“We are what we collect, we collect what we are.” ~
Elizabeth Kaplan
For thousands of years the
histories of people have been written down, and (in some lucky cases)
preserved. From the ancient Egyptians, to the Renaissance and Reformation in
Europe, to yesterday’s news, records have been taken about the occurrences from
the past. Whether or not that information makes it beyond the paper is in our
hands. As author of Archives Power, Randall C. Jimerson wrote, “ By preserving
some records and not others, archivists affect society’s collective
understanding of the past, including what will be forgotten.”
As
the great-granddaughter of Polish immigrants my family history has been passed
down through the generations. If it weren’t for the stories, the letters, and
the photographs, I’d be missing part of who I am. Finding this class spoke to
me in that sense: preserving parts of unknown history that are important to
understanding the past.
I’ve
taken courses on feminist theory, and my first encounter with Chicana feminism
was in Gloria Anzaldua’s writing “La conciencia de la mestiza.” Part of her
focus centered on the domination that is culturally specific, using her own ethnicity
as a Chicana. Anzaldua discussed how men in her culture face suffering and
shame because of the color of their skin. To regain some sense of masculinity
they “breed a false sense of machismo” (Anzaldua 83) and oppress their women. I
will qualify that 1) not all Chicano men are like this 2) this same repression
occurs in various forms in all cultures and 3) oppress is a strong word, but I
find it fitting, considering the circumstances of our class in the sense that
very little is known about the Chicana women who brought so much to the
movements for Chicano rights.
For me however, it’s beyond resurrecting that untold history;
it’s about bringing this group of women into the light. Our history is speckled
with stories of women like Joan of Arc, Sor Juana, Amelia Earhart, etc. But
that’s all; they’re the few blips within a long history of male heroes. George
Washington wouldn’t have won the War for Independence without the women who
fed, clothed, and tended to the sick. The Resistance against the Nazi’s didn’t
benefit from just men; women were involved in all sorts of underground organizations
during World War II. Rosie the
Riveter is a prime example of the thousands of women who worked long hours in
factories while their husbands, fathers, brothers, and uncles fought overseas.
Without these women and many more, historical events may have taken a different
turn. Women have always been on both sides of any movement, and it’s time more
of their stories start being told.
Currently, I am working on my own
project for my History Honors Thesis, which focuses on women in the Michigan
Migrant Ministry and their interactions with the Chicano communities in the
rural parts of the state during the 1940s. I introduced myself to Oral History
by doing one of my own for the project; it was quite a learning experience to
say the least. For one, patience is a virtue. Working with older persons
requires an understanding that you may not get all of your questions answered
in one interview, but at the same time they may give you a jack pot piece of
information that you wouldn’t have found otherwise. I am excited that the
upcoming semester will further refine my skills in Oral History, and aid my
overall development as a Historian. But even more than that, I’m looking
forward to being apart of this movement to document the untold stories of these
women who did so much for the causes they believed in. Their histories will not
only bring to light a new dimension of their own history, but they will also
show the strength that women bring to the past.
That excitement and goal has kept
me from focusing on my fears for the project, which aren’t really fears (since
I believe that is a strong word), but more concerns. I want to make sure I ask
questions without offending anyone; I am referring to the idea that curiosity
killed the cat.
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