Series 1: Publicized oral histories, 1988-1989, inclusive

As a resident of the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn for many years, Ana Dones recounts its transformation into a Latino enclave, including the changes on Fifth Avenue, the area's main shopping street. She recalls when she did not feel comfortable speaking Spanish in the neighborhood, when signs in Spanish and Latin restaurants were uncommon, and she had to go as far as Manhattan to find tropical produce. She also gives an account of the chronology of the Latino arrivals in the neighborhood, beginning with Puerto Ricans, many from the town of Hatillo, followed by Dominicans, Mexicans and South Americans. Dones fears that there are pressures that will change the neighborhood again, this time coming from the many Chinese Americans and Korean Americans who were buying homes and operating businesses in the neighborhood. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

Amaury Corujo begins the interview with his impressions of the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, and his dismay at the living conditions he found there among the area's Puerto Ricans. From his involvement with the rehabilitation of the neighborhood's housing stock, and as an area homeowner himself, Corujo's interview consists of detailed discussion on such issues as the industrialization of the neighborhood and the consequent dislocation of many of its Latino/a residents, as well as the gentrification process. He elaborates on the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) scandal and its effects on efforts to rebuild the neighborhood. A good part of the interview is given over to the ways that Christmas is observed by the neighborhood's Puerto Rican community, including house to house visits, food, and music. He talks about the Fiesta Patronal in his Puerto Rico hometown of Hatillo, and the close links between there and Sunset Park. He speaks of the future of the Latino community in Brooklyn and his program, called the ''Leaders of Tomorrow." Corujo concludes by considering Nuyorican identity and the death of the "Jíbaro'' image, and how this change is reflected in music. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, Angela Fontanez gives a detailed account of the schools, churches, and stores frequented by the Puerto Rican community in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn. Fontanez recalls growing up in the Farragut Houses, a public housing project in the Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood, in the fifties. She comments on the changes the neighborhood underwent; how, for example, supermarkets replaced small bodegas. She discusses the formation of neighborhood gangs during this period. This interview is a bridge to the pioneers' generation, since Fontanez' family was friendly with Jesús Colón and other figures of that generation. In closing, she describes the television work she's produced that was intended to educate young people—particularly Puerto Ricans—about migrant contributions to urban development. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In this interview, Jose "Monchito" Pascualy recounts his childhood in Manhattan's El Barrio and his adult life in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. He discusses the history of the Puerto Rican community and the civic group Los Pioneros. Pascualy describes several Latino/a and Puerto Rican parades such as the Pioneers Parade, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, and the Hispanic Parade. He also mentions resistance to the organization of subsequent Puerto Rican or Latino/a parades from Sunset Park's local officials. He discusses generational differences between Puerto Ricans and highlights some Puerto Rican cultural traits. Pascualy also talks about immigration of other Latino/a nationalities as well as the growth of the Chinese American community in the area. He elaborates on the theme of gentrification of Sunset Park and the effect on its residents, especially those of limited means. He discusses the efforts made by merchant members of the Fifth Avenue Merchants Association to improve the neighborhood by bringing in more commerce to Sunset Park's Fifth Avenue. Interview in Spanish conducted by Morton Marks.

In this interview, Pablo Falcón talks about growing up in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. He narrates how he started making toys using his father's tools and materials as well as scraps he found around the house. Falcón also narrates how his toys gained popularity in the United States and how nostalgia played a role in this. He also compares the materials used in the construction of the toys in Puerto Rico and the materials he used in New York. He briefly discusses the ethnic composition of the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, his various employments, and the charitable activities of the church group Los Hijos e Hijas de María. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Hernán.

Carmen Diaz relates anecdotes about her grandmother, a spiritual healer with a wide knowledge of medicinal plants and discusses details of plants and their use in curing various ailments. There is also a discussion of belief in witches in her hometown. Diaz also supplies a wealth of detail about folklore connected with the observance of El Día de San Juan, or Midsummer Day. She discusses some of the "pioneer" Puerto Rican women leaders in Sunset Park. During her many years in the neighborhood, she has seen Sunset Park undergo many changes. As she puts it, it has gone from an "American" barrio to a Hispanic enclave. The community's growth occurred so rapidly that many Latino/a children have had to be sent to schools outside of Sunset Park. Diaz discusses the ethnic composition of the neighborhood in the last part of the interview. Interview in Spanish conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, Hernandez discusses his Latino/a friends, as well as relations between African-American and Latino/a students at Bushwick High School, where he is a student. He talks about his experiences in the school's bilingual program, and about life in the neighborhood. He mentions Casa Borínquen, a local Latin dance club, and ''La Avenida de Puerto Rico," or Graham Avenue, so called because of the large number of Latino/a businesses there. Finally, he talks of his hopes of returning to Puerto Rico and continuing his education there, and of the impact American culture has had on him. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, Alonso Wilson de Briano weaves high points of his personal journey and professional development with reverence for songwriters and musicians. The music that Wilson developed is known as Windsor style, and it combines Afro-Panamanian, Cuban, and West Indian musical elements. It sounds like a blend of mambo and calypso, and it was the popular music of Panamanian-West Indians arriving in Brooklyn in the 1950s. In Wilson's own words, Panama is a country ''with a foot in each side;" one coming from the Latino/a side and the other from the English-speaking West Indies. Wilson feels that Panamanian-West Indian culture is becoming more and more Latinized, both in Brooklyn and in Panama. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, S. Anesta Samuel relates notable moments of growing up in Panama and adapting to and thriving in new surroundings in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn for much of her life. Samuel discusses her efforts at sponsoring other Panamanian-West Indians who were coming to New York in search of opportunities. She describes the charitable work that she began with old friends, founding a club called Las Servidoras, which became a forerunner of The Dedicators, founded in 1953. Samuel considers the thinning out of distinctly Panamanian heritage in American life, and the efforts of the Panamanian-West Indian Heritage Association to preserve cultural elements. In closing, she acknowledges the generation gap between the Panama-born immigrants and Panamanian American youth. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, Dr. Carlos Russell recalls that he and his family were in the "diaspora'' of Panamanian-West Indians. His grandparents came from Barbados and Jamaica, and other relatives came from some of the French West Indies. He opines that in Panama many of the West Indians who spoke English in the past have now turned to Spanish because English speakers were looked down upon. In the seventies and eighties, however, things changed and some Panamanians of West Indian descent have been appointed to government positions. Dr. Russell thinks that most of the youngsters who come to the United States from Panama in 1988 are not as ambitious as his generation, and the few who are politically active identify more with Latin America than with the West Indies. This attitude is prevalent in Panama as well, where there is a major Latinization among the West Indian descended communities. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, Sylvia Fisher elaborates on her experiences as a child in Panama. She mentions the Canal Zone and the schools that she attended there. Fisher discusses her early involvement with square dancing and its relationship with her Panamanian West Indian identity. She talks about the evolution of square dancing in Panama. She mentions some similarities as well as differences in the music and style of square dancing as it was known in Panama and the United States. She also cites examples of occasions where the square dancing club to which she belongs in Brooklyn, has performed. Fisher also references other Panamanian West Indian social clubs in Brooklyn that are trying to preserve this group's culture, particularly that of square dancing, and the difficulties these clubs are facing in their attempts to get young people interested in square dancing. Lastly, the narrator discusses her life in Brooklyn. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, Reynaldo Kelly discusses bilingualism in Panama, and bilingual classes at Bushwick High School, where he is a student. He talks about the changes he sees in his native city, which he visits every summer, and he also describes Carnival in Colón. He describes life in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn and his plans for future studies. He looks forward to returning to Panama, where his father still lives. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, Gerardo Perez discusses his family's business in Cuba as well as in the States. He details in depth how he started his present restaurant, El Viejo Yayo. As Perez tells his story, he provides some insight into the effects of the Communist Revolution on his family and, to some extent, on the country as a whole. In addition, the dilemma of national dislocation, sponsorship and immigration is highlighted. He talks about his journey through Spain and Costa Rica before arriving in Brooklyn. Perez recalls his difficulty with learning English as a second language. Throughout the interview, he also mentions some cultural customs that his family has brought over from Cuba, and still practice today. Perez sees other problems that are affecting quality of life in New York City, and particularly Brooklyn. Crime is his main concern. He elaborates on how drugs and the number of robberies have escalated in the past few years, and what the police force is doing about it. However, Perez provides some insight into how the various restoration projects, in the past as well as in the late 1980s, have helped make Brooklyn a livable, growing borough. Interview conducted by Lucia Rodriguez.

Olga Gomez begins the interview by giving details on Hispanics in Brooklyn's history who can be classified as "pre-pioneers.'' She mentions a couple of Cubans who came in the early 1900s to Brooklyn to live, work, and study. She also talks about her political involvement in the Latino/a community. She elaborates on why she is a Republican and also shares her feelings about being a woman in politics. She gives her viewpoints on the topic of the Hispanic identity. In doing so she talks about Spanish heritage. She analyzes the educational opportunities of the Latino/a in the United States. Gomez looks at programs like bilingualism and special education in relation to the Latino/a student. She also comments on Latino/a organizations in Brooklyn, in addition to activities like parades that they sponsor. According to her, the Latino/a people in Brooklyn are moving forward; socially, economically, as well as politically. Interview in Spanish conducted by Lucia Rodriguez.

In this interview, Mariana Gastón draws on her experiences to provide insight into the development of relationships between Cubans living in Cuba and those living outside the country. She describes her role in the founding of a multicultural and multi-ethnic public school in Brooklyn, where she was also a teacher. She further discusses her involvement with two magazine publications that attempted to examine the historical process and aftermath of the revolution, as well as her participation in the Brigada Antonio Maceo. The publications sought to open the process of dialogue and reconciliation, while the Brigada was actively involved in the reunification of family members living in the United States and Cuba, and even sponsored a trip back to Cuba that is the subject of the documentary Fifty-five Hermanos. Gastón also reflects on the social and economic evolution of the different racial groups of Cubans in the United States. Additionally, she covers topics such as the early migration of Cubans to Brooklyn and the old Cuban community in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn; and the displacement of families due to gentrification. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, Amantina Durán names her motivations for moving; one of her reasons for living in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn is its proximity to the Church of the Transfiguration. She states that many Dominicans from her hometown also live nearby. At the church, a group from Loma Prieta and from other small neighboring towns meet on a regular basis. They contribute to a fund that offers financial aid to needy members. Durán discusses the Church's Nuestros Ninos Day Care Center, where she sent her daughters, thus allowing her to go to work in small factories in lower Manhattan. She discusses changes in Williamsburg; once heavily Puerto Rican, but populated instead by those of Dominican and Mexican heritages at the time of the 1989 interview. Finally, she talks about the problems of drugs, gentrification pressures, and conflicts between Williamsburg's Latino and Jewish communities. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In this interview, J.R. (José Rafael) Guzmán recalls events and places leading up to his life in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. Among his memories of the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan are the different ethnic gangs. The Puerto Ricans had one, but the Dominicans did not. He discusses the ethnic composition of the neighborhood, as well as the influx of Dominicans and other Latinos into the neighborhood. He mentions that the older store owners are usually Puerto Rican, but that the younger owners, especially of bodegas and record shops, are often Dominican. He senses some animosity between the two groups. As a member of the Sunset Park Restoration Committee, Guzmán is involved in community affairs but observes the lack of Latinos in that committee. He feels that Sunset Park will remain Latino because of the large number of Latino/a home owners. Interview conducted by Morton Marks.

In this interview, Diógenes Castillo describes what occupies his time as a high school student, including his work in a bodega in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. He talks about that neighborhood's Latino Caribbean culture, including Casa Borínquen, a dance club. Interview conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Esperanza Andón discusses the early days of her life in Brooklyn, when there were few Mexican products in the bodegas, and she had to travel to Casa Moneo on 14th Street in Manhattan. She recalls that in 1978, Mexican products began to appear in a Dominican-owned bodega on Myrtle and Franklin Avenues, and then in Mexican neighborhoods all over the borough. Andón describes in detail the origin of Brooklyn's Guadalupe Day ceremonies, beginning at the Guadalupe church in Manhattan, then through a series of Brooklyn churches, before finally finding a home at All Saints Church in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. She describes the regional costumes, including the china poblana and inditos, worn in the Guadalupe procession. Andón also recounts her inspiration to develop a marathon race; her way of keeping a promise to the Virgin of Guadalupe, after having health and immigration status issues. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Amado Soriano recalls many of his biographical details; from his youth in Piaxtla, Puebla, Mexico and as a young man in Mexico City and New York City. He speaks about the Virgin of Guadalupe ceremonies. Soriano details his son's participation, in that he dances with Los Tecuanes, a group of masked dancers who perform on the Virgin of Guadalupe's day. Soriano recounts the history of these dances, from their Mexican Indian origins, as well as the origins of the town of Piaxtla. Finally, he describes the growth of the Mexican community in Brooklyn. The interview closes with a reading of a composition, "Saludo Guadalupano." Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Miguel Rojas recalls the major biographical details of his life. He looks back on the family immigrating to New York City and relocating from Manhattan to Brooklyn. He identifies quality of life issues as they apply to the Latino/a community; schools, small business, food, and job opportunities. Rojas details the business model of his bakery; they sell not only to repartidores—people who sell Mexican food door to door—but also to bodegas in Mexican neighborhoods. He describes the distribution of the Mexican community in Brooklyn. He discusses how the work is shared by his family members in the bakery, and how difficult it is to study at Pace University while managing a growing business. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, José Aguilar examines the difficulties of attending school to learn English while working and trying to survive economically. He speaks of the illusions that many Salvadorans have that they will live in the Manhattan skyscrapers they have seen in pictures, but end up in poor areas of Brooklyn. But in spite of difficulties, he feels that the community of Salvadorans that has fully formed near the church provides a support system that makes life more bearable for him. Aguilar observes that the Church of the Transfiguration has helped so many Central Americans, and as a result, many people arriving from there head directly to the church. Interview in Spanish conducted by Lucia Rodriguez.

In the interview, Mario Ramirez recalls his travels, many jobs, and hardships along the way. As a refugee from civil war in El Salvador, Ramirez remembers first entering the United States in Texas. He went back to El Salvador, but the civil war had worsened, and his mother sent him to Mexico City where a brother-in-law was living. He tells of crossing once again into Texas, and eventually finding work in the oil fields of Louisiana, and in agricultural work in the American South. He journeyed back and forth across the United States for six years. Ramirez recounts being helped by a priest at the Church of the Transfiguration when he arrived in Brooklyn. In the late 1980s, he made a trip back to visit El Salvador, and by then was established enough to help his family financially. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Julia Guzmán recounts her early days on Bergen Street in Brooklyn, when there were few Salvadorans in the area. She speaks of the growth of the Salvadoran community in Brooklyn, and especially in Jamaica, Queens. She also discusses the political situation in her country, and the difficulties the civil war there has created. Guzmán describes the success of her Los Churros Restaurant; especially on weekends, when a large, pan-Hispanic crowd comes to eat the Salvadoran specialties and to dance to live music. Finally, she recounts the story of how her hometown of Mexicanos received its name. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Ana Rosales recalls the major biographical details of her life. She remembers her youth in Nicaragua, as well as her challenging attempts to flee the country during wartime. Her path included being stuck in Managua, crossing into Honduras, returning to Managua, flying out of El Salvador, and entering the United States. Rosales recounts her family's adapting to the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn. In desperate financial straits, she was given the address of the Church of the Transfiguration by a social worker. She tells of her meeting with Sister Peggy Walsh and other church people, who helped her by providing an apartment in "Los Sures'' within the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and encouraged her to find work. Rosales speaks about working in a clothing factory, and attending Boricua College to study English. She also describes getting a position as a teacher's aide at a day care center. Interview in Spanish conducted by Morton Marks.

In the interview, Francisco Vega recalls the immigration experience that makes up a major part of his life story. He speaks of his pride at the fact that, having gone through a period of great hardship, including some weeks when he lived on the street, he is now self-employed and doing well financially. He describes his attempts to bring his children from Nicaragua, and to settle his problems with the immigration authorities. He also speaks of his relatives who live in the Nicaraguan communities in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Jorge Lopez discusses the Guatemalan colonies in Brooklyn, Jamaica, Queens, and New Jersey, where there are large Guatemalan communities. He describes a Guatemalan club that prepares for the Hispanidad Parade in Manhattan every year, and speaks of the numerous Guatemalan soccer leagues; who play other soccer leagues of the Latino Brooklyn community. He describes his work at the docks on Brooklyn's waterfront, and talks of the growth of the Guatemalan community in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. According to Lopez, this growth was aided by the arrival of Mexican produce since Guatemalan cuisine resembles Mexican cooking. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Antonio Martinez relates much of his personal history. He describes the changes in Sunset Park since his arrival, and notes that it went from an essentially Puerto Rican neighborhood to the multicultural area that it is today. He also discusses the role of block associations in the maintenance and improvement of the housing stock. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Homero Melendez gives a detailed account of the Comite Civico Ecuatoriano's history, fundraising activities, social events, and their efforts on behalf of the sick and needy in his home country. He describes the founding of the Ecuadorian Parade in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens, which has a large Ecuadorian community. He names several Ecuadorian-owned businesses in his home turf of the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. In closing, Melendez relates some of his personal history; including career moves and learning English. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Luis Paz describes the history of the struggle for voting rights in Ecuador, which has included appeals to the United Nations and the World Court, as well as the role of the Ecuadorian American community in Brooklyn and the other boroughs in Ecuadorian politics. He explains the proliferation of Ecuadorian associations, which number in the hundreds in the tristate area, and the founding of the ''dean" of these associations, the Ecuadorian Sporting Club, which was over fifty years old at the time of the 1989 interview. Paz speaks of his reasons for living in Brooklyn, and describes the main Ecuadorian neighborhoods in the borough. Finally, he discusses the need for political mobilization among all the groups of Hispanic heritage in the borough, to give them a representation in local politics. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In the interview, Francisco Madrid recalls his biographical highlights. He speaks of racial tensions during the early seventies in the Armed Forces, and of relations among Black, White, and Latino sailors. Madrid delves into his professional teaching experience; he has applied his dual interests in education and drama to his classroom work with children, dramatizing abstract ideas such as racial prejudice and social problems, such as the drug epidemic. Madrid describes the racial composition of where he lived; the Ditmas Park and Flatbush neighborhoods of Brooklyn in the late 1980s. He ends the interview with an assessment of Latino theater in New York City. Interview in Spanish conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In this interview, Martha Gallardo describes her student life, the relations between Latino/a and non-Latino/a students, and her interest in the Jehovah's Witnesses faith. Interview conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In this interview, Elba Ramos Jimenez recounts her major biographical events. She recalls following family to New York, explaining that her sister had migrated to New York in the 1950s, and was sending part of the salary she earned in sewing factories back to her family in Peru. Jimenez discusses her community activist role, mentioning the community groups active in their opposition to the destruction of most of the low-cost housing in the Gowanus and Boerum Hill neighborhoods of Brooklyn. She also shares some details of the Peruvian communities of New York and New Jersey, and of the Peruvian Independence Day Parade held in Paterson, New Jersey every year. Interview conducted by Marcelo Herman.

In this interview, Belén Ramos lists several of the venues she's performed in as well as the orchestras and singers she's collaborated with during her artistic career in Puerto Rico and the United States. Ramos, with the help of José "Monchito" Pascualy, mentions many Latin clubs and theaters in Manhattan's El Barrio and the Bronx. She also describes performing for the United Services Organization (USO) during World War II and travelling internationally with her act. Ramos mentions some anecdotes from Puerto Rico, such as interacting with Felisa Rincon de Gautier (Doña Fela) and several instances of racism towards her and her children. Ramos interjects her narration with verses of Bomba and Guaracha songs. Interview in Spanish conducted by Morton Marks.