill became neighbors and friends
05:30 – Why Bill decided to write a book about Sandra
09:00 – Sandra’s connection to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
13:30 – Growing up during segregation and the Civil Rights era
17:30 – Sandra’s early experience as a Black flight attendant in the South
24:00 – How writing the book changed Bill’s understanding of race and history
29:30 – Why personal stories matter more than statistics
34:30 – What meaningful cross-race friendships can teach us
40:30 – Books, music, and stories that help people understand each other
47:00 – Final reflections on relationships, history, and change
About the Guests
Biography of book’s subject: Sandra Eggleston
MLK to Brother Ray, A woman’s adventure of social transformation, political revolution
and personal affirmation, tells the story of Sandra Eggleston. “Sandee” came of age
during a time of revolution. Regardless of the challenge, she found her way forward,
often guiding those close to her along the way. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Godmother.
Colleague. A platoon sergeant on the front lines of both the civil rights and women’s
liberation movements.
Her journey took her to international jazz festivals, Caribbean beaches, and across the
country in an MGB convertible. Sandee met political power brokers, sports superstars
and music legends. She survived plane crashes, murder trials, and cancer, experiencing
the full spectrum of life’s joys and sorrows, from weddings and Christenings to divorce.
Sandee’s life experiences combined with the author’s research into their historical
context challenge the reader to move beyond a superficial debate of today’s
controversies. Stories from her home and workplace bring an intimate and compelling
perspective to the social and political upheaval of the 1960s and 70s. The struggles and
the victories. The heartbreaks, and the healing power of family, friendship, and faith.
About the Author: Bill Byrne
MLK to Brother Ray is the author’s third and most recent writing project. Previous
books include the science fiction thriller Total Immersion and the memoir, How Long
Does It Take to Catch a Fish? Four lifelong friends find themselves trapped in a high-tech, virtual reality adventure of life and death in Total Immersion. How Long Does It
Take to Catch a Fish is a collection of stories about fathers and sons and sons and
fathers. It explores how dads and their male offspring can be understood as two sides
of the same coin, – unique yet intertwined, shaping one another across generations.
The author is a career switcher from technology marketing to education. He resides
with his wife (also a teacher!) in Northern Virginia. They travel often to visit their
children’s growing families in Brooklyn and Florida. When not writing, he enjoys running
and playing the fiddle.
More information can be found at MLKtoBrotherRay.com
Book Mentioned
MLK to Brother Ray: A Woman’s Adventure of Social Transformation, Political Revolution, and Personal Affirmation
by Bill Byrne
More information:
MLKtoBrotherRay.com
Why This Conversation Matters
Many people today know the Civil Rights Movement only through textbooks and headlines. Sandra lived it. Bill discovered it through listening.
Their friendship shows what can happen when people take the time to hear each other’s stories—something Simma has been encouraging through her work and this podcast for years.
Connect with Simma Lieberman
Need a speaker, facilitator, or dialogue leader who helps people talk with each other—not past each other?
Contact Simma:
simma@simmalieberman.com
Learn more and support the show:
RaceConvo.com
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