Our Stories, Our World

Welcome to the E Block English blog.

The work on the following pages documents the experiences of our students as they explored their respective communities through the gathering of the living stories of the people around them.

Go the Blog Archive on the right and click on the arrow to open the menu. Click on a student's name to see their blog page.

*Note to students*
See the sample oral history below for a sense of how your work should look.

Oral History of Ann Zambrana

Ann Zambrana is a 40 year-old mother of two. She is of Puerto Rican descent - born and raised in New York City. She has a 6 year-old boy and a 4 year-old girl. We sat together on a bright, yet lazy Sunday afternoon to discuss parenthood and, more specifically, motherhood. Throughout the interview, the children could be heard playing in the background.

When I was a kid being a mother was more of an idea, a fantasy. Now as a mother, I realize it’s a lot of hard work. It’s a lot of dedication - not like the fantasy I had as a child.

Motherhood has a lot of meanings to me. I think the most important one is to shape the minds and the souls of these two individuals I brought into this world so that they can respect one another, be honest with one another, and live harmoniously with not just the people on the planet but the planet itself.

I think anyone who deals with children in one form or another is considered like a parent – someone who’s responsible to teach them right from wrong and to help them, guide their way. But motherhood is different because those children are yours. They’re not somebody else’s child. There’s a certain sense of moral responsibility when they’re yours more than when they’re somebody else’s. You know.
The same thing with a father - someone who guides them, shows them, protects them and is there for them. You know, anyone can just make a baby. It’s another [thing] to be there, and guide them. Be responsible for them; Responsible to them.

I mean, you’ve got certain men who will hit their child to put them in place, you have men who will put the fear of God into the child to keep them in place. And then you’ve got those who will sit down and speak to them as an individual and help them understand what their place is, not just put ‘em there, but let them know why it is that they’re there and where it is that they’re going from there.

There are very many different approaches. (Laughs) [Motherhood] has both positive and negative effects on my life. I mean, the positive effect is that they’re my children, they’re my soul. Right now, they’re the center of my life; whereas before, I was the center of my life and things that I wanted to do came first. Now, they come last. I would have to honestly say that I’ve lost some of myself in becoming a mother and a parent.

[But], it is absolutely worth it! (A huge smile comes across her face and tears well up in her eyes as she says these last words.) Everyday, when I look into my kids’ faces and I see those eyes of wonder, it replenishes my soul; it breathes new life into me. And to hear them say, ‘Mommy, I love you’ and to see them hug and kiss each other. It is… it is absolutely worth it!

Oral History Drafting Checklist, Portfolio Checklist, & Rubric

Follow the steps in the Drafting Checklist under the style you have chosen to report your oral history. Be sure to email your draft and interview transcription to me (hector.zambrana@gmail.com) as soon as possible.

(Click on the image to enlarge it)

Also, remember that all of your portfolio pieces are due for your project on Monday, April 20th. Use the Project Portfolio Checklist below to make sure you have everything.

(Click on the image to enlarge it)

Use the updated checklist handed out in class to keep track of your work. Then, use the rubric below to make sure you get a good grade.

(Click on the image to enlarge it)

Juan Cruz

Oral History of Rosa Rodriguez

ROSA RODRIGUEZ is a strong woman that since she was little girl she was able to stand on her two feet. ROSA RODRIGUEZ was born in Puerto Rico. She is now living in the Bronx. ROSA RODRIUEZ is a mother of 3 kids. ROSA is a great mother. She is a sight manager and she manages in all five boroughs.

It was a hot and musty Sunday night. I just finish waken up and brushing my mouth. My house was quiet and I found that kind of strange. My mom is in bed reading her book. So as I get ready to ask my mom the question my cousin comes out of the closet and scares me. I jumped and I take a swing at him and his nose starts gushing blood so I had to do and get a towel for him because he was getting blood all over the floor.

responsibility means to me is that if I have a job I am responsible to get up in the morning and show up to work early and do my job and complete everything that I have to. Another thing is if you give birth to a child you are responsible to nurture it in every way. You make sure that the baby has everything it needs to be healthy and you watch it grow up. I like to drink when I go out. As a responsible adult I bring another driver along because I know that I am going to get drunk and I have other people in the car with me and I don’t want to put their life at risk because I am drunk an I can crash an cause me being drunk I could kill everyone that’s with me in the car.

So you think that responsibility is important?

I know responsibility is important because if you didn’t have responsibility in life people would be different. Like if the president wasn’t responsible for the country people would attempt to take over and he wouldn’t take care of the economic crisis. Also he would let anything happen and he would only watch out for him self. Cops they are responsible to try to keep the drugs of the street and try their best to protect the innocent. Us the people are responsible to take care of the earth and help each other out.

How is responsibility important for you?

It's important for me because I have a family of three kinds and I have to support them as a mother. I also have a job as I sight manager so I have to get up early. I do love what I do for a living because it gives me a sense of fulfillment at the end of the day. So for me responsibility is a priority in my life because with out responsibility I feel that my life will be lost. All my life I was taken on responsibility I guess that though me more how to be more responsible woman in my life.

Frankie Rosario

Oral History of Linda Ayala
by Frankie Rosario

Linda Ayala is a 33 year-old mother of 4. She is a corrections officer for the New York State Department of Corrections. She was born in the Bronx where she was raised. She currently lives in East Harlem with her 4 children and her boyfriend. We sat down on a rainy Tuesday afternoon to discuss responsibility.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?
Well,I am most proud that I have 4 kids that take good care of each other and that I have a good job.

What are some objects,events, or people that have influenced you?
The people that have influenced me is my mother,my father,and my grandparents.Also watching other people like my teacher and my friends influenced me.

What dose responsibility mean to you?
What responsibility means to me is when you are responsible for your own actions adn what you do like staying away from bad people that would get u in trouble or get you in jail.

How did it affect your child life?
It affected my child life because it helped me stay awat from all the bad people and it kept me foucused on school,getting a job,and getting a nice apartment to live in for now.

Did responsibility help you get a job?
Yes responsibility helped me because a lot of bad stuff was happening in the streets so I decided to become a correction officer.

Which was your first lesson in responsibility?
My first lesson in responsibility was to stay away from people that would get me in trouble or me goin to jail.Also that responsibility helped me in life a lot because it got me a good job and 4 beautiful kids.

Who taught you about responsibility and how to be responsible?
The person that taught me about responsibility was my mother and my grandmother.

Fanta Bagayoko

A ORAL HISTORY ON CHRISTAL SANCHEZ BY FANTA BAGAYOKO

As the music played on the radio I was on my bed dancing to the music when I I-M'D Christal and wrote: my fault. is he sleep yet??? I waited 5 minutes but still no I-M back so I lay down just listen to the music as my head bob back and forth. I guess I was about to doze off when I heard the song Knock You Down: "Sometimes love comes around. Love comes around love comes around, and it knocks you down. Just get back up When it knocks you down(Knocks you down)". My phone almost rang the second time and I see the caller ID says Christal and I immediately spring up and answer. I looked at the time and saw that it was 10:21.

"Hello" I sound tired but excited that she called. She answered hi but her hi didn't seem cheerful like her smile usually shows....it was more like a gloomy funeral day. I then asked her how she was and was the baby sleep."I feel crappy and hes okay hes on my chest and hes dosing off" she says with a little more excitement at the dosing off part.

"okay lets gets started then. How do you feel about teen pregnancy and why?" I said. "I don't know um...I feel that its something.... if your hoping in bed with people and you get pregnant then its your responsibility".

How do you feel about abortions and why? I said. "I Personally don't like abortions... they're gonna kill someone else that didn't even get a chance to live to see to see the world". she sounded serious and you could hear the face expression changing from tired to angry.

"Do you feel that girls around age 14 should be getting pregnant and...before i could even finish my sentence she interrupted "No that's mad young. That's really young. If your not ready then you shouldn't be in bed with someone...at all".

"okii dokii now as a young mother would you regret being pregnant and why?" i asked. She hesitated but finally said "Its not something to regret cause its like your love for the child grows over the years but I'm not saying get pregnant. I recommend not even getting in the bed unless your gonna fall asleep". We both started laughing but then I had to end it because I had to get back on my business flow.

"Do you know anyone who was pressured to early?" I said this as if I was a news reporter.She must have seem to catch my little joke because she giggled but managed to get her words out. "umm... yea the person thought she deserved it(having sex to early) at the time but then realized that she really didn't deserve it". She sounded kind of weird like she was trying not to reveal something. She yawns which obviously meant she was tired.

"Do you know anyone who was pressured into having sex?" I read off the paper slowly like she was mentally stable." Yea I do...because some guys don't understand the word no... they just block that word from their minds". She says with emphasize on the no.

"What is one thing you would want other young mothers to know about you?"."Well if your going to open your legs to do it then if your pregnant then its your consequence. Your choosing to do it or not. Its like killing one of your family members or friends. Its murder". then excitedly she says " Hes finally asleep".

"What is one accomplishment you are proud of?" "Staying in school because most people think that ALL young mothers drop out". In my mind I felt that she was a great role model for all young mothers.

"Do you feel like you made a right decision in having a baby and why?" " Yes well it wasn't planned and it was better for me to have it instead of killing it".

"How do you feel about your responsibilities of having a baby and why?" "Well you have to find someone to baby sit him for when you have to go to a school activity or when you have to go to school and stuff like that. When you get home your already exhausted but you have responsibilities to do and you still have to take care of YOUR baby"

"How would you rank your responsibilities from 1 to 10 as a young mother and why?" " A 5 because your tired and don't wanna do anything but when you see the smile and learning you become happy and you know that you made a good decision"

"Would you recommend having a baby if your already pregnant and why?" " Have it because you cant kill it I recommend not getting pregnant at all...well unless your ready"

"Did you feel isolated from other teens when you were pregnant? Why did you feel isolated" "Ummm...crap...well did I...dang....I didn't feel isolated.I felt like I wasn't the first or the last to get pregnant in that school. If felt like I was just fat".

"Is it hard being a young mother and going to school?" "yeah like i said before babysitting and not having a social life like you did before you got pregnant. Sometimes you wanna have fun but then remember that you have other responsibilities that other teens don't have."

I yawned and said : Okay Christal were done here good night and again thank you so much" "its okay. bye" "bye". We both hung up as I smiled because I had finally finished the interview.

Crystal Rodriguez

Oral History of Arcangel

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. TODAY I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT RACIAL SEGREGATION IN GANG. BEING PART OF A GANG IS RISK THAT YOU TAKE IN YOU VERY DAY LIFE. IS NOT EASY BU IT MAKES YOU FEEL NOT LEFT OUT IT’S LIKE A SECOND FAMILY.

WHEN I WAS A YOUNG KID MY PARENTS USE TO TAKE DRUGS UNTIL ONE DAY THE COPS FOUND THEM AND TOOK ME AWAY AND PUT ME IN A SHELTER. IT WAS A HARD TIME FOR ME. IN SCHOOL THEY USE TO PICK ON ME. MY PARENTS WAS DRUG ADDICTS. BUT THAT SAME NIGHT I COULDN'T SLEEP. I DECIDED TO BE PART OF A GANG. WHEN I TOLD MY FRIENDS THEY WAS SAYING I SHOULDN'T DO IT. IT'S BAD. YOU COULD BE AN ARTIST OR A TEACHER OR SOMETHING ELSE. BUT NO, I DECIDED TO BE PART OF IT CAUSE IT WAS LIKE A FAMILY.

IN MY OPINION I DO BELIEVE IN RACIAL SEGREGATION IN GANG BECAUSE SOME RACE DOES NOT GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER SO THEY NEED TO BE APART. THEY NT B IN THE SAME GANG CAUSE THEY WILL KILL EACH OTHER .I HAVE BEEN JUDGE BEFORE HAVE YOU? ONE DAY I WENT TO THE STORE AND SOME GIRL ASKED ME WHAT RACE WAS I. I SAID THAT I WAS “DOMINICAN AND PUERTO RICAN” AND SHE SAID LOOKED AT ME LIKE SHE WAS MAD AND SAD AND SAID THAT PUERTO RICAN AS BETTER THAN NASTY ASS DOMINICAN. I GOT REALLY UPSET BUT I IGNORED HER. ALSO THEY SEPARATE GANG THESE DAYS BY RACE BECAUSE THERE ARE SAME RACE THAT CANT BE TOGETHER LIKE THERE SOME BLACK THAT CANT BE AROUND PUERTO RICAN AND DOMINICAN CAUSE THE WAY THEY ACT AND THE SAME THING GOES TO THE MEXICAN. THEY DON'T LIKE HOW BLACK PEOPLE TALK.

I HAVE COUPLE OF OPINIONS ABOUT THIS TOPIC LIKE I THINK ITS GOOD AND AT THE SAME TIME BAD BECAUSE WHEN THERE ARE SOME RACES PUT TOGETHER THEY DON’T GET ALONG AND THEY START PROBLEMS AND END UP FIGHTING. BUT THEN AGAIN YOU LEARN HOW OTHERS ACT ONE IF YOU CANT BE TOGETHER LIKE IN GANGS. I HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCES ABOUT GANGS FOR EXAMPLE MY COUSIN, HE WENT TO JAIL N USE TO JUMP OTHER GANGS CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THEY HAD.

ALL THIS SEGREGATION IN GANG GOT STARTED A LONG TIME AGO LIKE ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO. BY THIS GROUP OF BOYS WANTED TO BE UNITED AND BE PART OF A FAMILY AS A THE SAME RACE. THEY WANTED TO MAKE HOME FOR THEMSELVES SO THEY WONT FEEL LEFT OUT OF THE WORLD. BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH OTHER GROUPS BUT THE HOME GOT BIGGER AND MORE POWERFUL THAT THE SEGREGATION TOOK OVER THEM. ALSO THE SAME RACE HAVE TO GET SEPARATED THEY CANT GET ALONG BECAUSE THEY REP SOMETHING DIFFERENT. ALSO BECAUSE THEY DON’T LIKE THEM FOR EXAMPLE IF THE BLACKS SET PROBLEM WITH OTHER BLACKS THE WOLD PRETEND THEY ARE IN THE HISPANIC GROUP SO THEY WONT GET JUMPED OR SHOT. BUT THAT’S WHY SOME BLACKS STAYS WITH BLACKS AND HISPANIC STAYS WITH HISPANIC.

IN OPINION IT FEELS GOOD BECAUSE WHEN YOU IN GANG THAT IS YOUR FAMILY THEY ALWAYS GOT YOUR BACK NO MATTER WHAT. THAT’S WHAT ARE FAMILY FOR THEY HELP YOU WHEN YOU DOWN.

TO BE HONEST I'M NOT THE PERFECT PERSON BUT I AM THE PERSON TO KNOW ENOUGH LIVING IN THIS WORLD. (PAUSES) I BEEN THROUGH IT!

Kenny Vazquez

An Oral History of Mr. Duany

Mr. Duany is the principal in the Heritage School in Spanish Harlem. He has a wife and a son. Before becoming a pricipal, Mr. Duany was a math teacher. He is Puerto Rican and Cuban-American. This

K: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

D: I can speak French fluently. I lived in Paris and would love to live there again.

K: What is one accomplishment you are most proud of?

D: The accomplishment I'm most proud of is being a father to my son. It's an accomplishment because it takes work to be patient, to help my son. And when you get home and are tired from working a long day, and he is running around, it's sometimes a bit of a challenge to be patient. My biggest accomplishment is when I do that, which isn't every day, but when I do I feel very accomplished.

Kenny: What do you think about Obama becoming President of the United States?

Duany: I think it is an exciting and historic moment. The people of the United States saw a person for their inside. People in many places of the country got over their traditional attitudes of African-Americans and were able to hear his message of unity.

K: How important do you think voting is? Why?

D: Voting is very important. I always fight with my family about wanting to vote. I've voted every time I can. It's a privilege, in many countries people don't get the right to vote. Unfortunately in the United States, presidents get elected with half the people voting. It's extremely important for any democracy. You can't complain and then not go to vote, and that is what many people do.

K: As a principal, what do "American Values" mean to you?

D:I think values that are important in the United States, and many other countries, are individual freedom, like freedom of speech. The value of initiative and capitalism, that you can start a business and make money quickly, in some countries that is valued in the same way that it is here in the United States. Democracy and voting for a representative are not as important in other countries, like Cuba, as they are here. Choice is another important American Value. In other countries, for example, you may be limited in your choice of careers. But here, you have many choices.

As a principal working in East Harlem, it’s important that I help students understand that these American Values apply to them. [These values] are not just for people with money, and not just for people outside of East Harlem. The value of choices is very important for our students. Young people in this country should see that you have many choices here that you may not have in other countries.

K: How important are American Values in raising your son?

D: The value of choices is very important, to know that he can make choices. He already knows about the voting process. I’ve taken him with me to see how you vote. With initiative and capitalism, I’m not so concerned about teaching him how to make money, but I do teach him how to save.

K:Who is a person who you think shows good American Values and why?

D: I’m thinking of Caroline Kennedy, the daughter if President John F. Kennedy. She is all about choices. She respects people who speak out and may not agree with her. She sometimes goes against what is not expected and does something unprecedented. For example, she thought about becoming a senator but decided not to and now she is working with schools. I respect her for that.

K: Why did you decide a principal and teacher?

D: I decided first to become a teacher because I like young people. I felt that I could help young people understand math. When I was a young person I would tutor my friends. From helping them, I decided I wanted to this for all of my life. I did other things in the middle because my family thought teachers were too poorly paid. I did other things, then decided that my heart was in teaching. I did that for 14 years. Then I decided to try to become a principal, because I wanted to not just help students but also teachers. I wanted to build a community around the values we talked about before. I thought that I had leadership; I was good as listening and bringing people together. So I became a principal. It’s very hard, and sometimes I don’t do it well, but I’m trying

K: What do you like most about being a principal?

D: This, I enjoy being able to talk to students, parents, and teacher. I like that every day is different and a challenge. Even as a teacher, although it’s a very excited job every day things change. I felt that I was doing the same math lesson year after year. I wanted to do something different, so I like the challenge and the change.

Ebonie Rivera

Oral History of Joshua Santiago

Joshua Santiago is a 20 year-old man. He is currently going to school for his i.e. He was born and raised in New York, Manhattan aka Harlem. He is Puerto Rican. Comes from a big family. We sat one day on a Friday and talked about peer pressure. While the interview was going you can hear music & the room was dark.

Kids think they’re little PARENTS. THEY ALWAYS THINK THEY know MORE THAN THEIR PARENTS. SO THEY PRESsURE YOU and NAG IN YOUR EAR SO WHEN YOU GET FED UP YOU ACTUAlLY DO [what they want you to do].

They see other people that they’re surrounded by. they see something that’s wrong and they think its right for them to do it. Like for me in example I was quiet growing up and always to myself. so I use to see older people in the park and they would smoke weed and I thought it was cool so ii took it upon myself and did it on my own just to see how it was.

I’m very humble/ quiet. I stay to my to myself and very respectful. I don’t like to be f***ed with and I don’t like to be tolerated nothing from nobody. Sex, money, drugs ,fights and all that gangster s**t influenced me while I was growing up.

It’s not cool to pressure someone to do something they don’t want to do . The do it Because that’s your reputation. You know what im saying and also just to be down. [Just to be gangster]

YOUR FRIENDS JUST WANT YOU TO BE WITH THEM IN ANYTHING. THEY SAY " IF YOUR MY REAL FRIEND you WILL DO THIS WITH OR FOR ME". SO YOU WANT TO BE THERE FRIEND AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY TELL YOU and YOU DO WHAT EVER IT IS THAT THEY TELL YOU TO DO.

Well to me it’s like bullying somebody to do something to do something on with force and action.

Narllely Henriquez

Oral History of Marina Henriquez


Marina Henriquez is a 38 year old mother of four. She was born in the Dominican Republic but raised in New York City. She has a 19 year old girl, 18 year old boy, 16 year old girl and a 10 year old boy.

It was a raining day and the room was cold. Marina wearing jeans and a t-shirt with sneakers. She was looking around to see what was going around here. I was eating chips with soda waiting for her to be done with cooking. We looked at each other waiting, waiting and waiting. Finally she said something about life in the Dominican Republic. She loved everything about living there the nice hot warm air the plum trees but the thing she loved the most is that her family was there living with her. Marina had a good childhood everything was perfect for her. When she was a little girl she was always outside enjoyen the weather playing with friends and family. Life in the Dominican Republic was good......

When Marina was 14 years old she came to the United State. She she still remember how she felt when she was on the plane. Feeling all types of emotions but she was really really exicated. Marina did'nt know what to do she didnt know the languge she didnt know nobody she was nervus. I asked her what was the fist thing she did when she came to america? she said '' ummmm well I was super nervus because I didnt know anything the only people I knew was my family sooo yeaaa''. When she when to her grandmother's house she ran up to her and started to cry ''I havent seen her in years'' she said. Grandmother was crying too she was really surpised she was there with her. '' We sat in the living room talking for hours and hours I love the fact that I could finally spend time with her I love her soooooo much''. ''The first thing I want to do is go to school grandma I want to learn different cultures different languges speak in spanish everything I want to do it all''.... So she when to school learned everything she wanted to know when to collage and was startinf a new life as an American.

Few years has gone by..and now marina has a job, a house and four wonderful, smart, beautiful kids thats she loves. Motherhood for her is beautiful she enjoys it. ''well..to me motherhood is something beautiful out of earth because I have all this love inside of me and I want to share it with people matters to me alot soo yea''.

Her four children are the most funniest kids that she knows they make her laugh when shes feeling down and take care of her when shes sick. ''Carla, Algenis, Narllely and Anothny are eveything to me they my life, thats the only thing that is important right now nothing else matters''. ''They make me who I am today and I love them for that''. ''I really LOVE THEM ♥♥♥

'' To me being an American is... I dont know something anybody could wish for. Being here made my life so beautiful that every minute am loving it every single day. America gave me so many changes, it gave me life, it gave me everything i ever wanted. I think if i would of stayed in Dominican Republic I know I wouldnt have everything I have now. Umm I LOVE BEING AN AMERICAN!!!!

Shaniece McGee

FORGET ABOUT MY COLOR

What do you mean you don't like me?
Is it the color of my skin?
you dont want to trust me and you say it's hard to let me in,
FRIENDSHIP goes way beyond what you see on my face
and its hard to find a good friend when you're stuck between
a rock and a hard place
I opened my heart and was willing to let you in
but you turned your back
now i know there's no way to win
just to let you know I'm the same as you
I like to play, sing, dance, and even talk about boys too
but the sound of you denying my friendship hurts
in the long run you'll see I was here for you
and you'll want to make this work
Lets stop the violence,
lets stop the crime,
all the yelling and screaming I cant take it all in at one time
I'll give you a minute to think about what I said and if you still wont let
me in this word will always be on your head
RACISM


BY:SHANIECE MARY DELORES VERONICA VICTORIA MARGERITA MCGEE (lol)