Coming Of Age

Interview Description Gilberto Peña (73) talks with his daughter Carmen Peña Abrego about his life in Brownsville, TX, joining the Army and meeting his wife. Facilitator Subject Log 01:10 Gilberto moved to the outskirts of Brownsville, TX with his parents and family when he was nine. He talks about the "Smitty "boys, his neighbors, who became his friends. 03:55 Gilberto talks about his friend Dale Smitty teaching him to speak English, while he taught...

Interview Description Lucas Perez (38) is interviewed by facilitator, Whitney Henry-Lester (26) about his work as a poet, writer and composer. Facilitator Subject Log :59 nació en San Luis Potosí; describe sus padres 3:29 escuchaba música; escribir música; como empezaste a escribir versos? 10:46 como Lucas vino aca en Houston; vino para trabajo; fue dificíl para encontrar trabajo 18:00 la persona más importante en su vida es...

Interview Description Venus Perez, 22, and her mother Patricia Perez, 36, talk about their family, Patricia's lovers, and Venus's upbringing. Facilitator Subject Log 2:30 PP recounts the death of VP's father. 4:10 PP and VP talk about PP's role as a single mother. They reflect on the companions that PP has had and allude to the abuse inflicted upon them by one of these lovers, Rick (José Ricardo Vigil). PP: "I'm sorry that I thought he would a...

Interview Description Armandina Piña (67) is interviewed by her daugher, Christina Piña (33) about her childhood in Taft, TX, about picking cotton when she was an adolescent and her memories of Christina when she was little. Facilitator Subject Log 1:41 working in the cotton fields at 12 or 13 years old; getting up early in the day; 8 brothers, 1 sister 5:03 story of meeting her future husband at church; she was 16 when she got married; married for 50...

Interview Description Marithza Quiroz, 30, is interviewed by her friend Gita Endore, 65, about her life in GUaymas, Mexico, her life in the United States, and her personal aspirations. Facilitator Subject Log 1:40 MQ's first impressions of Los Angeles. First day and weeks, first job. 5:00 MQ's fond memories of her grandfather, walking to the rail road offices and buying ice cream afterwards. 12:10 MQ's tense relationship with her father,...

Interview Description Adam Fajardo (12), interviews his grandmother, Emilia Carrillo (63) about her experiences living in Mexico and the United States and her goals and dreams in life. Emilia talks at length about her father, her hero, who raised her. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Emilia talks about her childhood. She was born in the US, but moved to Mexico with her sister at 4 yrs old, where they were raised by their grandmother. 06:12 Emilia recalls...

Interview Description José Ramirez, Jr. (62) talks with his wife Magdalena Santos Ramirez (61) about growing up in Laredo,TX, their work as social workers, family history, and genealogy. Facilitator Subject Log 1:01 Magdalena was born in Laredo, TX; description of her parents and extended family 8:49 Magdalena describes her siblings; lessons that her parents taught her: education 20:32 becoming a social worker; Hispanic culture is...

Interview Description Brisehida Ramirez Martens (36) is interviewed by facilitator Whitney Henry-Lester about being smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico as a young child and her experience growing up in the United States and becoming a mother. Facilitator Subject Log :58 born in Monterrey Mexico in the "green cross "; things she remembers about childhood: grew up without a father, brother died in infancy 10:03 mother is a very proud person; coyote...

Interview Description Vince Ramirez (85) talks with his daugher Nancy Ramirez (45) about living in East LA, being a pilot during WWII and his life. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Vince talks about his father Vicente Ramirez and his work as a machinist. Vince is from Nogales, AZ. 03:20 Vince talks about why his parents moved him and his siblings from Nogales, AZ to Los Angeles, CA. 09:30 Vince tells stories about being a Mexican-American kid...

Interview Description Raul Humberto Rios, 51, y su esposa Maria Gabriela Restrepo, 56, hablan de su niñez, su relación e hijos y su migración a los Estados Unidos. [Raul Humberto Rios, 51, and his wife Maria Gabriela Restrepo, 56, talk about their childhood, their relationship and children, and their migration to the United States.] Facilitator Subject Log 4:13 MR habla de la casa en la que creció en el pueblo de La Ceja, localizado en el departamento...