People of the Rio Grande Valley Border Towns: Sarahi, "At 12 or 1 in the Colonia you would feel the breeze."

Recorded September 7, 2017 Archived September 7, 2017 31:33 minutes
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Id: APP341381

Description

People of the Rio Grande Valley Border Towns: Sarahi, "At 12 or 1 in the Colonia you would feel the breeze." Sarahi Enriquez is a custodian at the Mission EDC where my 2 month residency was hosted in June and July 2017. Sarahi and I met to talk about recreating Gordon Parks' depiction of a his 1942 version of "American Gothic" where Parks asked Ella Watson to pose for what he felt was the true representation of America. Both Sarahi and I discuss how relevant Parks' message is today, and Sarahi talks about how she does not feel much has changed; at least not in her experience. Sarahi talks about her experience with her former employers who would play favorites within the workforce. She speaks about how her father, a former coyote in Mexico, changed when he and her mother moved to the United States. Sarahi shares a sweet memory of him teaching her and her sister to ride bikes. But then talks about the pain of him leaving them for another family just three doors down. Sarahi speaks about the discrimination she has felt throughout her life, but talks about her strength, courage, and dreams she has now as a 25 year old woman in the Rio Grande Valley.

Participants

  • Jackie Neale
  • Sarahi Enriquez

Interview By