In our current society, anti-immigrant biases and stereotypes abound.  It is common to hear politicians promote deportation policies and cutting off immigration, while media outlets often scapegoat immigrants for crime and economic problems.  Some journalists have even gone as far as calling refugees a "dead weight" for the rest of the United States to "carry along."  Furthermore, discussions around immigration are central to understanding nearly every controversial topic this election cycle, from the economy to foreign policy.  

​

These biased narratives have an extremely negative effect on our society, especially on young people.  A recent study by the Migration Policy Institute found that immigrant children face harsh bullying and ostracism at school, which results in higher rates of psychological distress.  Furthermore, teachers don't often push immigrant youth to participate or join advanced level classes, which further worsens the academic outcomes for immigrant youth.  Much of this unfair treatment stems from biased narratives.  These narratives pervade our thinking and shape our sense of self and interactions with others.  

​

While these biased narratives talk a lot about immigrants, they do not actually include the voices of immigrants themselves.  That is where this oral history project comes in.  The purpose of this oral history project is to amplify the voices of immigrants, which are so often silenced in mainstream narratives.  As you read the oral history narratives, please consider the ways in which they fill in the gaps of mainstream narratives and subvert stereotypes about immigrants in our society today.    

​

Oral history is the intentional and formal process gathering of information and stories from individuals in order to develop a deeper understanding our past and our present.  Oral history often focuses on gathering information from people who are traditionally silenced in mainstream narratives and historical accounts.  The work in our class has been greatly shaped by the curriculum and practices of Voice of Witness.

​

This website is the result of an oral history project conducted by 9th graders at Oakland Technical High School.  

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Photo credits:

Bay Bridge By ChristianSchd - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29888446

Hagia Sophia By Dennis Jarvis from Halifax, Canada - Turkey-3019 - Hagia Sophia, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23450307

Federal District Buildings in Mexico City by By Uwebart - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12157288

Machu Picchu by By Martin St-Amant (S23678) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8450312

Lion of Judah in Addis Ababa by Fanos Ethiopia Tours https://fanosethiopiatours.wordpress.com/about-us/monumets-in-addis/

Lagos by Tourist Destinations http://www.tourist-destinations.com/2013/04/lagos-nigeria.html

Mekong River By Allie Caulfield [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Yanshan Port By Marqueed at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12818486

St. Peter's Basilica By Giacomo della Porta - Wolfgang Stuck (Own work), September 2004, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70472

al-Aqsa Mosque By Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2450104