Otilia Rodriguez Complete Interview
This interview with Otilia Rodriguez took place on October 12, 2013 at Tim Horton’s in West Seneca, NY and was conducted by Alma Carrillo and Stephanie Bucalo. Otilia was born in Puerto Rico but came to Buffalo with her mother at the age of 14. Otilia was very active in school and loved to learn. Her father worked at Bethlehem Steel, like many Puerto Rican migrants. Otilia was very close with the Olivencia family. She considered them to be like her own family. Otilia helped establish the Miss Puerto Rico Pageant. The Pageant looked for young ladies who were students, intelligent and well spoken. Otilia share stories about her time in school, reciting poetry and how she met her husband. Her husband, Jorge Rodriguez, was a musician and a part of many well known musical groups, most notably, el Trio Rodriguez. Otilia shares many stories about her family, her feelings on migration and the great times she had in the community.
Esta entrevista con Otilia Rodríguez tomó lugar el 12 de octubre del año 2013 al café de Tim Horton en West Seneca, Ny y fue conducida por Alma Carrillo y Stephanie Bucalo. Otilia nació en Puerto Rico pero vino a Búfalo con su madre a la edad de 14 años. Otilia era muy activa en la escuela y a ella le encantó aprender. Su padre trabajaba a Bethlehem Steel, como muchos migrantes puertorriqueños. Otilia se sentía muy cercana a la familia Olivencia. Ella consideró a esta familia como su propia familia. Otilia ayudó establecer la Pampa de Señorita Puerto Rico. La pampa buscaba a las mujeres jóvenes que eran estudiantes, inteligentes y hablan bien. Otilia comparte cuentos sobre su tiempo en la escuela, recitando la poesía y cómo ella conoció a su esposo. Su esposo, Jorge Rodríguez, era músico y parte de muchos grupos musicales bien conocidos, más notablemente, el Trío Rodríguez. Otilia comparte muchos cuentos sobre su familia, sus sentimientos sobre la migración y los buenos tiempos que tenía en la comunidad.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Otilia+Rodriguez+%28Interviewee%29">Otilia Rodriguez (Interviewee)</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Alma+Carrillo+%28Interviewer%29">Alma Carrillo (Interviewer)</a>
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Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
2013-10-12
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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Vidal Rodríguez Complete Interview
This interview took place in Vidal’s home in Buffalo, NY. Alma Carrillo conducted the interview. Vidal was born September 22, 1931. He came to Buffalo originally from Puerto Rico looking for more opportunity. He arrived in Western New York in 1951, to Medina. He came to work on a farm originally, and ended up working various jobs. He ultimately worked at General Motors until retiring after 35 years. Vidal also mentions his wife, Carmita, who he has been married to for 55 years - he thinks. Vidal describes the difficult situation in Puerto Rico that brought him to Buffalo, and the fact that even after all these years, he has not learned much English. He admits this did make life more difficult. He says that most of his life has simply been spent working, not doing much else. He finally considers whether it was better for him to come to Buffalo.
Esta entrevista tomó lugar en la casa de Vidal en Buffalo, NY. Alma Carrillo condujo la entrevista. Vidal nació el 22 de septiembre del año 1931. Llegó a Nueva York del Oeste en el año 1951, a Medina. Al principio, él vino para trabajar en una finca. Últimamente, trabajó en General Motors hasta se jubiló después de 35 años. Vidal también mencionó a su esposa, Carmita, con quién se ha estado casado por 55 años - él piensa. Vidal describe la situación difícil en Puerto Rico que lo llevó a Búfalo, y el hecho de que después de todos los años, él todavía no ha aprendido mucho inglés. Él admite que eso hizo más difícil su vida aquí. Él dice que por se ha pasado la mayoría de su vida trabajando, y no mucho más de eso. Finalmente, considera si valió la pena venir a Búfalo.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Vidal+Rodr%C3%ADguez+%28Interviewee%29">Vidal Rodríguez (Interviewee)</a>
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Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
2013-07-27
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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English
Olga Mendell Complete Interview
The interview took place in Olga’s home in Buffalo, NY on August 13, 2003 and was conducted by Alma Carrillo. Olga was born in Cuba and came to the US in 1960. She then moved to Buffalo in 1966 when she graduated and got a PhD from Harvard in Latin American literature. She met her husband in Buffalo and worked at Nichols for 3 years. She found a job at D’Youville College and worked there from 1980 until 2007 when she retired. She taught language and literature, helping many Latino students become more identified with their cultures and more proficient in Spanish. She also started and guided different groups to help disadvantaged students at D’Youville College. Olga was very politically involved in Buffalo, although she did not anticipate this at first. She talks about her political career and her involvement with Western New York Hispanics and Friends and the Hispanic Women’s League. She also discusses her own literary works and her poetry.
La entrevista tomó lugar en la casa de Olga en Buffalo, NY el 13 de agosto del año 2003 fue conducida por Alma Carrillo. Olga nació en Cuba y vino a los Estados Unidos en el año 1960. Después ella se mudó a Búfalo en el año 1966 cuando se graduó y recibió su doctorado de Harvard en la literatura latinoamericana. Ella conoció a su esposo en Búfalo y trabajó en Nichols por 3 años. Encontró una posición en D’Youville College y trabajó alla desde 1980 hasta 2007 cuando se jubiló. Ella enseñó lenguaje y la literatura, ayudando a muchos alumnos latinos llegar a ser más conscientes de sus culturas, y más competentes en el español. También inició y guió a grupos diferentes para ayudar a los alumnos desfavorecidos a D’Youville College. Olga fue muy dedicada políticamente en Búfalo, aunque no lo esperó inicialmente. Habla de su carrera política y su participación con Western New York Hispanos y Amigos y La Liga de Mujeres Hispanas. También habla de su propio trabajo literario y su poesía.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Olga+Mendell+%28Interviewee%29">Olga Mendell (Interviewee)</a>
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Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
2013-10-12
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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Spanish
Jesús Padilla
This interview with Jesus Padilla was conducted on July 1, 2013 at the Niagara Branch Library by Stephanie Bucalo and Alma Carrillo. Jesus was born in Puerto Rico but migrated to Western New York with his parents when he was 6 years old. Initially they established a home on the Eastside of Buffalo but later followed the Puerto Rican community to the Lower Westside. Jesus shares memories from his childhood including moments when he felt heavy discrimination because of his ethnic background and language as well as how that shaped his desire to become deeply involved in the community. Jesus shares a particular story that really motivated him to provide translation and social services to migrants who could not speak English. He recalls a particular instance when a couple took their baby to the doctor’s and received instructions to feed the baby rice cereal. They could not understand English but recognized the word rice. They fed the baby rice and he choked and died. This traumatized Jesus largely because the baby would not have died if there a translator were present. He felt there was no reason for such a terrible tragedy to occur. Jesus went on to create programs for AIDS patients to help them receive the resources they needed and to also educate the community—especially their families—about AIDS. Many families were afraid of the disease and would treat their loved ones poorly because they didn’t understand the virus and how people can live with it. Jesus has very strong opinions about the various states of the Hispanic community and culture since his arrival to Western New York—he is especially vocal about the current state of the community.
Esta entrevista con Jesus Padilla fue conducida el 1 de julio de 2013 a la biblioteca en la Calle Niagara por Stephanie Bucalo y Alma Carrillo. Jesús nació en Puerto Rico pero migró a Nueva York del Oeste con sus padres cuando tuvo 6 años. Al prinicipio, ellos establecieron un hogar al lado del este de Búfalo pero más tarde sigieron la comunidad puertorriqueña al lado bajo del oeste. Jesús comparte sus memorias incluyendo los momentos cuando se sentía una descriminación profunda por la culpa de su etnicidad y su lengua tanto como este formósu deseo de involucrarse fuertemente en la comunidad. Jesús comparte una historia en particular que le animó realmente de proveer los servicios sociales y de traducción para los migrantes que no hablaron inglés. Él se recuerda de una instancia en particular cuando una pareja joven llevó a su hijo al médico y recibió instrucciones de darle al bébé el cereal de arroz. Ellos no podían entender el inglés pero reconocieron la palabra “arroz”. Le dieron el arroz al bébé y él se sofocó y murió. Este evento traumatizó a Jesús largamente porque el bébé no habría muerto si si estuviera un traductor ahí para asisitir a la familia. El sintió que no había ninguna razón para esta tragedia tan terrible. Jesús creyó programas para los pacientes de las SIDAS con la meta de ayudarlos recibir recursos necesarios y para educar a la comunidad—especialmente a sus familias—sobre las SIDAS. Muchas familias tenían miedo de la enfemedady les trataron pobre a sus cariños porque no entendieron el virusy como la gente vive con ello. Jesús tiene opiniones fuertes sobre los varios estados de la comunidad hispana y la cultura desde su llegada a Nueva York del Oeste—él es especialmente vocal sobre el estado actual de la comunidad.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Jes%C3%BAs+Padilla+%28Interviewee%29">Jesús Padilla (Interviewee)</a>
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<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Alma+Carrillo+%28Interviewer%29">Alma Carrillo (Interviewer)</a>
Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
2013-07-01
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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Carmen Rodriguez
Carmen Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico and arrived in Buffalo to reunite with her sister. Carmen did not speak English when she arrived but could read and write. Her brother-in-law brought her to the unemployment office where she found a job working in a factory. Carmen spent her life caring for her family, working to bring bilingual education to the school system and was a devout catholic. Carmen wrote articles for El Visitante, a local religious based magazine, and supported the Cursillo movement. She worked for a union and was sent to study at Cornell University so she could be prepared for her job at the factory. She also wrote for the union book. She held a fairly high position but never felt any sort of discrimination since she was a woman in a management position. Carmen worked very hard to provide a nurturing environment for her family and was very dedicated to helping the community grow religiously and educationally.
Carmen Rodríguez nació en Puerto Rico y llegó a Búfalo para reunirse con su hermana. Carmen no habló el inglés cuando llegó pero lo pudo leer y escribir. Su cuñado la llevó a la oficina de los desempleados donde ella encontró un puesto en una fábrica. Carmen pasó su vida cuidando a su familia, trabajando para llevar la educación bilingüe al sistema educativo y fue una católica devota. Carmen escribió artículos para El Visitante, una revista religiosa local, y apoyó el movimiento de los Cursillos. Ella trabajó para una unión y la unión le mandó a Cornell University para que pudiera ser la más preparada para su puesto en la fábrica. Ella también escribió para el libro de la unión. Ella mantuvo un puesto bastante alto pero nunca sintió ninguna forma de discriminación por la culpa de ser una mujer en un puesto de gerencia. Carmen trabajó muy duro para proveer un ambiente cariñoso para su familia y fue muy dedicada a ayudar a crecer a la comunidad religiosamente y educativamente.
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Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
2013-07-29
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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