Before me or either of siblings had been born, my soon to be parents were still in Haiti. Prior to coming to the United States and ultimately New York City, they got happily married. Once married my parents had my first sibling who was a girl. At this point in time my mother’s parents had already passed away and on my father’s side, his mother wasn’t in the picture and his father was living in Haiti. As my parents were making the official move to the United States my grandfather who was named Roy gave his childhood gold necklace which was given to him by his own father, to my father.

Several years later I had been born. As I was growing up I always saw my father with the necklace around his neck however I had never known the meaning. One day right before high school began my father gave me the necklace and told the the history of it being passed down passed so far three generations and was passed down from father to son each time. This was a very important item because it’s origins come from Haiti which is my home country. The necklace also represented a coming of age as I start a new part of my life. Last but not least it includes the history of my family in Haiti since its been passed down from my culture. 

– Roy

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant