Ismay Cumberbatch

Description

Ismay was born and raised in Barbados and later immigrated to Brooklyn. As the youngest of 8 children, Ismay discusses being spoiled as child. She describes her upbringing as strict and talks about being disciplined by neighbors and other adults. She speaks about not always having all of the necessities or technologies, but still having a happy childhood. She remembers her brothers making scooters and kites using wood, milk cans, berries, etc. She talks about some of the changes that have occurred both in the U.S. and Barbados. She remembers going to neighbor’s houses to stay and not being fearful of what could happen. She speaks about not having telephones and using telegrams and the ways that commodities and technologies are changing people. Ismaytalks about being in America for the past 30 years and missing the sense of freedom she experienced in Barbados. She remembers being able to leave doors unlocked and the sense of respect people had for one another. She talks about living in Bed-Stuy when she first moved to Brooklyn. She remembers knowing almost everyone on her block. She emphasizes the lack of friendliness and familiarity in her current home in Bed-Stuy. She talks about raising her two daughters in Brooklyn and ensuring that they graduated from high school and went to college. She talks about her grandson in college and giving him the advice to be kind, be careful, and be good. She talks about the lack of changes with relations between blacks and whites. She...

From Collection

Community Curators

Record Contributed By

Weeksville Heritage Center