Ariana Jones and Mufungwa Kananda
Recorded
August 6, 2022
Archived
August 6, 2022
46:24 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
atl004672
Description
Partners, Ariana Jones (28) and Mufungwa "Carl" Kananda (31), return to StoryCorps Atlanta to take stock of these last three years.Subject Log / Time Code
Mufungwa Carl Kananda (31) reflects on being back in the StoryCorps Atlanta recording booth. Ariana Jones (28) says today does not feel real.
M.Carl talks about Ariana being an historian and documentarian by choice. He says today's conversation is an extension of Ariana's personality.
Ariana says she generally processes trauma visually. For today's conversation, she says she is using her voice to document something positive.
M.Carl remarks that Ariana looks different to him today. Ariana says she feels as different as she looks.
M.Carl and Ariana remember having just gone to court when they visited StoryCorps Atlanta, 3 years ago. Ariana talks about being awarded visitation with one of her sisters. She says even that is gone now.
Ariana talks about her efforts to remove her sisters from an abusive environment. She says the legal system failed. She says she no longer has any connection to her past life.
Ariana says M.Carl has been an amazing source of support.
M.Carl talks about Ariana in terms of then and now. M.Carl remembers meeting Ariana and hearing her talk about her sisters. He talks about his own desire to be with his people in the Congo.
Ariana says M.Carl's initial impression of her was not real. M.Carl remembers Ariana wanting to go to law school. He says she had big dreams.
M.Carl talks about Ariana's authentic joy for black culture.
M.Carl talks about his own transitions. He says there have been times when he has felt disconnected from Ariana.
Ariana says many of the characteristics M.Carl associates with her identity were not her choice. She says her interest in going to law school was coming from a place of trauma.
M.Carl talks about Ariana's capacity to love in terms of his own love for his family.
M.Carl says he loves how open Ariana is - that no conversation is taboo. He says he loves how much Ariana loves black people.
M.Carl remembers Ariana wanting to go to law school to change the system for her sisters. He talks about making adjustments as they continue to journey.
Ariana talks about the 10 years she and M.Carl have been together. She says no matter who you are with, there will be something to go through.
M.Carl says being snatched from his life in the Congo, and having to adapt to the United States, is something he has had to go through.
M.Carl says Ariana is honorable and that he is thankful for having experienced so much together. Ariana says she has never been loved and seen as M.Carl loves and sees her.
Ariana says she does not want to hold Carl back. She says she does not have a clear picture of her future. M.Carl says Ariana is doing a great job of just being.
Ariana talks about lawyers being miserable.
Ariana says she wants to go everywhere with M.Carl. She says he is serious and unserious at the same time.
Ariana and M.Carl talk about how much they talk. They agree that the best conversations are with people who are aware of their journey.
Participants
- Ariana Jones
- Mufungwa Kananda