Digital Commons Network^™

Anonymous Narrator, Ellen Hoffman

Oral Histories

As an Ohio native that became actively involved in her Native heritage later in life, my narrator presents an interesting perspective. She is an urban Indian, never having lived on a reservation. She was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools. Her story is a testament to the fact that even Native Americans that do not grow up with a strong tie to their Native heritage can go on to become very involved and influenced by Native activity.

Milagros, Bronx African American History Project

Oral Histories

Milagros is a former teacher in the Bronx who immigrated to the United States from Cuba. In her interview, she discussed her experience escaping from Castro’s government as well as the manner in which society had shaped her identity.

Prior to living in the United States, Milagros resided in Cuba for 20 years. She stated that in Cuba, race was not as important as it was in America. Instead, status was determined by which family you had been born into. However, she did say that neighbors in Cuba were like relatives to her family, and recounted incidents where she had …