Every week, the AWM is excited to bring you stories written by our visitors in our Story of the Day exhibit, which features typewriters that visitors can interact with directly, or our newest temporary exhibit, My America: Immigrant and Refugee Writers Today. Check back weekly for new stories, and visit the Museum to try out our typewriters, see the exhibit, and possibly be featured here!
Part of our newest temporary exhibit features an interactive station that allows visitors to write their family’s story on a luggage tag and stamp it with the reason their family came to the United States, whether it was Family, Refuge, by Force, for Freedom or Opportunity, or a different reason. Below are four stories shared in the exhibit, which opened to the public November 21, 2019. Visit the Museum or comment below to share your family’s immigration (or migration) story.
“I am 1st generation American! My mother arrived to family established in Dallas in 1963. My father travelled as an undocumented worker through the 1950’s – California, Colorado, Texas and settled eventually in Chicago. He gained residency and served in the U.S. Army.”
11/19/19
“My mom comes from Mexico and she was a migrant to meet up with my dad who also was a migrant but was already in the U.S.A. They told me they just want the good for me and my siblings.”
12/2/19 Itzel R.
“My family has lived here for hundreds & hundreds of years. The most recent immigrant in my family was here before the Civil War. My dad suspects that we may have ancestors that date back to the Mayflower. I don’t know much about my family & culture, but I’m continuously inspired by them.”
“My grandma was born in Memphis and she’s now in Chicago with the rest of our family.
12-2-19 Emonie Menetee