352004346-44100-2-1150b0cb3762e

Emma and Emily are seniors at Beacon High School working on an Ethnic Studies Oral History Podcast project. They discuss the importance of oral history and how it allows us to learn about personal experiences from ordinary people. Emily shares that being an older sister to her four younger siblings is an important part of her identity. She discusses her close relationships with her older and youngest sisters, while feeling less close to her nine-year-old sister. They also talk about the impact of their parents being Mexican immigrants and how language barriers have shaped their experiences. Emily believes her role as an older sister has made her a more understanding and sympathetic person, with a focus on communication and patience. Hello. My name is Emma McCarthy. I'm Emily Flores. And welcome to our Ethnic Studies Oral History Podcast project. We are both seniors at Beacon High School, and today is October 20th, 2023. So for this project, we were assigned to interview one another about each other's oral histories, and we kind of just wanted to start off by defining oral history. So oral history is generally a collection of information used to tell the story and history about specific people or families, and the events and experiences they have had as passed down orally through words and through something a little bit less, like, tangibly recorded. But because those histories have not been written down or in, like, a physical form, being able to talk about them and ask about them and share those stories is something of really crucial importance and can be a way for us to learn about specific personal experiences from the lives of ordinary people like us. So today I am going to be interviewing Emily. So yeah, let's get started. The first question I wanted to ask you is if you can tell me a little bit about what you believe is the most important part of your identity, like maybe a little bit of your family history or whatever you think is kind of the most important thing to talk about. Got it. Okay, so I think one of the most important parts of my identity, I think, is being an older sister, because I have four little siblings. I have three sisters, one brother, and I have one older sister. Yeah, so I'll tell you the age. So my older sister, she's 19. I'm about to turn 17 next month. Then comes my sister, Daisy. She's 12. Then it's my sister, D'Alesa. She's nine. Then it's my brother. He's five. And my little sister, her name's Camila. She's two years old. And yeah, I feel like my whole life I've always been a big sister since I was like five years old. Yeah. I feel like I've just grown up always in that environment of having like a big house. It's never quiet in my house. I mean, I guess people would think that it's hard to concentrate and stuff. But I feel like it's something that I have adapted to. And I feel like without all that noise and stuff, I just feel like my life will be boring. And it's always something in that house, like my little sister getting stuck in the chair, or my brothers over here crying. It's like so much. And I don't know, I feel like it's a huge part of me. And I feel like it made me the person I am today. Yeah, that's so awesome. Yeah, I definitely relate to that, like the environment that I grew up in, and like the size of my family, and kind of just like the way that things run in our house because of that. Like, she's so much about like, the way you work, the way you like, interact with people. And I guess kind of just like, I don't know, the way that you approach things. It really does. I have a follow up question. How, since you know, like your age gap between like your younger, your youngest sister is two years old? Or is that your brother? That's my youngest sister. Okay. Yeah. Your youngest sister is two years old. And then your oldest sister is 19. Yeah. So I was just wondering, like how your relationship is different or like varies between like, you know, all of them? Yeah. Okay, so me and my oldest sister, we're like the closest. I feel like we're at the point where it's like, we could just connect. It's just like two year gap difference. Like, we've been going to concerts together, to parties, and like, I feel like we're always been like together. And we have had a lot of like arguments and stuff. I feel like at the end of the day, we're like mature enough to get over it. And then with my little sister, my youngest, Camila, I feel like I'm so, so, so close to her too. Like, she's the only person who calls me Amy. And whenever I go in, like, I get home from school, I'm like, so tired, like 5pm, because I do cross country. And sometimes I have college now. So when I go home, like around 5pm, I'm so tired, like, oh, drained. And I knock on the door, because sometimes I'm like, that's not good. And then, oh, and then my sister, she just comes running past the hall, and she's like, Amy! And then she hugs me. And I'm like, it just makes me smile. Every time I walk into the house, I just, I say hi to everybody. Like, someone right here, like, playing, other ones over here at home. I feel like, um, I'm very connected to like, all of them. Except, um, D'Alesa. I feel like, D'Alesa is the one, she's nine years old, I feel like she's the one who I'm not as close to. I feel like, yeah, like, we like, speak about our day and stuff. But I feel like, maybe because she's still like, developing, or like, I feel like I can't really like, speak to her about like, personal problems. Like, I don't know what she's going to be able to tell about that. Or my 12-year-old sister, she's like, we're going to like this now. Because she's like, growing up, like, puberty and all that stuff. I feel like, I like, um, giving her advice. Like, for example, yesterday, she was telling me, um, how she wasn't sure she should take Algebra 1, um, Algebra for, um, 8th grade. I was like, yeah, you got to take Algebra, and you got to pay attention in that class. You don't pay attention, you're going to be like, gone forever. You got to know. So yeah, I feel like, we're like, really close. Yeah. Wait, that's so funny, because, um, well, my name is Emma, obviously. So, uh, my sister actually also calls me Emmy, and she's the only person, my little sister, she's the only person who calls me Emmy. How old is your little sister? She's not. No, she's 11. That's so weird. It's getting confusing. Yeah, that's awesome. And I think it's also really cool that, like, having younger siblings, like, you kind of, you remember all those little things about when you were growing up at that time, and, like, you, you really have to, like, think back to what it was like to be that age, and, you know, like, you're giving them advice, so you have to, you have to, like, you've been through that, but a lot of the time, you can kind of just, like, forget about that, and move forward, and, like, you know, be super invested in your, your problems of, like, right now, but it really makes you, like, think back and be able to, you know, understand what they're going through, and then also, like, how, how those experiences have, like, shaped who you are now. Yeah. It's a really cool, like, full-circle thing. And also, I feel like, um, since, um, I didn't, I didn't mention this in the beginning, um, my parents, they, um, they were Mexican immigrants, like, they came here when they were, like, my dad came here when he was 15, and my mom came when he was, when she, when she was 16, and then, um, when they came here, obviously, they didn't know English, so it's, like, I remember they were telling me the other day how, um, from my oldest, my oldest sister, Stephanie, um, when she went to school, like, they didn't know how to help her with her homework, because it was in English, and they didn't know at the time, so they had, like, this little machine that helped them translate the homework from, from English to, from Spanish to English, like, no, from English to Spanish, so they could understand it, and then they could help her with it, so I feel like, um, that's how, I feel like, um, also with me, I feel like they didn't have that help, like, like, right now, currently, I can help, like, I help my little kids with their homework, my mom doesn't understand it, so I feel like, um, I have to deal with, um, I don't know the word, but, um, I feel like Delta has to do it, I don't know if that makes sense. No, yeah, I think that, that's, like, such a beautiful thing, you know, like, those barriers can actually, like, language barriers can actually be, like, I don't know, like, a very, like, strong connecting point, you know, like, going through all of that just to be able to translate the homework and be able to help her, and then also, like, just to have you in that position now where you know that you're, you know, helping them. Yeah, because I already know the struggle that they've been through. Exactly, yeah, yeah, that's beautiful. Uh, okay, so I, my next question is, uh, well, you, you, you definitely did touch on this, but, like, uh, what people and relationships in your life have most heavily influenced you, and, uh, within the dynamics of these relationships, how do you believe that they have shaped your point of view and, like, the way that you live your life day to day? Yeah, so, like, adding on to what I, like, previously said, I feel like it shaped me to, like, the person I am today because I feel like I'm a very understanding and, like, sympathetic person, like, towards, like, especially, like, little kids, but I always try to apply those things onto, like, real, like, my daily life. I feel like if I come across a misunderstanding, I try to see how the other person, where, like, maybe, like, their viewpoint is not the same as mine, so maybe that's why we're having the misunderstanding. We're not, like, communicating well, so I try understanding the person before, like, getting all aggressive and stuff. I want to consider myself, like, um, a person who, like, um, likes to argue a lot, so I feel like, I don't know, I feel like that has to do with that, and, um, also I feel like, um, um, I feel like with all the responsibilities of being an older sister, it, um, helped me build up my patience and understanding because I know that by yelling at a little kid, like, I'm not going to get nothing, like, even when I'm really mad, like, yelling at them isn't going to do nothing to fix the problem and just make them cry, so I feel like I'm going to control myself also, like, day-to-day life and, um, and also watch the things that I say because I know that, um, I know often that, like, you know, like, siblings, they have, like, their ups and downs. I know I've said some mean stuff at times, and, like, you don't really mean it, but it hurts their feelings, so I feel like, I feel like learning from that, um, when, like, now, like, like, in my current life, I try to think about things before I say because I know they can have an impact on people, so yeah. Yeah, yeah, I definitely, I definitely agree, like, that consciousness of, like, what you're saying and what the impact of it is and also, like, the empathy that that builds, like, you had such a, like, like, diversity of, like, experiences. Yeah, it's amazing. So that really, like, you know, equips you to deal with a ton of situations and talk to a lot of different people. Yeah, yeah, um, I was going to ask what your, like, experience with your siblings is like, but you kind of answered that. Is there anything else that you would like to, you know, say about that more specifically, or do you think that you kind of covered? We talked a lot about your siblings. Yeah, um, I feel like, yeah, I feel like I've already touched kind of on this. Um, uh, my, sorry, my next question is, uh, what values have these relationships taught you? And specifically, I wanted to ask if you can recall a time or maybe a story where those values, um, came into use in, like, your life outside of, like, your family or, you know, whatever relationships. Yeah, I actually have had an experience where, like, you see how I was saying how, um, I feel mainly, um, I don't know if the word is sympathetic or empathetic. I don't know what the word is. I guess, I guess I, you see how I was saying how I feel mainly empathetic towards, like, little kids. I don't know, like, seeing that makes me really happy. Like, I don't know, but, um, there's one time I remember, um, I was in a train station. It was in August. I was in a train station with my friend, Vale, and, um, oh, she's in the class, too. Her name is Valeria. Oh, yeah. Yeah, so we were gonna go, um, out to eat breakfast and stuff, and, um, like, two days before that, oh, because basically, there's a long story. Basically, I, I've always, my whole life, I've had, like, a lot of keychains, like, from everywhere. I had, like, from Mexico, from, like, gifts, like, everything. I love keychains, right? So, um, like, two days before we had gone out, me and Vale, we went to, like, the store. We got, like, matching keychains. I was like, oh, no, it just broke. No, no. Anyway, oh, no. Thank you. I thought we bought this one. Okay, anyways, that's not the point. We got lots of keychains, and then, um, we were waiting for the train station. We were going for a train at the train station in Fordham, and then, um, oh, I live near Fordham, like, in Woods. Oh, yeah, I was totally right. Yeah, yeah. Okay, anyways, we were at Fordham, right, waiting for the D train, and then, you see, like, those little kids, like, in the train who be selling, um, candy? Yeah, yeah. So, clearly, like, I've seen those. Like, it makes me really sad seeing how they have to work, like, um, like, being at, like, such a young age. Like, it makes me really sad, and, um, yeah, you know, and then, so, basically, that day, like, it wasn't the first time me seeing, um, them, but, um, this girl, like, she was, like, four or five years old. She, um, she came up to me in Bali, and then, she was, like, she off, she didn't even offer her candy. She just went up to me straight, and I had, like, my, my purse, and I had my key chain on it. She was, like, she said, like, um, can you give me that, and then, I don't know why it was so hard for me to say no to her. Like, I felt like I was being such a selfish person. I felt like I was, like, I felt really, like, I don't know, like, like, bad. I don't know. It's not, it's not pity. It was, um, I don't like having pity towards people, but, um, yeah, it was, like, oh, yeah, it was, like, I didn't want to say no to her, and then, I was, like, like, I really liked it. Like, I just got it matching with my friend. Like, I don't know, and then, um, she, I felt kind of bad. I was, like, oh, I could buy a candy, though, so I bought a candy from her. It was, like, two bucks, and then, she kept on staring at me with her little eyes, I remember, and then, um, she, she was, like, she was, like, can you please give it to me, and then, like, my heart was, like, oh, my God, I feel bad saying no to a little girl, and then, I was, like, um, maybe not that one, but I could give you, like, this mini one. It kind of broke right now, but it wasn't broken at the time. It had, like, a mini thingy on it. I'll give you this one, though. She was, like, no. She was, like, I can't always say. She's, like, I want that one. I was, like, no, and then, um, my friend, Violet, she didn't say nothing. She was, because she, the girl was only talking to me, so Violet was just, like, looking at the whole situation happened, and then, um, she saw about how hard it was for me to say no, but I didn't want to say no, and then, I, I, she, her mom ended up saying, oh, let's go, and then, the girl just, like, stared, like, she, like, looked back at me, and she, and then, after she left, like, I started crying. I started crying, and then, my Valeria was, like, what the hell? Like, why are you crying? Like, you don't even know this little girl. Like, why is it, like, tough for you? Like, why is it so hard for you to say no? Just say no, because, like, it's yours, and then, um, no shade to Violet. Like, everybody has their own, like, perspective, like, how they handle situations, but, um, oh, what's it called? Oh, yeah, so, then, I was crying, and then, I was, like, the reason, like, the whole day, I couldn't stop thinking about her, and then, like, at the end of the night, like, you see when you're just laying in bed, like, just thinking about things. Yeah. So, I was thinking, oh, like, why is it so, so hard for me, and then, um, it was because she reminded me of my little siblings, and I was, like, I couldn't imagine my siblings, like, going around selling, like, candy instead of being, like, in school or, like, playing at the, like, going to the park and stuff, and it made me, like, really, like, it made me feel selfish. I'm, like, why couldn't I give up something for somebody, like, who just wanted, like, plus, she's, like, a little girl. Why am I fighting over a keychain? But, anyway, I was just thinking through all of that, and I was, like, damn, and then, it just got me thinking, like, Valeria's react, Valeria's reaction got me thinking, like, because Valeria, by the way, she doesn't have no siblings. She doesn't have no little siblings. She only has one older sibling. She was, like, yeah, like, I would have just said no, and that's all. So, I feel like, I don't know. I feel like, in that sense, like, I feel, like, I handle situations differently. I feel, like, maybe my siblings did have, like, contribution towards my reaction or something. Yeah. And I just felt really bad, like, the whole way that I didn't give it to her, and I still think about it to this day. I don't even know. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Yeah, that's a really powerful story. I guess, like, yeah, again, like, like, that ability to, like, empathize and, and I don't know. I guess, just, you kind of always, like, picture your siblings, like, being in that, in that situation. Yeah, I don't know. It was, it was a tough situation. Yeah. Oh, but anyways, let me, oh, sorry. Um, oh, let me tell you something about that little girl, okay? So, that's the next, like, since Violet lives in Florida, um, she, she takes that train station daily, and then, um, the other time she went again, and the little girl went up to her and asked for her sweater. Oh, wow. So, it was, so it turns out, it was something that she does, so apparently, I think it's something that her mom sent her to do that. So, and maybe, like, really, I'm like, oh, damn. So, she was low-key trying to scam me. Oh, okay. Oh, wow. But it was, because the girl was like, oh, like, I'm really cold. Mine, it was, like, 90 degrees. Oh. And Violet straight up said, like, no. Yeah. It was just, like, another day, or? It was another day. Oh, wow. Both the same girl, the same station. So, I guess something like that, um, like, uh, tactics that they're trying to use, but, um, yeah. Um, by they, I mean, um, the, the vendors, or not all the vendors, but exclusively the, I'm not trying to be general, like, I'm not trying to generalize, so. Yeah. But, yeah, so that's what I'm referring to. Yeah. Thank you so much for sharing. Yeah. Um, okay, now I want to ask about, uh, the community that you grew up in, and, uh, yeah, the environment and the community you grew up in, if you could describe that. Okay, so, my whole life, I've been living in Inwood, like, near, kind of, Fordham, like, literally the bridge, just separating Manhattan and the Bronx. So, I feel like whenever people ask me, I don't know if I should say uptown Manhattan, Manhattan, or just the Bronx, because, I don't know, and also that, um, that tension between Manhattan and the Bronx, like, why do people, like, view the Bronx, I guess, as such a good danger, and like, it was a negative connotation. Yeah. Like, it gets me upset, because I remember this one time, I used to have a friend, right, and she also lived in Inwood. When we used to be close, this one time, this person asked me, oh, like, where do you live? I was like, oh, like, in uptown Manhattan, but near, near the Bronx, though, so basically, I guess you could say the Bronx. And then, this woman, like, this girl, my old friend, she had, like, this reaction. She was, like, oh, no, no, no, no, we're not in the Bronx. Like, no, no, no, uptown Manhattan is totally different from the Bronx. I was like, girl, like, how does it, like, we're literally in the Bronx. Yeah, and also, like, why is there this, like... It wasn't different, like, why are you so offended by that? Yeah, or just, like, generalizations about the Bronx, based on, like, the people who live there, or this kind of, like, assumption about, like, I guess, like, maybe poverty, and, like, how that influences, like, the quote-unquote lifestyle or, like, the, you know, like, the crime or... Yeah, there's so many assumptions about where you live, and also that, like, diminishes, like, the beauty and, like, you know, of the communities. There's so much, like, artwork and stuff, like, graffiti. I see it as artwork. I know, like, in 191, the 191 is, like, two stops away from where I live, and there used to be this, um, tunnels, like, at the one train, and they used to be all filled with graffiti, like, from artists from way back then. And you know what the city did? They painted it white. Yeah. You saw that? They painted it all white, and then they... I've been noticing that, like, all over the city lately, and specifically in, like, you know, like, you know, I guess, like, um, like, um, Washington, like, it was here. 191 is in Washington Heights, and, um, I grew up near, like, Washington Heights, um, Fordham, and those are, like, the places that I've, like, basically, um, um, like, that's the name, like, the places that I consider my neighborhood. And then, um, I feel like it was just, like, a ratio of culture. Like, I just felt, like, um, yeah, on top of that, they, after they painted it white, like, there was, like, a lot of backlash for it, and then, um, in order for, like, the government, or I don't know who it was that painted over it, but there's, to, like, make up for it, they, like, drew designs, but, like, pattern designs, but it's, like, girl, like, that's not the same thing as graffiti, like, actually, or, like, that was in there. And that makes me think of, like, you know, like, I can expect an oral history, and, and, like, the importance of that. Yeah. And that it's a way of people, or, like, a less conventional, I guess, or less, you know, like, I don't know, like, like, recordable way of, well, it is recorded, you know, because it's physically, you know, like, making your mark. Well, it's not, like, oh, yeah, written. Exactly. A way of, like, making your mark on this world, and, and recording your history, and that is a way of doing that. That is art, you know, and for the city to paint over it, and then, like, put new designs on it, that aren't from the same artists, that don't, like, reflect the same, like, the people, the Nigerian community. That's what it was made of, out of the community of people, not just, it wasn't just, like, art, like, just we put on there, and it was, like, represented, like, a bunch of people, and a bunch of people of color, and I feel like one of the types is made up of, like, well, the majority Hispanics, and then it's, like, like, it's just, like, erasing, like, it, like, and also, oh, yeah, so back to, well, how is my neighborhood, like, so that's what my neighborhood's like, and mainly, I grew up, like, a lot of Dominican families, and a lot of Dominican music, and stuff, and I love that. I know some people find, like, the music outside, like, loud noises, like, annoying, but no, I got used to it, like, I need my music to fall asleep, like, I, like, I don't know, and I really like it, and so, yeah, basically, my whole life, I've been with a lot of Hispanics, like, Mexicans, Ecuadorians, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and all that, and I feel like, yeah, so, yeah, for the most part, my schools have also been like that, and I feel like the only, the only place, like, I guess, until now, because that's, like, the, I guess you could say, like, one of your questions was about, like, cultural shock. I feel like that's where I was, like, really, I was, like, like, where's the culture at? Yeah, like, so I had to, like, look, like, deep, like, for it. I feel like it's not something that's just, like, like, prominent, or they're, like, I guess, like, Washington Heights, or, like, like, they're known for, like, the culture, they have, like, people of color, like, you know, like, Hispanics, and I feel like clearly, like, beacon is, like, it used to be more, more predominantly white, but I feel like, yeah, I feel like there's a place where I just, like, a lot of realization, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I definitely relate to that experience of, like, the, like, connection in your community, and then, like, coming to a place where, I guess, is, like, so different. Do you feel like that kind of, like, that difference in culture kind of comes from a place of, like, division within beacon, or is it kind of just, like, I don't know, like, the fact that it's, like, not as diverse as it should be, you know, still predominantly, you know, yeah, oh, like, oh, yeah, like, oh, I didn't want to cut off your sentence. No way. Um, what was I going to say? Oh, um, I feel like the, I mean, it is pretty diverse, but I feel like, um, like, now it's kind of more diverse. I feel like it comes also from the teacher faculty. Yeah, like, most of my teachers are all, um, majority white, like, I feel like you need a racial lens in order to teach, and I feel like, um, I don't know, like, without that, like, you feel like, I guess you feel, um, not, not heard, and also, I feel like the level of comfort, conformance, like, how comfortable you feel. Yeah. I feel like a difference, because I feel, I know personally, like, um, with a teacher who, like, if she was, like, came from Hispanic descent, I know I would have felt, like, that connection automatically, and I wouldn't feel, like, as intimidated as with, like, a white teacher, because I know I've had, like, experiences where that I felt the power structure, like, literally, and it's like, it does, like, it should be more inclusive, like, in the sense of, like, um, the staff, but also, I feel like the divisions occur because of the, the cliques, the cliques or whatever. Yeah. I feel like, like, everybody has their own clique. I know I, like, my own clique, I hang around, like, mainly Hispanic people, but those are people who I feel, like, comfortable with, not to say that I don't feel comfortable with, like, people from different backgrounds, but I know that that's where I, like, I feel, like, like this. Yeah. So, yeah. Yeah. That's really, that's really, like, interesting, and I agree so much about, like, you know, like, the power structures, and, like, just because it's getting more diverse, or, you know, even, like, in other, in other neighborhoods, like, if a neighborhood is really diverse, or, like, if the neighborhood is majority people of color, if the people who are in, like, quote-unquote power in, in that neighborhood, like a teacher, like, that's a very powerful position, you know, like, you know, they have so much influence, and on everything. Yeah. If that isn't, if that doesn't reflect that same diversity, then it's not being represented. Yeah. Yeah. Or it does create this kind of, like, I don't know, like, tension, or, like. Like, social dynamic, like, power dynamic. Yeah, exactly, like, separation of the power dynamic. I totally agree. Yep. I see. Okay. Next question. Would you, like, would you be able to share some, like, traditions within your community, or? Yeah. Or not even just your community, but any, like, cultures that you feel connected to? Yes. Okay. So, some traditions, and there's a lot of traditions. I know there's one time, like, the first time I, no, the second time I visited, no, the first time I visited Mexico, I was, like, seven years old. So, I wasn't, like, too old enough to understand. But, like, the first time, like, actually, I was experiencing it, it was in 2021. I was, like, 15 years old. I went to Mexico during February, because in February, in my Pueblo, which is, like, basically the town that my house is in, they have, like, this little, like, fair festival, like, to celebrate, like, the annual, because we're religious, like, Catholic. So, the Virgin Mary is a big, like, icon? Yes. Yeah, icon, like, value in our culture. So, every year in February, there's one week dedicated, like, as a festival dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and to celebrate just, like, the people in the community, like, because my town is really small, so it's, like, everybody in the town know each other, and, like, so they're really close, so everybody works together. And to, like, raise money for that festival, there's basically, these are traditional dances, like, the kids from the schools in my town, like, these are traditional dances. There's bow fighting. I know some people are against bow fighting, but, and, like, our tradition is what we do, and then, and what's it called? What else? There's also, then there's, like, two parties, like, just to, like, celebrate. Like, one on the 7th of February, the other one's on the 9th of February, always. And then, there's also, like, fireworks, there's little fireworks in, like, shape of the Virgin Mary. It's really pretty. It's so pretty, and I feel like that was the first time where I was, like, wow, like, I'm actually here in Mexico, like, experiencing the culture, like, firsthand. Like, I know I experienced it here, like, through festivals and stuff, but it's not as authentic, like,