These gold bracelets, from Vietnam, are given to each of my siblings once we were born. In Vietnamese tradition, jewelry would be used to welcome newborns into the family. Once the jewelry is outgrown, it’s saved for the next sibling and is passed down from generation to generation. Both my parents grew up poor and were denied higher education due to their family’s affiliation/ interaction with the American army. The lack of opportunities, financial instability, and the possibility of execution forced my father to flee to America by boat. The only way to pay to get onto the boat was by gold or jewelry. Jewelry passed down from generation to generation was often the last means of money for many families, who were forced to sell them in order to make ends meet or to escape. Thus, many of the gold jewelry that's currently in our possession have only been through one generation (my generation). Gold is a symbol of wealth, and for these bracelets, they’re also a symbol of welcoming a new life into a family. And, although these bracelets aren’t as precious as the jewelry from my great-great -grandmother's time, it still holds a special place in our family. These bracelets remind me of my parent’s immigration story and the many struggles they went through in order to provide us with something we can pass down to our children.

– SH

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant