This is a hand press for plantains that my mother uses to make fried plantains. This is the same cooking tool her mother used back in Petit-Goâve to make smash green plantains before she fried them. Interestingly, while in Haiti my mother was very reliant on my grandmother but during their time in America their roles reversed. As an elderly immigrant my grandmother did not speak any English and didn't care to learn. My parents were responsible for taking her places and serving as translators. Essentially, she stayed in our house to cook, clean and take care of me and my brother. She passed away a few years ago but cooking tools like these are scattered all around the kitchen for us to remember her by.

– Medwin Fontin

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