Our Stories, Our World

Welcome to the B Block English Blog!

The work on the following pages documents the experiences of our students as they explored their respective communities through the gathering of the living stories of the people around them.

Go the Blog Archive on the right and click on the arrow to open the menu. Click on a student's name to see their blog page.

*Note to students*
See the sample oral history below for a sense of how your work should look.

Oral History of Ann Zambrana

Ann Zambrana is a 40 year-old mother of two. She is of Puerto Rican descent - born and raised in New York City. She has a 6 year-old boy and a 4 year-old girl. We sat together on a bright, yet lazy Sunday afternoon to discuss parenthood and, more specifically, motherhood. Throughout the interview, the children could be heard playing in the background.

When I was a kid being a mother was more of an idea, a fantasy. Now as a mother, I realize it’s a lot of hard work. It’s a lot of dedication - not like the fantasy I had as a child.

Motherhood has a lot of meanings to me. I think the most important one is to shape the minds and the souls of these two individuals I brought into this world so that they can respect one another, be honest with one another, and live harmoniously with not just the people on the planet but the planet itself.

I think anyone who deals with children in one form or another is considered like a parent – someone who’s responsible to teach them right from wrong and to help them, guide their way. But motherhood is different because those children are yours. They’re not somebody else’s child. There’s a certain sense of moral responsibility when they’re yours more than when they’re somebody else’s. You know.
The same thing with a father - someone who guides them, shows them, protects them and is there for them. You know, anyone can just make a baby. It’s another [thing] to be there, and guide them. Be responsible for them; Responsible to them.

I mean, you’ve got certain men who will hit their child to put them in place, you have men who will put the fear of God into the child to keep them in place. And then you’ve got those who will sit down and speak to them as an individual and help them understand what their place is, not just put ‘em there, but let them know why it is that they’re there and where it is that they’re going from there.

There are very many different approaches. (Laughs) [Motherhood] has both positive and negative effects on my life. I mean, the positive effect is that they’re my children, they’re my soul. Right now, they’re the center of my life; whereas before, I was the center of my life and things that I wanted to do came first. Now, they come last. I would have to honestly say that I’ve lost some of myself in becoming a mother and a parent.

[But], it is absolutely worth it! (A huge smile comes across her face and tears well up in her eyes as she says these last words.) Everyday, when I look into my kids’ faces and I see those eyes of wonder, it replenishes my soul; it breathes new life into me. And to hear them say, ‘Mommy, I love you’ and to see them hug and kiss each other. It is… it is absolutely worth it!

Oral History Drafting Checklist, Portfolio Checklist, & Scoring Rubric

Follow the steps in the Drafting Checklist under the style you have chosen to report your oral history. Be sure to email your draft and interview transcription to me (hector.zambrana@gmail.com) as soon as possible.

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Also, remember that all of your portfolio pieces are due for your project on Monday, April 20th. Use the Project Portfolio Checklist below to make sure you have everything.

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Use the updated checklist handed out in class to keep track of your work. Then, use the rubric below to make sure you get a good grade.

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Ilea Flores

Oral History Of Chasity

Chasity Barinas is a 30 year old wife and mother of three.She is puerto rican born and raised in new york city.She has a 10 year old son, 9 year old daughter, and 7 year old son. We sat together on a wet lazy sunday afternoon to discuss peer pressure and friendship. Through the whole interview you could here the children running around and fighting in the background.

To me what makes a good friendship is someone who does not pressure you in doing something you dont want to do. Not a hypocrite and talks behind your back, someone who cares about your well being.

Yes I have been pressures by friends. And yes I was pressured into something I didn't want to do.

I'll say both friends and family pressure the same. Some friends will tease you, call you names, not be your friend, talk about you, not like us because you didn't do what they said.

(Sighs) Some family would not listen to you, not care if you are here or there, with who or not. Emotional and physical abuse at home or lecture you to deaf you might rebel. Not a good role model in your own home. Wrong advice.

Now that I have children I'm aware hor friends or families could pressure you to do things you really do not want to do. Because I had experienced peer pressure myslef.

Well i never knew about what was peer pressure. My mom wasn;t educated about the topic. I was not explained or thaught about peer pressure in high school. I noticed that I went through it when my first child went to head start. In attending parents work shop.

One time while when I was in High School me and three of my friends where cutting school. We went to the school yard in area where no one could see us. Neither the security guard nor the teachers could see us. We also looked around for some students , once we knew that the area was clear one of my friends took out a cigarette then she started to pass it down, when it was suppose to be my turn I said no. I was scared, I never smoked a cigarette before. Then one of them said "Come on you're the only one who didn't smoke just take one puff. It's calming nothing is going to happen to you." So I gave in. I was afraid that if I didn't do what they said I wouldn't have any friends, which I already didn't have much of.

I started feeling more peer pressure once I started dating. I had a boyfriend who smoked marijuana, we started having sexual intercourse just because I couldn't decide for myself, and just because I wanted some one to love me, and care for me. Along the years I've learned alot, just by going to work shops. I also did my best to educate myslef as much as possible, so one day I could educate my children about peer pressure, and hopefully they would have more strenght than I did if they ever come across it.

Yes one of my friends pressured me. Back then I didn't know the reason. Now looking back she was a demanding person, she wanted me to do what she said just because she was jealsous of me. She wanted me to be like her, and if I didn't do what she said she would go behind my back and say horrible things about me. No im not friends with her anymore, after graduation i just didnt want to be around her anymore. I enrolled in a training program that kept me busy. there was a couple of times she had called my mom, but she said i moves to another state with my aunt.

Glendys Vidal

Oral History of Yolanda Ruiz

Yolanda Ruiz is a 82 year old grandmother of 20 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and mother of 7 kids. She was born and raised in the Dominican Republic during the period of Leonard Trujillo’s dictatorship. We sat together one cold night to discuss how life for her was going up with a dictator. After the interview she showed me a few pictures of her and her family back in Dominican Republic in the early 1900’s.


Innocent young girl I was around 15 most likely younger. Leonard Trujillo was the dictator in the Dominican Republic before I was born and my years of growing up in Dominican Republic. I wasn’t scared at all besides what’s to be scared of, it was the way of life I guess I was so used to it. All his rules and commands I just got used to them. He was already dictator before I was born so as I grew up I didn’t have much to say but just respect.

I grew up hating him didn’t know exactly why though. Don’t remember really asking my parents anyways. But my family hated him and all my friends did too. I thought hating him was just another thing you had to do.

Everyone had to have pictures of him “El era el jefe” (he was the boss in Spanish) and if you didn’t have a picture of him he’ll destroy your whole house and killed whoever lived in it. Never even got to see him even though he hold extreme amount of power in my country and a wall just for his picture in my front porch.

Many wonder how can one men rule a whole country with thousands living in it, but its mostly because before he became dictator he was commander of the Nation Army. He used his statues of the army to gain power. (takes a long pause) he had a lot of respect and took advantage of it.

When he died woof (takes a deep breath) that was one heck of a party. Didn’t know exactly why I was going crazy with the others but for some odd reason felt… you know, free. And my neighborhood was going more crazier then the others because the men that shot him was from my very own neighborhood.

Hmmm the country didn’t owe money to no one, they didn’t have a lot of violence well besides the one he cost. The education was good, more teachers, more supplies, a lot of textbooks and hmmm jobs? Well a lot of people were working. It wasn’t hard finding a job back then.

Women were treated good but if he liked one well lets just say he’ll hmm rape them (signs) yeah rape. Even though he’ll rape and kill, some used to still like him many because he used to help. He used to give you food if you didn’t have. You know he used to help you.

Tourist we’re treated Nice, good. Hmmm… there wasn’t that much tourist in my country at that time. Like think about it, who will like to visit a country with a dictator?

When I moved to the United States in my mid 40’s I felt good. Felt independent. More opportunity’s for me, the father of my kids, and my kids to have a better life. And even though the climate is super different (laughs) the police were better, more justice. I felt I had power over myself in the Untied States unlike I had in Dominican Republic. Hmm how could I explain it. Life was more easier, like they give you more here in the U.S. then they did in Santo Domingo. We could live happy and with less stress. What’s not to be happy about? (smiles and laughs)

Kassandra Pallamps

Oral History of

Marianela Pallamps

Marianela Pallamps born and raised in Dominican Republic . She is a mother of five kids. she is 35 years old and works making jewelry. she lives with her mother and her husband named alex. so we sat on a windy afternoon wednesday interviewing her about Peer Pressure and Friendship.

When I was a little girl I used to be probably the smartest girl in school, I loved school. After school me and my friends always used to hang out. and sometimes we did very bad things. I remember a time when my friends and I decided to brake (starts laughing) in a women's house to steal some fruits. Eventually we got caught. I used to have a very clothes friend who i used to call my best friend named Jessica she was very nice and cool but she was very bad influence. I felt very uncomfortable hanging out with her because after school all she did was smoke but I trusted her and i knew she would not let anything happen to me. Until one day i notice the truth about her she told me '' hey you want to go to a kids party tonight ?" I said " kids party?" she said " yes" .so i actually went we was walking and as i was walking i notice the neighborhood is very lonely and dark . so jessica knocks the door a girl opens . as i went in the apartment i see a bunch of adults smoking weed and drinking and i told jessica " hello i thought u said this was a kids party ?" she said " grow up mariah and have some fun" so i said in my mind alriight everything is going to be alright . so there was this guy trying to hit on me but i ignored him . i never forgot that nite because one of my friends name anthony got shot right after the party cause he was in a gang.


Peer pressure is a very big topic now and days cause you see it everywhere. peer pressure will have to be ( scratch her head and starts looks up the cealing) when your friends force you to do something wrong or influence you to do something good. I always wanted to be a actress but i couldn't because i had a baby at the age of 18 getting ready to go to college so i couldn't finish my carrer. My aunt used to make jewelry I thought it was very interesting so she show me how all the machine works and how to actually make jewelry so i started working in the place that my aunt made jewelry at so thats my job now.

I remember a time i felt betrayed and it was when i have told my friends to come my house and I waited for hours and hours . Then the next they in school she didn't even speak to me she was with the most popular girls in school and i thought to myself what is she doing ?. so i went up to her and i ask her hello what's wrong with you and she said in front of the girls "well for your own information i join the cheerleading team and now i wanna hang out with peoples who are someone and not with peoples who are nobody. I roll my eyes and left i felt very betrayed because she was my best friends and she betrayed me for some girls who probally don't even care about her.

Sometimes friends could Peer pressure you to do very bad things like you could have been a very straight A person but since you have bad influence now your grades went down so that could be an example and also your mother gives you curfew of 6 o'clock and right after school you used to come straight home but now that you have bad influence now you come home like at 8 o'clock . But sometimes your friends could peer pressure you to do good things like do your work all the time ,go straight home after school , wouldn't let you use alcohol or do drugs.

Carlos Batista

Peer Pressure

Take The First Puff

Take the first puff.....

just do it son!

...come on be down with the crew.

if this is what it takes to be in

then,

i don't want to be like you.

for i am my own person with my own,

mind, body and soul.

why do things to harm my body,

leaving it rotten and cold.

why take that first puff,

for i could look restless and old,

i am my own leader

i don't do what im told....

Aaron Gonzalez

people suffering

cant stop the hunger

cant see the end to this never ending pain

its hard to see your family just waiting to see the next day but got to work 20 hours in a day hardly getting payed all this time waiting hoping that we can find work to make it thought all this rain all this that is cant be a phase people die all the time but this is to great its hard to keep faith.

Nabeel Ahmad

Oral History Of David Perez

David Perez is 67 years old.He has two grandsons and one granddaughter.He is Puerto Rican and black.He lived in puerto Rico for three years.Also lived in South Carolina for a long time.So Monday 6o'clock PM we sat down and had a long talk bout myself.While sitting there was a bunch of chatter heard in the house.

I remember trying to shape my soul to make myself a good person. So in my neighborhood there was a lot of fighting between the races like if black or white was better. So like there was a lot of riots and cops battling around (sighs and stops)…All I did was stare and watch because every time I would try to defend the black people.

I really never had a time in my life were I felt as racism was that bad. In my mind I would always see these riots and stuff and people dying everyday just because of what race you are. I felt as this is was a stupid reason to fight. I really don’t remember much but that i used to get pushed around by like 20 years old white kids I felt so bad and angry I just wanted to strike back.

I was born in South Carolina. It affected me because all these white boys would want to say funny stuff bout me. I also fought back every time but wont get to serious. It made me so angry I just felt like punching them in the face but I couldn't’t. Made me so angry i just felt like punching them in the face.My experience it was hard well thought i wouldn't survive at all through life during this time. Getting threatened some days I couldn't even go to school because of how people would look and stare at me in anger.

Sometimes i really didn't care but when i see but than when i see like people getting hurt while being separated I get angry and want to do something so bad. Before all I can say is I hated just seeing people get hurt for what race they are just so mess up. Now a days I really don't pay attention to what they do or attend to do. Being stop everyday by the police to ask what race I am. I look up at the sky and tears would come out. It actually felt horrible but i also knew I could beat them up but I didn't wanted to because all the time I would get pushed by more of them than they will call the cops. I was one hated person and I just had to fear it everyday.

Eboni Marshall

Oral History of Emma Worrell

My grandma is 86 year old woman. She loves going to church and sings in the church choir. She has six grandkids and four daughters. Her season is winter because she loves the snow. My grandma used to live in the country side but moved to the city.

E. Tell me of your first day of school?

G. Well it was fun but when I first arrived I scared but back then it was only black teens.(happy smile)

E. How it hard raising your kids back then?

G. Yes because I really didn't trust people so if they want to go out had to go together.

E. Where did you see less segregation in the north or south?

G. Well they are the same but there is less in the north.(coughing)

E. Would you prefer to stay in the country or stay in the city?

G. In the city to stay with my grandkids and my dargther but I would love to go the country .(deep in thought) (smell of cookies)

E. What do you think kids and segregation now?

G. Well think that kids are happy are better like this I'm happy when my grandkids are happy.

E. When both races are going to school now how does it feel?

G. It was werid being in a white school we were teased for our skin color.

E. How did you deal with segergation when you were younger?

G. I would write in my diary or talk to one of my friends. But mostly I would sing and dance in my room.

E. Was my aunt ever judge for their skin color

G. Yes but not as often I was when they were grown-up

E. When did you start to see signs of Desegregation?

G. yes after your mother was born I started to see signs of Desegregation. (drink water)

Atziri Figueroa

Oral History of Yadira Ibarra.

Yadira Ibarra is a 36 year old, mother of 3 children. She is Mexican was married and lives in New York City and is a clear spring night, we are sitting down in a bedroom in her apartment facing each other and we talked about Peer Pressure & Friendships.

(Humming) well when i was younger around the age of 17, and also till now i passed through a lot of peer pressure and more. Since those days, too many friends wanted to pressure me not to go to school because they wanted me to be a failure in my future (Frowns). Back then i didn't know how to choose my friends wisely; but as, time passed, i figured out that a friend is someone who you trust, know very well, is honest and you can count with that person in any occasion (Smiles). I think friends are for you to have laughs with, enjoy times together, help each other out and have communication.

What peer pressure means to me is when someone is pushing me to do something i don't want to do and it's bad or when they pressuring me to do something that will help me in my future. (Thinking) when i got to New York i met a lot of friends in which one of them betrayed me by talking about me behind my back while knowing that I was always there for her and helping her out (Frowns).

In my case, i was a very good friend. I helped her out on everything in good and bad times and was always in touch with her, after all I did for her she didn't know how to appreciate my friendship and she decided to talk a lot of bad things about me that were lies and things I felt I could trust her with but yet she went on and told a lot of people. After this experience (Nodding), i dont trust every friend i have because not all of them are honest. Once, one of my friend took advantage of me by sending her kids to me so i could take care of them while she went to other people and started to talk bad about me and got me into a lot of issues with my husband (Frowns). After all she did to me, she thought I was never going to find out. She came to me telling me not to talk to some certain people I was friends with only because she didn't like them. I thoughht she was a very good friend so I listened to her and didn't talk to them until I found out all she wanted was for me not to have any friends annd to get me involved in a lot of problems with many people in the neighborhood (Frown). All I know is that never in my life did i ever fight over a boy or a friend because i think it's not worth it because you can always find a boyfriend or friend anywhere in this world (laughs)

My friends used to always tell me to go to places with them but never told me exactly where; so, i never went unless I was with a family member because I always thought, (What if they take me to a place i don't want to go?' (Humms) So no; I was never taken to an unexpected place'. I never looked to a friend. Being yourself is better then trying to be like someone else or doing what someone else does (Smiles). After so many things happened to me I have less friends but I am sure they will always be there for me because they proved it to me and I have tested them too. Yet I find that everything I talk about with them stays between me and that person; so, that's how I know that I have a true friend. Also because there always watching over me to see if everything is alright. Now I know that when I know a person well enough then that's when I know I should have confidence with them .

Some things that influence people, friends,and family is television because they show you cases in wich many teens and adults are affected by peer pressure, also from friendship and more. Some people may have passed through good and bad things about peer pressure and they may tell you about it, so, that's another way of being aware and preventing so many bad things and doing good. I think peer pressure has its positive and negative parts. One positive thing about peer pressure is that they can pressure you to do something that will help you succeed in your future and help you do good. A negative thing about peer pressure is that they can pressure you to do something bad. Peer pressure is a hard thing to explain and know about, but is necessary to learn about it because it helps to make better choices and do your best and prevent failure and bad things that can affect you (Smiles).

Jaylynn Carrenard

Oral History of Mily Curet

Mily Curet is a mother of four kids. she lives in Harlem. she currently works at a bank called HSBC on 42Nd street. Mily speaks both Spanish and English. both of her parents speak Spanish also.Mily curet is a good person for my topic because her responsibility is being a mother.she has to make sure that her kids have a hot meal everyday and a roof over there head.


(Big smile on face) I love being a mother because i know i Will teach my children to do good in life for there future years ahead. I have four kids, the most important thing about being a mother is that you have to raise your children to do good in life. Being a mother can be hard at times especially when you have more than one child because everyone wants the same attention. Mabe once a month i get a break from the kids when they go away for the weekend, then I go out with my friends. My acomplishments that I made so far is that I taught my children to be where they are right now in life. Yes I'm very proud of my kids because their all different in there own ways they act just alike but have their own style and personality. Not all the time I have patience because sometimes I feel like giving up but I know I cant because then I'm giving up on my kids then as they grow they are going to want to give up too. I work everyday and hard to make sure all four of my kids have what they need. I cant always give them everything but I try my best to do well. when I was younger I used to put my dolls to sleep with me and cover them up with blankets and treat them as real children.

Being a mother means the world to me because I know in my heart my kids will make it in life and I will be here for them every step of the way, I will not always be right there with them but in their hearts when they feel like giving up they would not because I did not give up on them and they should not either. Being a mother affects me in a way that I have to be responsible for my children's actions wheather it is good or bad. when I first heard my child call me mom I was touched and excited. Being a mom is a gift because my kids are our future and who knows what they will turn out to be. A doctor,lawyer,teacher or even the preisdent. A mother is different from a women to me because a mother has to be responsible for her kids.