Oral history interview with Henriette Guelce, Joanne Durocher, and Elizabeth Arty

Teenagers Henriette Guelce, Joanne Durocher, and Elizabeth Arty spoke about learning to speak Haitian Creole, their cultural identities, and being raised Haitian in the United States. They stated they identify as half American and half Haitian. Prior to interview on recording, Guelce, Durocher, and Arty sung in Haitian Creole. Guelce, Durocher, and Arty discussed their participation in Haitian culture, traditions, and customs, including dancing, cooking, music, holidays, greeting people, and clothing; misconceptions and stereotypes about Haiti and Haitians; race and color; their relationships with their parents; discipline; how girls and boys are raised differently; the Haitian community; the role of church and religion in their lives; teenage pregnancy, violence, and drugs; public school versus parochial school; their Haitian friends; dating; why their parents immigrated to the United States; and their desire for more Haitian youth and social clubs and programs, and afro-centric education. Durocher described her experience in Haiti when she attended a funeral there, and being teased in school because she is Haitian. Interview is in English and (minimal) Haitian Creole. Digital audio files include very loud white noise and static; interviewees can be heard clearly for the most part. Additional note, according to interview tape log, Wilner Domond and Emmanuel Content were also present during interview, and at least one of them also spoke during the interview.