Kinnery Shah photographed by Anila Khan

Using Barbara Beirne’s project as a guideline, HSJ recruited local teenagers to investigate their peers’ experiences of the merging of two or more cultures. Students from Andrew Hill High School, Downtown College Prep, Notre Dame High School, Oak Grove High School, Overfelt High School and Santa Teresa High School shared their first-hand experiences with immigration through interviews, essays, and photography. The assignment was for photography students to team up with their immigrant classmates to create evocative photographs and personalized essays about their experiences immigrating to the Santa Clara Valley.

Margie Kelley, a photography teacher at Santa Teresa High School who works with juniors and seniors, is leading her students through the process. “They were very excited about it, because History San José will be presenting their work…They also really like the idea that work will become part of the museum collection. The whole process felt very real to them.” Downtown College Prep art teacher, Lisette Bourne, concurs, "This project facilitated a deeper understanding for my students what it signifies to be an American. DCP students' daily experiences delve into the high academic standards and a demanding curriculum, which would not be possible without their families. Regardless of where ‘home’ originated, many families made the brave choice to move here and become American.”

History Makers
Becoming American:
The Immigrant Teen Experience in San José
Panel Discussion and Film Showing
Free and Open to the Public
Wednesday, February 13, 6:00 - 8:00pm
MACLA, Center for Latino Arts
510 South First St., San José

The Academic Film Archive of North America will present two short films illustrating some of the challenges of adapting to a new culture. Then, Becoming American photographer Barbara Beirne will join students, teachers and members of the community for an open discussion.

The photographs and essays presented in Becoming American in San José paint a vivid portrait of the teen immigrant experience, from homesickness to relief, from family duty to freedom. Both immigrants and photographers express sensitivity and respect for the different cultures they live with at home and at school, acknowledging both the challenge and the opportunity that are presented by the blending of the two (or more). Becoming American in San José is a fascinating journey through the eyes of teenagers that truly brings home the realities of the immigrant experience.

Sponsored By:

The Kieve Foundation