Summary(0:01) Introduction -- (2:15) Family history in Dominican Republic -- (5:28) Family moves to Spanish Harlem, upper east side, in New York City -- (7:00) Handicap and delays of being very myopic, near sighted -- (9:30) Immigrant parents and disability -- (12:00) Coping with cancer diagnosis -- (13:45) His interest in languages, music and dance -- (17:40) Family history -- (23:30) Family move to Brooklyn -- (26:00) Settling in Sunset Park -- (28:39) Dominican family tradition of marrying cousins -- (31:45) Memories of parents -- (32:30) Two languages, two cultures -- (37:00) Changes in Brooklyn. Many Norwegians, Greek, Irish in Sunset Park -- (44:09) Later family life in Brooklyn -- (52:07) Interests: swimming, dancing, restaurants and senior centers.
NoteAudio interview conducted on February 22, 2021 by Peter Chaffe. Collected for Our Streets, Our Stories, an oral history project of Brooklyn Public Library. This project is a partnership with Services for Older Adults and the Brooklyn Collection.
SubjectPeople with disabilities--United States ; Bilingualism
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TitleOral history interview conducted with Henry Fernandez on 2021 February 22.