Browse Items (15 total)
Sort by:
-
Interview of Thea LaFond
Thea LaFond relates her immigration to the United States from Dominica as a young child. Her account details her initial perceptions of America and popular culture, her family's move to DC Metro area, as well as immigrant assimilation in the United States. -
Interview of Kachisiso Achebe
Kachisiso Achebe (pseudonym) describes the transition from Nigeria to the United States, differences in culture, the effect of the economy on immigrants and their employment, as well as education in the USA. -
Interview of Asha Simon
Asha Simon chronicles her journey from South Africa to Thailand to the United States. Her journey addresses issues of cultural adjustment, discrimination, and family. -
Interview of Chak Beh
This interview chronicles the immigration progress of Chak Beh in his peregrination toward America. Chak left Malaysia in 1979 as a result of the ethnic discrimination that he faced; as a minority he was subjected to the biased laws of the ruling majority. Currently Chak is an avid fan of cooking and woodworking as well as raising his three sons. Chak tells a fascinating story of his trials, hardships, and successes – all of which led him to become the person he is today. -
Interview of Immigrant from Sri Lanka
[Name Redacted] is a 19 year old first generation Sri-Lankan Immigrant. Sinhalese, Buddhist and Queer by birth, he’s lived a largely happy life despite feeling like an outsider in the places they should feel at home. This transcript details some of his life experiences and the formation of a rich and complex identity informed by a vast array of life-events. Specifically, the narrative focuses on their decision and process of coming and living in United States. Initially, he came to America seeking an education but in many ways he has found acceptance and a place that he belongs. This process has greatly influenced his life and how he relates to history.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST428M: "Foreigners as Citizens: Recording Oral Histories of Immigration" (Fall 2015). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the History Department, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for the New America -
Interview of Pastor Gloria Cline-Smythe
This interview between Katie Evans and Pastor Gloria Cline-Smythe explores Cline-Smythe's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from Sierra Leone. Pastor Gloria Cline-Smythe talks about her life before she left Sierra Leone in 1991. She rose through local government and eventually became city manager of Freetown, the capital Sierra Leone. Family plays a major role throughout her story. She talks about her younger siblings as if they were her own. Later on, her son and future grandson were the reasons why she came to the United States. Another major theme throughout her interview was the role of religion in her life. Religion was a key part of her life growing up, and this is something she continues as a local Lutheran pastor. Pastor Gloria’s story is an enthralling journey told through themes like religion, family, and African culture.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST428M: "Oral History of Immigration" (Spring 2017). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the History Department, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Anabel Teixeira
This interview between Nicole Kerr and Anabel Teixeira explores Teixeira's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from Brazil. The majority of oral history interviews focus on the experiences of immigrants who choose to become citizens of the United States. This interview follows an alternate route; it examines the effects of automatic acquisition of citizenship, specifically on the experience of a 21-year-old Brazilian immigrant named Anabel Teixeira.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST428M: "Oral History of Immigration" (Spring 2017). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the History Department, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Timi Tinuoye
This interview between Andrew McGillicuddy and Timi Tinuoye explores Tinuoye's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from England and Nigeria. Both dynamic personalities combine to make this interview enjoyable, yet at the same time it becomes an extremely informative resource. Tinuoye’s unique immigration experience allows the reader to look into the life of a man that has a strong Nigerian ethnic background, while also having a strong English national background. This mixed identity creates an interesting space for conversation where they discuss a multitude of topics from Tinuoye’s childhood, the Nigerian economy, his transition to the United States, and the school systems in England, Nigeria, and the United States.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST428M: "Oral History of Immigration" (Spring 2017). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the History Department, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Keith Yearwood
This interview between Dr. Keith Yearwood and Zachary Wathen explores Keith's experiences migrating from Guyana to England, Antigua, and ultimately the United States. Keith shares his observations about politics, the benefits of travel, and his appreciation for his US citizenship.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST 428M (Spring 2019). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Nico Alvarez
This interview between Nico Alvarez and Dercem (Derc) Kaya explores Nico's experiences migrating as a child from Spain the United States. Nico discusses his experiences in school, his observations on cultural differences between Spain and the U.S., his parents' careers (which brought them to the U.S.), and the decision and ability to stay in the U.S. once his family moved back to Spain.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST 428M (Spring 2019). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies.









