Being that most of Christina’s grandparents had passed away when she was young, she never really had a chance to learn much about her lineage. Christina Ramos is one of 3 children who currently resides in Brooklyn. She had lived there for all of her life. Christina had no special immigrant story to her. All she knew was her family was of Italian, Irish, and Puerto Rican descent. But her only surviving grandma could not bear to speak of the past that she could recollect. Christina never wanted to push her further, so the Ramos family history would be swept to the side for most of her life, until motivated by this project. Although Christina was not personally affected in these stories of immigration, she found value in the what was recovered. It became a part of her own history. Using the memories from her mom, artifacts of the past, and the short stories given by her aunts and uncles, we were able to piece together the story of immigration Joan, Christina’s grandma, lived through.
Current Pic of Christina
Jiovanna Segreto, who went by the name Joan, would not stand to see her country enter a pointless war, so she chose to leave. She was 19 years old in 1940 and Italy had just joined forces with the Axis Powers in World War II under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. These leaders saw it as a simple way for Italy to expand its territory, but many disagreed. She saw it as a waste of time and resources, one which would only lead to the destruction to her home. This land was no longer one that she wanted to associate herself with. On the boat to America, Joan took her parting glance back at Sicily and said one last line to the place she once called home, “I will remember this moment.”
“According to my mom she always repeated this story about leaving Italy by boat and turning her back on her country as they entered the war. She knew the war would hurt innocent families and she couldn’t stand to be a part of that, which is why she left”
And so, she lived with her aunt and uncle in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Leaving her entire family behind would have been scary for most people, but she was more excited than anyone. Like most immigrants, she imagined a dramatic turn in her life.
At her new home, Joan faced immense change. Once living in the in her spacious rural home, she was placed in the busy, fast-paced neighborhoods of Bensonhurst. She began working in a wedding dress factory to support the 10 person household. The entire days with her family she once enjoyed on a regular basis became a luxury over the holidays. But that didn’t affect the bonds she had with her family when they did have time. Missing Italian traditions when she settled into her new life, Joan would often cook Italian dishes for the entire family, from lasagna to chicken parmigiana. This is still a major value Christina incorporates into her own life. Although she can’t cook nearly as well, she takes steps to continuously learn the Italian language. It is her own way of continuing the Italian influence in her own way. But one made the greatest effort to be noticed by Joan, and that person would be her future husband, Christopher.
Adopted into an Italian family in Brooklyn, Christopher had always identified himself as a proud Italian-American. Even though Chris never knew his biological family, he was content with the family he had now, especially Joan. However, this was short-lived. With the rise of the Korean War, he was drafted in the army. Devastated, they did what they could to make their last days together unforgettable. Before he left, Chris had one final request from Jiovanna. They were married the day before he left. This was common for many soldiers of the time, so they would have a love they would return to after the war. But Joan was broken. It was war that would be the reason she had to leave her family, and now it would be the reason her love would leave her. With heavy hearts, they bid their farewells until the next time they would meet. Fortunately, Chris was honorably discharged after a year in the war.
Finally able to settle down after the war, the couple made the most out of their situation. They even had five children. One of which who later become Christina’s mom, JoAnn, named after Joan.
Christina’s grandparents
Named after her grandfather Chris, Christina has finally been given a reason to push further into her family history. What was once an abandoned thought gave her new insight into what truly shaped family. Every immigrant family had struggled in the United States but supported one another to reach higher potential.
Growing up in New York, Christina has seen the true value in the opportunities her family had worked so hard to pass down to her. They desired change, so they took every chance they could to try new things. Whether it may be a new job or a new land, they strove to make the most out of the matter. This bravery is something that inspires Christina to work her hardest every day. But the most important aspect of this story was their unwillingness to assimilate completely to American ideals. There may be plenty of opportunities here, but it comes at a cultural cost. People tend to forget where they came from because the time spent with family now becomes a time you could be paid. Being someone who knew no home other than New York, Christina would not be the same if it weren’t for the influence of her parents. Nonetheless, many aspects of the cultures Christina identifies with now is the result of her family’s desire to remain true to themselves. Everything from Joan’s handmade blanket for her mother or the handmade wedding dress serves as a reminder to how much her grandma and the rest of her family has done to make Christina’s life so much better.
Both her mother and father although once conservative has opened Christina up to adapt a more open view of the world around her, and continuously push her to improve herself. This may have been the story of Joan and Chris, but it is now the story that Christina holds close to her heart, serving as a piece of her own life.
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