About This Project

My name is Rebecca and I am a graduating undergraduate student at the University of Michigan with an Environment B.A. and a Writing Minor.

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Thank you to everyone who helped me make this project. Thank you to my mom for letting me ask and reask the same questions for countless hours and for being my number one cheerleader. Thank you to Julie Babcock, my Minor in Writing (MiW) gateway instructor and Shelley Manis, my Minor in Writing capstone instructor. Thank you to my capstone classmates, Katie Bennert, Izzy Carucci, Mishal Charania, Bella Detwiler, Nina Groll, Micah Hopkins, Irena Li, Ava Meester, Mary Redmond, Mai Tran, Allison Wei, and Julie Zhou – You all have been so kind to me in the process and I will never forget that. Thank you to Fritz Swanson, my project consultant.

 

I’d also like to thank Beth Baker, Jennifer Catey, Shelley Manis again, and Rachel Zaidan who I’ve worked with in the Minor in Writing Student Ambassador role. You have all made my MiW and U-M experience absolutely wonderful.

 

This project was not easy but I knew I had to tackle it because I wanted to understand my family to understand how I show up in the world. I mentally and physically spiraled as I did the task of photocopying the photos, organizing them on my computer, organizing them for a draft, and organizing them for the website. But, I am so glad that I have this tangible project and glad that these photos and stories are documented and protected in a way. I hope my ancestors appreciate all this work!! (And aren’t too mad at me for exposing all their drama!...)

 

I hope this project inspires you to be curious about your family history and record what you can. It can be a radical act to know where you come from even if it's complicated, which it most likely is.

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Works referenced for this piece:

Dear Memory by Victoria Chang

Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong

Tell it Slant: Creating, Refining, and Publishing Creative Non-Fiction by Brenda Miller and Suzanne Paola

Visual Narratives: A Comprehensive Guide on Crafting Powerful Photo Essays by Suzy Suson