by Carlin L. Zia The clay behind the potting shed in my grandparents’ backyard would be soft and red in April. While our grandmother tended about in her cloth gloves and faded sunhat, my brother and I would salt the slugs we plucked from the compost urns, or dig furrows in the clay. Sometimes we…
Category: Voices
Healthcare for a Puffer Fish
The day Congress voted to repeal parts of Obamacare, Mama and I had decided to prepare a dish from Abuela’s cookbook: Torrejas de camarón con salsa de pipán. Mama had to pull out the recipe book to look at the ingredients and instructions. She didn’t know this one by heart. “How’s Dad been?” I asked…
The Name Game: Latinidad y Yo
by Dominic Schnabel Last names are hard, mine no exception. Schnabel. I have heard it butchered in every which way possible. Extra emphasis on the “a”, “bell” instead of “bull,” even adding in a few “p’s” and “k’s” for extra enunciation. Those familiar with the name’s German origin must think that I bleed beer and…
Mamita
A mí mamita le decían la reina My great-grandmother would smile with all her teeth Let out a laugh that everyone still remembers Dicen que cocinaba como no te imaginás And she’d wear dresses with flowers and sunbeams on them Wearing them with a flare like only a dark-skinned woman could Yes A mí mamita…
AACC Oral Histories: Derek Mubiru
Statement of Purpose: The goal of the Asian American Cultural Center’s Oral History Project is to highlight the individual stories of our fellow New Haven and Yale community members. These oral histories share anecdotes, reflections, and lessons from our interviewee’s family histories and personal lives. It is more important now than ever to share our…