Voices from the Heart of Gotham

Voices from the Heart of Gotham

Image credit to Yolanda Cuomo​

The Undergraduate Scholars Oral History Collection at Guttman Community College

As producers of knowledge with a particular focus on social (in)justice, racial, gendered, and transnational journeys, Guttman Community College scholar-activists have constructed a new digital canon that offers New Yorkers the opportunity to contribute testimonies of tumultuous times. This work is being curated by Dr. Samuel Finesurrey, Guttman undergraduates and alumni Elsy Rosario, Tigida Fadiga, Luz Hidalgo, Phisarys Sidemion, Sadaf Majeed, Bashir Juwara, Samantha Hernandez and Shaday Barrett. The archive is being digitized by Guttman staff members Joanna Wisniewski, Ivan Mora, and Kristina Jiana Quiles. This collection democratizes the production of knowledge by empowering community college students, largely deriving from immigrant households, to shape the narratives told about their communities and their generation. Organized into five themes, with testimonies gathered in six languages, this archive documents a diverse set of New York experiences. Funded by the American Council of Learned Societies and the Mellon Foundation, this exhibition helps us rethink struggles and movements of the past and present, to unearth the human networks that carry all New Yorkers in difficult times.

Watch Guttman Community College students and Professor Samuel Finesurrey present Voices from the Heart of Gotham: Immigration and Migration to NYC at the Oral Histories in the Mid-Atlantic Region (OHMAR) Conference in May 2021.

Protest and Pandemic

group of people marching in a protest

Student interviews with peers about the Protests and Pandemic of 2020 offer a vulnerable, but powerful frame to review a year that has deeply impacted the material lives and political consciousness of young people throughout New York City.

Migration and Immigration to NYC

Stature of Liberty

Undergraduate interviews of elders, often within their own families, have excavated testimonies that humanize stories of Migration and Immigration to New York City

U.S. Politics in New York City

New York City Hall

Undergraduate interviews with peers and elders on U.S. Politics in New York City in the lead up to the 2020 election lay bare the wide range of political attitudes in the city at a highly polarized political moment.

History of New York City

Historical image of Battery Park

Interviews on the History of New York City with the elders of Guttman undergraduates offer a window in the settling and unsettling of neighborhoods and cultural enclaves within NYC.

Food Cultures of New York City

Bag of groceries

Student interviews of peers and elders concerning Food Cultures of New York City provide insight into the variety, significance and background of the multi-ethnic culinary delights that feed the city. 

histories

Amjad Alsaidi

“[Since COVID started] people just buy their stuff all at once from big businesses like Walmart, BJs, Costco...all at once they didn't feel like going to the corner store crowded with people.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Yemen
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 11/11/2021

Protest and PandemicYemenQueensEnglish

Jerry Jimenez

“Para salir adelante y tener un futuro mejor. ”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Mexico
Neighborhood: Queens, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 09/10/2021

Protest and PandemicMexicoQueensSpanish

Miguel Tejada

“Working at bodegas is not an easy job...a lot of bodega workers got into fights with the customers because either they were asking or requiring customers to wear the mask during the pandemic and they refused to wear them.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/14/2021

Protest and PandemicDominican RepublicThe BronxEnglish

Thomas Sambolin

“Since COVID started] we haven’t gotten no support from the government at all other than them sending the board health to check the store.... Other than that, they haven’t done a thing, they haven’t given us no leeway, no money, nothing no help at all.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/11/2021

Protest and PandemicNew YorkThe BronxEnglish

Zaid Nahshal

“We were having anxieties because [at the bodega] we were exposed to people, you know, the whole time. We were at a high risk of being exposed to the COVID-19 virus, and...the store's income went down and we were not making enough money because of the pandemic.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Yemen
Neighborhood: Brooklyn, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/15/2021

Protest and PandemicYemenBrooklynEnglish

R.E. Smith

“I was of age. It was in the very early 70s. I had already graduated from high school...then they had a draft.... I did not understand why we were we were in Vietnam, why we were dropping bombs on innocent people. Most of us had never heard of Vietnam.... I couldn't in good conscience accept that.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Midwest
Neighborhood: Queens, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/16/2021

Protest and PandemicMidwestQueensEnglish

Michelle Joseph

“Like everyone, [I'm] literally living paycheck to paycheck. If you don't manage your money right, you could be homeless any day. It could be me, you, your teacher, anybody.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 05/22/2022

Protest and PandemicNew YorkBrooklynEnglish

Nya Carmen Layton

“There are so many people like in Hunter who I've talked to, like, who are first generation. And it's really cool to see, you know, them talk about where they came from, and things like that.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 05/17/2022

Protest and PandemicNew YorkBrooklynEnglish

Ragab Abdelsalam Abdelmged

“It was difficult at the beginning and very psychologically intensive. But, one of the human basic human traits is adaptation and survival.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Egypt
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan
Language of Interview: Arabic
Date of Interview: 04/15/2021

Migration and Immigration to New York CityEgyptManhattanArabic

Szymon Sondej

“[My Mom left us and] stayed [in the U.S.] for three years, and after three years, she applied for this lottery that's immigration lottery type of thing that they were offering back in the 90s. And she won.... My mom was...the only one here and it gave those immigrants a chance of bringing their whole family over here legally and everything.... After three years, she came back and...we all got our passports, we all got a green card and...we came here. ”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Poland
Neighborhood: Westchester, New York
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/14/2021

Protest and PandemicPolandNew YorkEnglish

Cristian Najera

““My mother decided to immigrate to the United States leaving me and my siblings behind which it was painful for her and for us, but we understood that it was for a better future.””

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Honduras
Neighborhood: Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/14/2021

Migration and Immigration to New York CityHondurasBrooklynEnglish

Franklyn Acevedo

“I have attended the [protests] where s**t got very intense and a lot of people were hurt, harmed... a lot of stuff went down there”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Dyckman, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/26/2020

Protest and PandemicNew YorkManhattanEnglish

Monsserat Herrera-Vasquez

“I am Latina, Mexican-American...growing up, based on the personal encounters with the police I’ve always felt intimated; Sort of scared. I always have to watch what I said or how I say it.”

Subject: U.S. Politics in New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Queens, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/29/2020

U.S. Politics in New York CityNew York QueensEnglish

Anthony Colex

“People can talk however they want in their native tongue. And that's just a right. I think it's just not good or fair to critique someone for not being able to speak the main language in a country. ”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Unkown
Neighborhood: Unknown
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 05/26/2022

Protest and PandemicUnkownEnglish

Ariela Garcia

“I think that the best part about New York [is] that we're so diverse and you can meet people from all over the world and learn from them. So, I think that's one of the best, if not the best quality of New York City.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: Washington Heights, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 05/17/2022

Protest and PandemicDominican RepublicManhattanEnglish

Danniela Morales

“I think that aside from not having work for a little bit, or having to do schooling online, I've adapted to this new lifestyle that were in very well and it's really helped me have a better insight on who I am, and how resilient I am...it has helped me grow.”

Subject: U.S. Politics in New York City
Place of Origin: Unknown
Neighborhood: Unknown
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 02/10/2021

U.S. Politics in New York CityUnknownEnglish

Shonda Alexander

“You never know if anyone is [going to] come in here and rob you. You know, you got a lot of mental illness people on the streets, so I'd rather not jeopardize myself or the workers.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 05/15/2022

Protest and PandemicNew YorkManhattanEnglish

Rose Saurel

“I left because I wanted a better life. The hardship back home was too much. I need to change something to help my family back home.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Haiti
Neighborhood: Queens, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/19/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityHaitiQueensEnglish

Shantal Taveras

“It happens so consistently, and it's so exposed in the media that like, I feel that people have been desensitized to black pain and black experiences. ”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/12/2021

Migration and Immigration to New York CityNew YorkThe BronxEnglish

Shawn Rich

“This is year is 2022, right? I can't find a good reason or excuse why there is not true equality.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Ireland
Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 05/16/2022

Protest and PandemicIrelandBrooklynEnglish

Cristobal Tong

“I attended what was called the Pray, March, Act protests. It was led by over 100 pastors from New York City. And we moved from Carroll Gardens all the way to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. That was our route. And the purpose of that protest was for pastors to stand together with those of black skin color, recognizing that this cannot continue.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Venezuela
Neighborhood: Lower East Side, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/16/2021

Protest and PandemicVenezuelaManhattanEnglish

Derek Noboa

“I can talk about countless times where [cops] violated my rights as a young man...before even getting into high school. I would be profiled by police, and...harassed: 'Hey, where are you going?' 'What are you doing?' 'Where are you coming from?' And you know, as a young kid, you think you have to answer these things when you don't.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/16/2021

Protest and Pandemic New YorkThe BronxEnglish

Edwin

“Before the pandemic mostly me and my father used to go at it but during the pandemic, he got sick, you know things happened, I started realizing more like you take things for granted. I realize how much I really do care about my parents. I learned how much they care about us, for me and my siblings. ”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Indianapolis, Indiana
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/12/2021

Protest and Pandemic New YorkEnglish

Elvir Cekovic

“Another thing that's been on my mind lately...is how many places have begun to legalize marijuana, but all the people who are locked up because of that continue to just like, be stuck in jail, really?... I feel like many African Americans are wrongly incriminated; They don't get a fair shot when they're on trial which is just sad to say. ”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Manhattan, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/14/2021

Protest and Pandemic New YorkManhattanEnglish

Sabrina Garcia

“I think every New Yorker kind of has that same personality...no matter how nice you are, 'don't step over me because I'm not...a punk.'”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 05/18/2022

Protest and PandemicNew YorkThe BronxEnglish

Kate Cuapio

“Growth is very important, especially in a time like quarantining and the pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter movement, and all of these really important events that are happening”

Subject: U.S. Politics in New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 02/06/2021

U.S. Politics in New York CityNew YorkThe BronxEnglish

Leon Gorham

“I think racism is something that's taught. I don't really think people born with hate in their heart.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Washington Heights, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/15/2021

Protest and PandemicNew YorkThe BronxEnglish

Leslie Martinez

“There are so many beautiful things I have to unlearn, what society tells me about who I am, and just [explore] all the resilience and the Black joy that is out there. ”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Harlem, New York
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/14/2021

Protest and PandemicNew YorkManhattanEnglish

Margarita Mosquera

“¡Exactamente! De eso se trata, de hacer las protestas para impedir que la gente sea expulsada a la calle con sus familias, por falta de pago de renta.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Unknown
Neighborhood: New York City
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 01/22/2021

Protest and PandemicUnknownManhattanSpanish

Hermanica Thelusca

“I've had multiple encounters over the years with the NYPD where like my heart's racing, because I was like, 'Oh, shit. Oh, shit.' Yeah, like, 'What's gonna happen?' 'What could possibly happen?' 'Yeah, you know, so, you know, there's this, there's this fear.' ”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Haiti
Neighborhood: Canarsie, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 01/20/2021

Protest and PandemicHaitiBrooklynEnglish

Javier Clemente

“What was positive is that I started working out and I gained a couple of pounds. I gained a whole lot of pounds that I was always trying to gain by staying home.... I realized that I appreciate everything around me more. ”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/14/2021

Protest and Pandemic New YorkThe BronxEnglish

Luna Ruiz

“I think that the peaceful [BLM] protesters were attacked a lot more physically and emotionally in the media, and Trump supporters were just kind of empathized with a lot more. But I think, again, that goes back to race in this country, and how pervasive it is.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 02/10/2021

Protest and PandemicNew YorkManhattanEnglish

Niland Davis

“At any given time, you can experience racism at any given time, and you can be profiled, and it's a real thing. ”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: New Rochelle, New York
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 02/05/2021

Protest and PandemicNew YorkEnglish

Imani Hunt

“I [work] in urgent care.... Ninety-nine percent of those patients are for COVID tests, and it's gotten very stressful.... Some patients get rowdy.... We're just trying our best to make everyone happy.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Nigeria
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 01/31/2021

Protest and PandemicNigeriaManhattanEnglish

Sadaf Majeed

“It's really difficult to get citizenship here.... The first time we applied we had to wait for months before getting a response and it cost a lot of money.... We're not allowed to go anywhere because if we went anywhere it's no guarantee that we can come back in the country”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Pakistan
Neighborhood: East Elmhurst, Queens
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/17/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York City PakistanQueensEnglish

Nicole Trinidad

“I expected the typical American Dream that every little child is told when they're moving to America. I expected to be embraced and for everyone to be different, but still accepted.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Puerto Rico
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/22/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityPuerto RicoThe BronxEnglish

Saiyara Uddin

“I’ve been called ISIS, Osama, and a terrorist. Middle schoolers are not nice, and they forget that people come in all variations”

Subject: U.S. Politics in New York City
Place of Origin: The Bronx
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 01/09/2021

U.S. Politics in New York CityThe BronxThe BronxEnglish

Edward L Neely

“I had COVID-19. I was in a hospital in a rehabilitation place for a total of five months. I personally almost died three times. And after the last rehabilitation place to rehab me, I had to learn how to walk again.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 04/12/2021

Protest and Pandemic New YorkThe BronxEnglish

Anaya Jordan

“It’s been insane. I feel like I'm going crazy...because I can't go outside.'”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Brooklyn
Neighborhood: Brooklyn, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 02/05/2021

Protest and PandemicBrooklynBrooklynEnglish

Ariadna Villeda

“It wasn't just a march. It's literally people coming together and sharing their stories on the shit that they went through when it comes to injustice, police force, and everything.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Bronx
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 01/25/2021

Protest and PandemicBronxThe BronxEnglish

David Burke

“What we have to do is recognize that we have more in common than we have a part, and try to assist each other the best that we know-how.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Jamaica
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 02/04/2021

Protest and PandemicJamaicaThe BronxEnglish

Shania Brown

“The positive impact of COVID.... You're in the house by yourself; You have no other choice, but to look at yourself.... COVID forces you to stand still.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Corona, Queens
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 02/05/2021

Protest and PandemicNew YorkQueensEnglish

Fouad Azim

“Le problème, c'est que la société Américaine a commençaient à associer le mal à tout ce qui n'est pas Blanc, tout ce qui est Noir-Américain, c’est ça qui résume un peu le noyau de ce problème.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Morocco
Neighborhood: New York, NYC
Language of Interview: French
Date of Interview: 04/22/2021

Protest and Pandemic MoroccoManhattanFrench

Rafael Rosario

“La comida dominicana me hace ser quien soy hoy en día porque es la que más me gusta y la que me representa...”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 10/12/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityDominican Republic The BronxSpanish

Yenis Heredia

“Las comida en casa es más saludable que la comida en la calle”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 10/18/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityDominican RepublicThe BronxSpanish

Alexandra Pedraja

“Uno se siente muy bien porque uno quiere que le guste su comida, pero cada país o cada cultura le gusta comer su comida”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: Inwood, Manhattan
Language of Interview: Spanish/English
Date of Interview: 10/20/2020

Food Cultures of New York CityDominican RepublicManhattanSpanish/English

Jairo Angamarca

“En nuestro país está [la comida] ahí mismo lo produce la tierra, no tiene químico...”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Ecuador
Neighborhood: Maspeth, Queens
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 10/17/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityEcuadorQueensSpanish

Margarita Navarro

“Ojalá que esto lo puedan seguir continuando y que las tradiciones de nosotros los mexicanos pues no se terminen, que continuen”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City and Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Mexico
Neighborhood: Unknown
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/18/2019

Migration and Immigration to New York City and Food Cultures of New York CityMexico Spanish

Nicole Garcia

“They say what you eat is who you are. So I feel like if I eat healthy, I’m going to be a healthy person and if I eat junk food, I’m going to be an unhealthy person”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/31/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityDominican RepublicThe BronxEnglish

Ana Souffront

“Cuando tu llegas aquí tienes muchas oportunidades. Depende si tu quieres cogerlas o rechazarlas.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: Manhattan, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/22/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicManhattanSpanish

Daniel Nieves

“If you live near a place that sells just fresh foods it’s gonna change the way you eat; It's gonna change what kind of food you put in your body.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/16/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityNew YorkThe BronxEnglish

Angelina Tallaj

“Dominican food is really rich, so anything Dominican kind of reminds me of home.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: Manhattan, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 11/10/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityDominican RepublicManhattanEnglish

Antonio Ramírez

“Anytime I eat it’s just like home, you know this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Brooklyn, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/19/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityNew YorkBrooklynEnglish

Aubierge Dah-Hounnon

“I sometimes go to school without eating, come back without knowing what to eat, just drink water and go back to school. But still go to school and do well so we can get out of poverty.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City and History of New York City
Place of Origin: Benin
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/19/2019

Food Cultures of New York City and History of New York CityBeninThe BronxEnglish

Carmen Castro

“At Thanksgiving We all together, we all together eating turkey.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Puerto Rico
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/16/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityPuerto RicoThe BronxEnglish

Fatou Jaiteh

“Eating well' means...you’re gathered with your family and everybody enjoys the food and everybody gets full and have a great time.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/16/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityNew YorkThe BronxEnglish

Marcia White

“When I do my own cooking, it is healthier because I see and know what exactly what is put into my meal.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Jamaica
Neighborhood: Brooklyn, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/19/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityJamaicaBrooklynEnglish

Yurella López

“ If you go by the rules and regulations in this country you have no reason why you cannot be a resident or a citizen of the United States.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Honduras
Neighborhood: Manhattan, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/13/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityHondurasManhattanEnglish

Crystal Castro

“It brings back memory when we used to cook with mom and dad and my oldest sister, we used to make meatballs with pasta and noodles.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/21/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityNew YorkThe BronxEnglish

Alicia Arias

“I would eat with Michelle Obama, and we would eat some snow crab legs with shrimp, because it's hilarious and I've watched too many ASMR videos. So, I can just picture Michelle Obama and me doing that, and also, it’s a good way to break the ice.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/04/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityNew YorkThe BronxEnglish

Nicholas Conner

“Growing up I was raised by a single mother and we didn’t have it like that. So anytime I had the opportunity to eat a fresh home cooked meal I didn’t take it for granted.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Staten Island, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/14/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityNew YorkStaten IslandEnglish

Rena Safy

“I would eat with my mother because I haven't seen her since like I was like twelve. I would eat with her because I have questions that never got answered.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Manhattan, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/19/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityNew YorkManhattanEnglish

Samia Majeed

“Eating well means eating healthy, but it also means not spending a lot of money on the food. ”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: East Elmhurst, Queens
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/06/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityNew YorkQueensEnglish

Zoila Machado

“There was a Civil War in El Salvador and that’s why I left.””

Subject: U.S. Politics in New York City
Place of Origin: El Salvador
Neighborhood: Unknown
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/27/2019

U.S. Politics in New York CityEl SalvadorEnglish

Kednel Jean

“I used to think I faced real hunger since there are times in my life where I've felt hungry and I had to wait a long time to eat. But now, when I think about it, it's not real.... Real hunger some people in the world face, where they go two or three days without eating, I've never gone through that”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Haiti
Neighborhood: Midtown, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 09/10/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityHaitiManhattanEnglish

Maria Reyna Flores

“I have to make money to pay for everything here and still have to send money to make sure [my family in El Salvador] have food for the rest of the week or month.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: El Salvador
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/20/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityEl SalvadorThe BronxEnglish

Yvonne Perez

“The sauces and the salsa the citrusy taste of it for me, it’s the best thing I could ever eat.”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Mexico
Neighborhood: Union Square, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/27/2020

Food Cultures of New York CityMexico ManhattanEnglish

Diego Chavez

“We couldn't talk to anybody. We were always indoors; couldn't go to the party, you couldn't go anywhere.... My parents were scared because of the immigration status.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Colombia
Neighborhood: Fresh Meadows, Queens
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/27/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityColombiaQueensEnglish

Rayza Gaton

“Aquí hay todo tipo de sinsabores... aguantar humillaciones. En los trabajos te discriminan por no hablar inglés.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 11/01/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicThe BronxSpanish

Faustina Peri

“[My teacher] said, 'What's the matter with you stupid? Don't you understand English?' I said, 'No.' So she said, 'You don't understand English?' I said 'no.' She hugged me, you know. And she said she was sorry she didn’t know.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Italy
Neighborhood: Long Beach, NY
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/07/2019

Migration and Immigration to New York CityItalyEnglish

Amaya Lyn Melendez

“The whole year overall, it was just like an ongoing movie. And every month felt like it was four years in one. Every situation was just like, “How could this happen?” No one believed this would happen, [but] it happened; New York City on shutdown, the world on shutdown.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 11/07/2020

Protest and PandemicNew YorkBrooklynEnglish

Desiree Nicole Colon

“I think it’s interesting how you, as an officer can look at a protest saying 'stop killing black people' and think that that’s a personal attack on you.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Port Ewen, NY
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/13/2020

Protest and PandemicNew YorkEnglish

Diakel Baptist

“When you get amongst these protesters...and you get amongst your peers, you really see that you’re not the only one that’s been encountering these things; You’re not the only one who feels as though you’re being harassed by police just because of the color of your skin or because of where you’re from, or how you dress, or where you live, or how you carry yourself.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Long Island, New York
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/23/2020

Protest and PandemicNew YorkEnglish

Jeraine Nieves Morales

“I've always had a hard time with my identity because I don't really fit in wherever I go...”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Puerto Rico
Neighborhood: Long Island, New York
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/22/2020

Protest and PandemicPuerto RicoEnglish

Jeremy de la Cruz

“There's times when I go play ball with my friends. We sit down and the cops would come and stop us, thinking we're doing drugs even though you're [just] hanging out with friends trying to hoop”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: Washington Heights, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/13/2020

Protest and PandemicDominican RepublicManhattanEnglish

Dolores Rodriguez

“I was a troublemaker in school and in those days the United States had invaded the Dominican Republic. My father thought that it would be better for me to be here.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 11/06/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicManhattanEnglish

Laila Wali

“At that time America was on top and everybody used to love America so much, that all the time I would hear about USA, USA. So I decided to come here.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Pakistan
Neighborhood: Queens, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 11/04/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityPakistanQueensEnglish

Nara Floriani

“For me it was really hard because there wasn’t much opportunity because I didn’t speak English.... The way that I communicated with people was either in Portuguese or I wrote down on a piece of paper what I wanted to ask.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Portugal
Neighborhood: Queens, NYC
Language of Interview: Portuguese
Date of Interview: 10/26/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityPortugalQueensPortuguese

Grace Howe

“I went to a [BLM] protest in Union Square... [but] actually haven't been to a lot of them because my mother has an autoimmune disorder. If she gets COVID-19, it's not good.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: China
Neighborhood: West Villiage, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/20/2020

Protest and PandemicChinaManhattanEnglish

Kelly Smith

“The problem is that it never gets addressed... Police officer [Derek Chauvin was] looking at the camera, people are yelling, 'You're killing him!' and he keeps his knee on the neck of a black man and kills him.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: Indiana
Neighborhood: Manhattan, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/23/2020

Protest and PandemicIndianaManhattanEnglish

Marlo Sausville

“Some people are just too, 'This is a system that works....' It['s] an eviction tsunami that we're facing...hundreds of thousands of people who have died because of the pandemic.... Violent repression out on the streets.... Billionaires getting richer as more and more people file for unemployment. It's very disheartening.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/21/2020

Protest and PandemicNew YorkBrooklynEnglish

Tigida Fadiga

“I miss the judgement-free enviorment where I wasn't judged or violated for who I am.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Senagal
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/22/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CitySenagal BrooklynEnglish

Aracelis Otero

“I remember on Columbus Avenue between 100st to 96st they used to have a sign and the sign says “No Blacks, No Puerto Ricans, and No Pets.””

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Puerto Rico
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/23/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityPuerto RicoManhattanEnglish

Eugene Lareau

““My father couldn’t understand my enthusiasm for civil rights, but I was shaped by my experiences.” ”

Subject: History of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Inwood, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/08/2018

History of New York CityNew YorkManhattanEnglish

Celia Perez

““Racism here in New York is blatant and dangerous. I saw a lot of my dreams burned to dust.””

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Panama
Neighborhood: Redhook brookyln
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/17/2018

Migration and Immigration to New York CityPanamaBrooklynEnglish

Nieves Jiménez

““Cuando yo me vine [de México] para Los Estados Unidos no sabía yo leer ni escribir…..Una señora que es dominicana que trabaja conmigo me dijo ‘tu puedes aprender leer en un periódico yo te voy a enseñar’ … allí en el periódico aprendí a leer.” ”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Mexico
Neighborhood: Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 10/11/2018

Migration and Immigration to New York City MexicoBrooklynSpanish

Elisha Wilson

“When I first got to Harlem, my little heart smiled being a Westchester girl because I [never before had] found myself…being surrounded by all black people”

Subject: History of New York City
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 10/30/2018

History of New York CityNew YorkManhattanEnglish

Rafael Rosario

“En algún momento, todos los que vivimos fuera de nuestra patria sentimos una inmensa nostalgia... por lo que hemos dejado atrás”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/14/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York City Dominican Republic The BronxSpanish

Pamella Walker

“We immigrants work very hard...if we want to be prosperous we have to work hard.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Jamaica
Neighborhood: East New York, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/16/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityJamaicaBrooklynEnglish

Ramona Ramírez

“Society as a whole should take action and come together.... We need to see how we can help undocumented immigrants ”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: Washington Heights, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/21/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicManhattanEnglish

René Duran

“Yo cambiaría para mucha gente en este país de hacer una ley de inmigracion, darle la oportunidad a mucha gente que en verdad es trabajadora.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Mexico
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/20/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityMexicoThe BronxSpanish

Nicolas Martínez

“la parte más difícil… creo que haber dejado mi casa allá, mi casa de toda la vida... Mis amigos, mi trabajo, y todo, todo lo que era una vida.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/22/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicThe BronxSpanish

Juan Gutiérrez

“If I could pick anyone [to eat a meal with], it would be my uncle.... My uncle is dead, but I still would pick him...and we would eat grill cheese because it was his favorite things to eat.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 05/15/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicThe BronxEnglish

Aura Peña

“The US was not everything that I expected. I arrived with the thought that it was easy to earn a lot of money. People back home would tell me that you could find money in the streets in the United States”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: Washington Heights, Manhattan
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 07/08/2019

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicManhattanSpanish

Elizabeth Sosa

“I am protesting as much as I can even though I am scared, even though I am not a protester at heart. I am a scientist. I do it because I believe that's a powerful way of getting action”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Brooklyn, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/30/2020

Protest and PandemicNew YorkBrooklynEnglish

Marisol Lucero

“I think that we’re just tired and it’s time to really create change and not just say--say it and it to be a trending topic, but for real change to happen in all different types of systems, health systems, police systems, political...”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/29/2020

Protest and PandemicNew YorkBrooklynEnglish

Juan Lucero

““En este país se puede triunfar, se puede hacer cosas que en mi país no lo hay.””

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Mexico
Neighborhood: Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/21/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityMexicoBrooklynSpanish

Nadine Matthews

“Not having legal status, there were not many opportunities for me.... They told me made me just stay under radar, you know? So I didn’t see any opportunities.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Trinidad and Tobago
Neighborhood: East Flatbush, Brooklyn
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/20/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityTrinidad and TobagoBrooklynEnglish

Luz Hidalgo

“I thought in this country it was very easy to get money and everything was easy. Until I started living here, I noticed everything was hard for an immigrant coming to a new country like this.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/17/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicThe BronxEnglish

Amjad Alsaidi

“You can’t judge at people by the way they look. You got to talk to people like you know, you find other things that you’re missing.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Yemen
Neighborhood: Woodside, Queens
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/19/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityYemenQueensEnglish

Yenis Heredia

“Al principio no es fácil, pero si tú quieres lograr muchas cosas buenas, tienes que adaptarte al idioma...Si, es un poco difícil pero hay que hacerlo.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/21/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicThe BronxSpanish

David Barrera Flores

“All my minority people. I ride for you, you ride for me.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Ridgewood, Queens
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 06/29/2020

Protest and PandemicNew YorkQueensEnglish

Chris Bertolotti

“Unfortunately the president does nothing but inflames racial tension.”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New Jersey
Neighborhood: Scarsdale, NY
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/26/2020

Protest and PandemicNew JerseyEnglish

Heladio Martínez

“Solo tendría un pedazo de plástico de bolsa de basura para descansar... Pero aun así me sentía con ánimo porque estaba a Nueva York y salí adelante. ”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Mexico
Neighborhood: Brooklyn, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 04/12/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityMexicoBrooklynSpanish

Jairo Angamarca

“Creo que es un sueño más grande al tener su casa, su familia, y eso sinceramente nos da los Estados Unidos, oportunidades que en nuestro país sinceramente no podemos llegar a tener.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Ecuador
Neighborhood: Corona, Queens
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/22/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityEcuadorQueensSpanish

Sara Abdoaziz

“I love New York! It’s a fast pace, you know like, just everyone’s alive...”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Brazil
Neighborhood: Staten Island, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/16/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityBrazilStaten IslandEnglish

Leticia Camejo

“Le agradezco mucho a este país, hoy mis hijos están en la universidad, son dos adolescentes ejemplares.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: The Bronx, NYC
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/10/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityDominican RepublicThe BronxSpanish

Ana Souffront

“Nosotros lo dominicano hacemos de todo. Arroz, habichuelas, carne, mangú, sancocho, asopao.... Somo expertos en todo, pero la tradición es arroz, habichuelas, y carne... y el aguacate que no se queda!”

Subject: Food Cultures of New York City
Place of Origin: Dominican Republic
Neighborhood: Upper East Side, Manhattan
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 10/20/2019

Food Cultures of New York CityDominican RepublicManhattanSpanish

David Rodriguez

“Poco a poco se fueron dando las cosas en que iba conociendo en esta ciudad… Iba conociendo las oportunidades, lo que uno tiene para salir adelante y pues hasta el día de hoy, me encanta esta ciudad.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Ecuador
Neighborhood: Washington Heights, Manhattan
Language of Interview: Spanish
Date of Interview: 03/22/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityEcuadorManhattanSpanish

Teodora Martínez

“Police need to change how they handle us minorities, us Hispanics, us Black people, us Mexicans... we need to be treated the same, equally. That's what needs to be changed”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/30/2020

Protest and PandemicNew York ManhattanEnglish

Jin

“I kinda have stay here. I'm under the green card so if I leave the territory for more than six months during a year I lose my green card and I cannot come back here I cannot come back.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: France
Neighborhood: Manhattan, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 03/13/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityFranceManhattanEnglish

Charlie Brown

“Its conversation between two people that are humans, it is just that one has a badge...”

Subject: Protest and Pandemic
Place of Origin: New York
Neighborhood: Brooklyn, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/31/2020

Protest and Pandemic New York BrooklynEnglish

Ana Flores

“You couldn't go to a certain place, because it was a white neighborhood.”

Subject: Migration and Immigration to New York City
Place of Origin: Puerto Rico
Neighborhood: Brooklyn, NYC
Language of Interview: English
Date of Interview: 07/10/2020

Migration and Immigration to New York CityPuerto Rico BrooklynEnglish