Oral History Archive
Immigrants have long been an essential thread in New York City's economic and social fabric.Yet the details of their lives and experiences go unheard. But not any more.
The Community News Production Institute has created the Immigrant Workers Oral History Archive, in partnership with members of Domestic Workers United, Families for Freedom, New Immigrant Community Empowerment, Street Vendor Project, and Nah We Yone. With this project, immigrants have a place to see and hear their voices and experiences documented. This project comes at a crucial time for both immigrant workers and community organizers. This ever-growing audio archive documents the voices most impacted by harsh federal immigration legislation and their strategies for fighting back.
The interviewers are immigrants and low-wage workers, every day New Yorkers trained by the Community News Project Institute. These CNPI reporters, as you are about to find out below, have covered issues that range from immigration to labor rights. The reporters themselves are directly affected by some of these issues, bringing a unique approach to these stories that most reporters ignore.
This project is made possible with support from the Paul Robeson Fund of the Funding Exchange
- produced by Christine Lewis
- in 2008
Domestic Workers staged a protest in front of the home of an employer who is said to have abused her nanny. CNPI reporter Christine Lewis was there to compile these voices.
- Download audio file
- 6 downloads
- 2 plays
- produced by Abdulai Bah
- in 2008
In celebration of workers' international day, CNPI reporters take a look at how Domestic Workers and Day Labors are being treated in their work place here in NYC.
- Download audio file
- 6 downloads
- 2 plays
- produced by Christine Lewis
- in 2008
Thousands of migrant workers are regularly brought into the Gulf Coast by US based corporations that exploit them and then threaten to deport them if they complain. In April 2006, more than 500 workers from India were lured into this country under false promises. Early this year, some of the enslaved Indian workers walked from New Orleans to Washington DC to protest their illtreatment. They recently came to NYC to express their support for other immigrant workers. CNPI reporter Christine Lewis spoke to one of them, Abby Geradu.
- Download audio file
- 6 downloads
- 2 plays
- produced by Teresa Gonzalez
- in 2008
CNPI reporter Teresa Gonzales, a member of The Street Vendor Project, spoke with a lawful immigrant who's home was raided unlawfully by immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) agents. She asked her identity be concealed.
- Download audio file
- 6 downloads
- 1 plays
