Objects that Tell a Story
Teng, a Hmong refugee to the United States, talks about each of the immigration documents he received over the years, culminating in his U.S. Certificate of Naturalization, which ended his status as a stateless person. His family emigrated from Thailand to Minnesota in 1988.
Renita was born in Tamil Nadu, India in 1996. She explains how her mother's wedding saree connected her mother's traditions in India to her new life in the United States and the saree's significance to Renita today.
Rada immigrated from Bulgaria with her mother in 1998 to join her father, a musician who was studying at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music. She talks about the significance of the cello and how it represents her family’s journey to the United States.
Sharon’s grandfather came to the United States from Lebanon as a young man. His family sent for a young woman from the home country to be his bride, who brought clippings of a grape vine wrapped in cloth. After three generations, the vine has grown into a representation of the family heritage.