An interview with Tamar concerning our program on slavery

The following is an interview with Tamar, one of the participants in our program, done by her mom. All questions, answers and commentary are from that interview, including the commentary as respects her mother's relationship with Lucy. The interview took place on October 4, 2009 shortly before her ninth birthday. It was in regard to a video she watched portions of that deals with modern slavery. Tamar was unable to watch the entire video and it affected her deeply emotionally and physically.

Q: Why did you stop watching the video?

A: It was very upsetting to see. It made me angry. It made me feel so sad that I just couldn't watch it.

Q: What were the parts that had this impact on you?

A: In the video slaves were being beaten. I couldn't watch that happening.

Q: How were they beaten?

A: I don't want to explain it, how they were treated.

Q: Were the slaves freed in the video?

A: When the slaves were working they were very sad. I could tell by the expression on their faces. It was of pain and it was painful to look at their faces.

Q: You are now working on an exhibit to represent the continuum of slavery from the past to the present. Is that painful for you?

A: No, this feels good because what we are doing will help free people all over the world.

Q: Did you know that your work would have that impact when you began this project at Philipse Manor Hall?

A: Yes

Q: When did you know that?

A: The first day.

Q: Before this group and project, did you wonder about slavery?

A: Yes

Q: How?

A: I understand about it because I know that even people we see in this world, walking by us on the street every day could have been slaves.
(Tamar's awareness came from our, really my, relationship with Lucy, a woman who worked for my family as a house cleaner when I was growing up. Tamar met Lucy once and learned how my mother found her sleeping on a park bench, newly arrived from Africa. Lucy became a part of our family when I was growing up in a variety of ways and has, over time, brought 23 members of her family here from Africa.)

Q: Who do you think we see who may have been slaves?

A: I know some people seem to consider themselves higher standards than other people we see. We see people who have to fight for themselves to be on such standards. It seems like many years ago but they are always trying to catch up and get to their dreams.

Tamar stated "I am out of energy. Let's stop."