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Browse your way through American Portrait. Explore stories, prompts and featured collections.
“The tradition I carry on is my ancestor’s Gullah Geechee legacy…”
From the American Portrait episode “I Keep,” Dwight and other Gullah Geechee descendants share their rich culture and legacy of their lands.
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As Dwight from the American Portrait documentary series works to keep land that has been is family for generations, he, his family and Gullah Geechee community share stories of their arts, food, music, faith, language, and land. The Gullah Geechee people are decedents of people enslaved on the American Costal South. From the worst of circumstances, they built a new culture that continues to thrive and grow. Hear stories about the past, present and future of Gullah.
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“It’s not a bar, it’s a home…”
Emma H. from American Portrait’s “I Keep” and others in the food/drink industry share their experiences in navigating their work during COVID-19.
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In the third episode of American Portrait, Emma H. strives to prevent her bar, which has been around for 86 years, from closing down for good. Often a major gathering spot in neighborhoods, bars, restaurants and other food/drink establishments across America face challenges to somehow stay in business since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. From safety measures to permanent closures, people from America’s food/drink industry share their current realities to their beloved establishments that are like second homes for many.
- Looking ahead, I believe there is still hope for the restaurant industry during these difficult covid times! Unity, togetherness, respect and understanding are the key elements.
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“I will speak at any opportunity I can…”
Yolanda B. from the American Portrait documentary series shares her journey as an Indigenous activist. Hear her story and many others across the nation.
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In “I Keep”, the third episode of the American Portrait documentary series, Yolanda joins students in the fight to remove a Texas high school’s Native American mascot. She joins other Indigenous activists around the country who are fighting for their culture, land, and livelihood.
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“That is what New Orleans is about…”
D’Artanian from the American Portrait series and people from the city of New Orleans share things about The Big Easy.
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In “I Work,” the second episode of the American Portrait documentary series, D’Artanian D. and his co-workers give and inside look at life in the Big Easy. Hear from New Orleanians share windows of their diverse and resilient city of New Orleans.
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“I took a risk when I decided to strike…”
The sanitation workers of City Waste Union from the American Portrait documentary series and other workers share the role union organizing plays in their lives.
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In “I Work”, the second episode of the American Portrait documentary series, fourteen New Orleans sanitation workers go on strike to demand higher wages, PPE, and hazard pay. Hear their story and that of workers of all trades as they share the trials and triumphs of labor organizing.
- What gets me out of bed in the morning is as a Union organizer I see the value of collective bargaining. When I walk out my door in the morning I see my neighborhood and I believe that every worker should have this same sense of...
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“My philosophy of education is that anyone can learn…”
Jessica from the American Portrait documentary series joins teachers from across the country sharing their classroom stories, inspirations, struggles, and joys.
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In “I Work,” the second episode of the American Portrait documentary series, Jessica struggles with finding a new teaching job in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. For Jessica, and for teachers across the country, being in the classroom is the American Dream.
- To me, work means creativity and love. A place to grow with my students.
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“She decided to seek asylum in the United States…”
Mahsa from the American Portrait documentary series and other refugees/asylum seekers share their journey from their native lands to become part of American society.
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In “I Dream,” the first episode of the American Portrait documentary series, Mahsa A., whose family sought asylum in the U.S, documents her journey to pursue her American Dream of becoming a doctor. In this feature collection, hear from other refugees and asylum seekers that make up the fabric of American society. What’s your family’s story of coming to America?
- I stand for PEACE. As far as I know I am the only person ( not group) who sponsored a whole refugee family.It was 1988 when a family of 9 came to live with me and my family in Babylon, NY. Two adults and...
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- For my people Autism isn't all bad! My Autism has given me an Adult Level Vocabulary when I was 10 or 11 years old and now My Vocabulary IQ is 120 in the Mildly Gifted Range and it has taught me to really appreciate and enjoy...
- For my people Easter is a celebration of new life. For many, years decorated eggs have been a symbol of that new life and the joy of renewal. Years ago an old gentleman gave me a hand painted egg. It had been emptied and was painted...
- For my people the rituals of spring begin with Lent. Those forty days are a gift to us as a time to look at our lives and consider what we need to do to renew ourselves made make a new start. Just as nature begins a...
- What do you have to say for your people?Share a Story
- For my people the young, the youth. We have so much power that we don't recognize. We are the future. Set your mind free and be whoever you want to be. As we live in this weird times remember to make the best out of it...
- For my people - I am the eighth child in a family of 16; or 17. Our neighborhood was known as "La Paloma" which used to encompass several blocks on a street known as South 18th Street in McAllen, Texas. Everyone who was Hispanic lived on...
- For my people - For my people, the generation that be the zeitgeist of humanity. For my people who like to rob the sun of its glow and spread it across the room. For my people who like to dig up the sounds of ancient...
- For my people , the fellow students. Waking up to go a mere couple of feet to your school. Trying to stay motivated to graduate. Having to be inside for the "best years of our lives".
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- I stand for Integrity and Justice for they can promote peace. In close doors my actions do not demonstrate my true heart's desire however peace in the world is one of my its greater desires which is why I believe that if people embraced more, these...
- I stand for "Feeling My Own Way". Tho' we've only met briefly, this motion overflow my body and my feelings run away with my senses. I really don't understand..don't rush me I need time to preceive these emotions, is it to be Love? It touches many...
- What do you stand for?Share a Story
- I stand for I stand for the good in people. I want to help other people. I want to help somebody with their work or their problems. If they have to go to work and they don't have a babysitter and there friend can babysit for...
- I stand for helping parents maneuver through the Special Education system. As a parent of a special needs son, I felt overwhelmed with all the terms, meetings, and specialists involved with my son's education. When I became a Special Education teacher, I broke it down for...
- I stand for .... an average American woman who has had a lifetime of trials and tributes; connected deeply with family, sickness, freedom, education, and love, I always remind myself every day of the freedoms I have and how grateful for them I am. America is...
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- Looking ahead, I hope to find my new way after the pandemic. I made the decision to close my law practice in 2018. It has taken me @ years to close. It has been tough trying to find my way in a global pandemic. I have...
- Looking ahead, I am rather intimidated by the future. I can see so many possibilities and so many roads of life to walk down, I'm honestly not sure which one is the right one for me. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist so I'm always striving for...
- Looking ahead, I want to make my place bigger and see different types of animals. I also want to extend my places in the US so traveling is easier to do. By doing this, it will help my career be more dependable around the US. I...
- Looking ahead, I am happy spring is starting, you wanted Easter traditions, go to Mass and get together with a friend and her family, since mine are all gone. They are my family now. You asked for thoughts about spring and Easter and this is my...
- Looking ahead, I Looking ahead I see myself going to GCU and studying criminal justice. I see myself growing and learning new things. I see myself working hard and pushing myself beyond every limit. I will be working and getting more introduced to way more things...
- What do you see ahead of you?Share a Story
- Looking ahead, I feel like all I can do is lean on God's promises, believe, and trust. I have been worried about the future of our country due to politics, violence, prejudice, dishonesty, crime, the extreme far right and the extreme far left, xenophobia, hatred. I...
- Looking ahead, I am patiently waiting for spring, for the snow to be gone and for green grass and trees with leaves. However, I live in Alaska, and spring will take a while yet to come. There are over 70 inches of snow on the ground...
- Looking ahead, I see more and better days . I love to sing and the doors for that are slowly opening up again. I get to share the gift I most cherish it has given me an opportunity to reach, touch, share, and create relationships with...
- Looking ahead, I am clarifying my core identity + beliefs; every part of my life. I thought about what I wanted in a partner + changed my dating method. I've been seeing someone for four months. We want to build a life together. I thought about...
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