“And they really—under the umbrella of education, housing, and employment—try to confront a lot of the discrimination and issues that the community has faced in the region.” Historian Emiliano Aguilar, doctoral student Northwestern University Transcript for The Concerned Latins Organization One: The Introduction of Latinx Communities to Northwest Indiana I think one of the most […]
politics
Repatriation Movement
“From 1929 to 1939 the United States and communities across the United States engaged in a repatriation movement of Mexican nationals.” Historian Emiliano Aguilar, doctoral student Northwestern University Transcript for Repatriation Movement So from 1929 to 1939 the United States and communities across the United States engaged in a repatriation movement of Mexican nationals. And […]
Block and Pennsy
“These communities have been erased.” Nicole Martinez-LeGrand, Multicultural Collections Coordinator, Library and Archives Division, Indiana Historical Society. Transcript for Block and Pennsy In the 1920s you have this curious, fabulous mix of people from all different backgrounds – middle class, low class – all coming and mixing in the confines of Block and Pennsy. This […]
Pick Up That Slack
“The tradition of the mutual aid society dates all the way back to the earliest days of the Mexican colonies in Indiana Harbor and Gary, Indiana.” Historian Emiliano Aguilar, doctoral student Northwestern University Transcript for Pick Up That Slack TITLE CARD: In 1956, two groups, the Benito Juarez Society and the Cuauhtemoc Society, merged to […]
Part 4: Honored to Have This Seat
“I am 100% committed to changing the fabric of our city.” Part 4 of an oral history story from an interview with Mayor Jerome Prince, Gary, Indiana. You can find Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. Transcript for Honored to Have This Seat For me, people who held government offices were […]
Part 3: Get Out into the World
“Marine Corps was a decision based on my desire to want to provide for my family.” Part 3 of an oral history story from an interview with Mayor Jerome Prince, Gary, Indiana. You can find Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 4 here. Transcript for Get Out into the World The best or […]
The Signs Were Not There
“We used to say this was ‘up South,’ and, you know, the other places were ‘down South.’” Transcript for The Signs Were Not There All of my folks—my father and my mother’s side, they were all from Florida. Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, and all down there. Every summer, my mother packed us all up, you know, […]
I-65 Changed All That
“You know, it was a national trend back then for people to leave urban areas and move to the suburbs.” Transcript for I-65 Changed All That Merrillville back, I guess, in the 1800s was called Wiggins Point—its claim to fame was that part of the old Sauk Trail went through Merrillville. In fact, there’s still […]
No Interest in Seeing Our City Progress
“Why don’t you come to Gary and see what Gary really is?” Transcript for No Interest in Seeing Our City Progress You know—city services are based on tax revenue and if you don’t have enough people who are paying into that tax base, then of course, you can’t provide the level of service that you […]