Voices

Voices

The impacts of the pandemic and of the Black-led uprisings against racism have been felt in different ways across the city. Even as they struggled with the deep inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic and coped with their own losses, the city’s residents adapted and even began imagining what a just recovery and fairer city might look like. Listen to the voices of New Yorkers as they speak about these critical six months and how their communities responded.

Explore the exhibition—return to all themes or return to the online exhibition.
 

Felicia Conduah

"Me spending 30 minutes on one subject." 
May 2, 2020 
Courtesy City Lore 

(Run time: 0:53 minutes) 
 

Jennifer Clarke, interviewed by Virginia Marshall

“There was no testing in our area, so I felt very helpless.” 
August 14, 2020 
Courtesy Brooklyn Public Library 

(Run time: 2:09 minutes) 
 

Ashley Olivetti 

“I’m 26 and I’ve never seen anything like it.” 
April 21, 2020 
Courtesy CUNY College of Staten Island 

(Run time: 0:50 minutes)
 

Diontay Santiago, interviewed by Veronica Quiroga 

“It’s kind of crazy to be around all this death without seeing it but knowing it’s happening” 
June 15, 2020 
Courtesy The Bronx COVID-19 Oral History Project 

(Run time: 3:34 minutes)
 

Patricia Tiu 

“At this point, I have accepted the fact that no one is coming to help us.” 
June 11, 2020 
Courtesy Queens Public Library 

(Run time: 4:28 minutes)
 

Chanel Grant 

“Believe it or not, I miss school.” 
May 13, 2020 
Courtesy CUNY College of Staten Island 

(Run time: 8:08 minutes) 
 

Lionel Spencer, interviewed by Carlos Rico 

“I didn’t necessarily associate my dad’s death with us being part of that marginalized group.” 
August 1, 2020 
Courtesy The Bronx COVID-19 Oral History Project 

(Run time: 3:20 minutes)
 

Maria Aponte, interviewed by Carlos Rico 

"It really devastated me when they started breaking down the groups that got devastated the most…” 
June 8, 2020 
Courtesy The Bronx COVID-19 Oral History Project 

(Run time: 3:20 minutes)
 

Alietta Bellamy, interviewed by Grace Schmidt 

“Next school year I see it going really slow.” 
June 15, 2020 
Courtesy The Bronx COVID-19 Oral History Project 

(Run time: 2:59 minutes)
 

Monique Muldrow 

“We can’t afford to shut down. We have a lot of kids who have nowhere to go and they need someone to take care of them.” 
Undated 
Courtesy Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies and Sheltering Arms

(Run time: 2:45 minutes) 
 

Enuma Menkiti, interviewed by Maria Luisa Gambale 

“The night that I went to the ER, I remember thinking, who will take care of our kids.” 
May 21, 2020 
Courtesy Brooklyn Public Library 

(Run time: 1:34 minutes)
 

Paige Fraser, interviewed by Carlos Rico 

“It inspired me to start to reflect on how and if I’ve used my voice enough.” 
September 2, 2020 
Courtesy The Bronx COVID-19 Oral History Project 

(Run time: 3:20 minutes)
 

Michael McDonald 

“Honestly, it’s a blessing to come to work right now.” 
Undated 
Courtesy Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies and Sheltering Arms 

(Run time: 3:42 minutes)
 

Derrick Lewis, interviewed by Veronica Quiroga and Bethany Fernandez 

“I envision a post-COVID Bronx where we can democratize access to health.” 
May 29, 2020 
Courtesy The Bronx COVID-19 Oral History Project 

(Run time: 4:16 minutes)
 

Selena Drappo 

“I’m tired of this happening and we’re not being allowed to fight back.” 
June 7, 2020 
Courtesy Queens Public Library 

(Run time: 4:19 minutes)
 

Georgia Frances King, interviewed by Zoe Grueskin 

“People were finding each other in the isolation baking realm.” 
April 27, 2020 
Courtesy Brooklyn Public Library 

(Run time: 1:38 minutes)
 

Linda Cangieter, interviewed by Virginia Marshall 

“I really don’t miss having to go outside all the time.” 
August 14, 2020 
Courtesy Brooklyn Public Library 

(Run time: 1:53 minutes)
 

Christina Li, interviewed by Virginia Marshall 

“They started laughing and screamed ‘coronavirus’ at me.” 
May 13, 2020 
Courtesy Brooklyn Public Library 

(Run time: 1:13 minutes)
 

Hannah Marshall, interviewed by Virginia Marshall 

“We did not sign up to be martyred.” 
April 25, 2020 
Courtesy Brooklyn Public Library 

(Run time: 1:37 minutes)