Childhoods in Motion: The Stories of Young American Immigrants
People who immigrate as adults must overcome many challenges, but what hardships do their children face?
In an On the Move session organized by the American Anthropological Association and the Dream Action Coalition, a fascinating group of young adults shared their harrowing yet uplifting personal narratives. The “Childhoods in Motion” panel on June 30 included Cesar Vargas, Yesenia Mata, Carlos Vargas, Hina Naveed, and Citlalli Alvarez, all of whom migrated to the United States as children.
They shared their stories, ranging from barely evading deportation to obtaining degrees from some of the best universities in the United States. The panel also conducted short group workshop in which visitors shared their own narratives with each other.
Come down to the National Mall now through July 9 to take part in similar events at the 2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Sean Baker is a video production intern at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. He has a degree in anthropology from Indiana University, with a particular interest in visual storytelling.