Debbie Hardy

Description

Debbie Hardy moved to the United States from Jamaica 29 years ago. She remembers playing a lot as a child with her four siblings, climbing trees, and growing up poor. Though they were financially poor, she says that they were rich is spirit, love, and stories. She speaks about the role of individual family members, such as her mother, grandmother, etc. in her life. She mentioned that she loved to be bare feet as a child and climb trees. She talks about making dolls and being a dreamer. She speaks about games that they played in Jamaica. She mentions and explains some Jamaican sayings. Part of her transition to the United States related to the fact that her father was abusive to her mother, and while they were divorced, there was little protection over domestic affairs in Jamaica. She speaks about her difficult transition to the United States. She came to Brooklyn at 17 years old and stayed with an aunt in Flatbush Brooklyn. Her sister stayed in the Bronx, and her mother and grandmother worked as live-in maids/nannies at two different places. She describes it being hard, being so far away from family and such a crucial transition. She would see her sister on weekends and her mother and grandmother whenever they could—live-ins had little freedom. She attended Christopher Robin Academy in Queens, commuting from Flatbush. She felt like an outsider at this new school, in this new community. Students made fun of her, calling her “coconut.” Her transition...

From Collection

2016 Weeksville Heritage Center Oral History Series