Eleanor Henry and Solomon Henry

[00:02] ELEANOR HENRY: Hello. My name is Eleanor Henry. I'm 68 years old. Today is May 20, 2023. I'm in New York City. The person that I'm having an interview with is my son, my oldest son, Solomon Henry.

[00:21] SOLOMON HENRY: Okay. And I suppose that I would be, of course. Well, my name is Solomon Henry. With my age being 20 years old. The date, of course, is 520 23. And the name of the interview partner, for me, at least, I suppose it would be Eleanor Henry, who was my mother. That. That's my relationship with her.

[00:47] ELEANOR HENRY: Hi. Hey, Solomon, I have a question for you. How have you changed since you were younger?

[00:57] SOLOMON HENRY: Okay, let's see. Um. Since I was younger, um, I'm gonna try to. To relate back to when I was living in Harlem, because. I don't know. I guess. I guess as I was a child, I really did believe in, like, the, um. The statement that would most. Most exemplify me would be ignorance is bliss. Like, I don't know, ice. I just spent time. Time riding my scooter with my biological mother that are spending time on watching movies on a cathode ion tv. It's like one of those bulkier tvs. And that was pretty much it. I really had, like, a limited worldview as my world essentially just considered an apartment building with more than 25 floors. Floors. A park that was a walk by a hill, neck that. Near a really steep slope on, like, 145th street nearby somewhere. And, yeah, that was pretty much it. But as of now, how I've changed, um, I would say that. That the statement of most exemplars may be the statement, a more so modified version of the statement ignorance is bliss. Like, I guess I would use, I don't know, no video games or other hobbies as an escape from the donuts of life, but maybe a bit of escapism in my current state. But also, I am trying to lead a more fulfilling life. Life with hobbies. I'm. It's more of an on and off thing, but, I mean, there's an. There. There is a change. So there's that.

[02:34] ELEANOR HENRY: I know you're in college. How are you enjoying that experience?

[02:38] SOLOMON HENRY: I guess in this case, it would be a more expanded worldview for me. Me, I met a lot of diverse people. And honestly, before college, during the pandemic, I was just spending a lot of time on the computer. And it's like that thing with news. It only reports the negative stuff in life. So I came to college, think, like, I would see a whole lot of walking stereotypes or stuff like that. But actually, it was pretty nice. I sort of loved that verse and nice people. And then I realized that the world is not how it is depicted on the Internet and I probably need to spend less time on my computer. It'll be better for my eyes.

[03:17] ELEANOR HENRY: Tell me about a time, Solomon, when you felt a sense of belonging and who were you with?

[03:24] SOLOMON HENRY: I can think of a lot of instances where I didn't feel sense of belonging, but honestly I feel my sense of belong with like my friends as that's where I can be my most comfortable and most natural them, I guess. Yeah, just more so with my friends. So I guess I did have a good friend. His name was like, I mean, his nickname was Hottie. I still was unable to pronounce his full first name. I've been doing it wrong for so long. So there's that. And he only told me recently, but yeah, they answered the question was my friend, my friend, with my friend, what.

[03:59] ELEANOR HENRY: Does home means to you?

[04:02] SOLOMON HENRY: I guess a literal definition of it of home would be like a place of shelter. But for me it would just, I mean, I guess in this context it would be a sense place where you would feel belonging. So maybe your shell, your place of shelter would be a physical house, but maybe your own home would be side that room where you feel most at peace or ease or maybe even your own bed.

[04:27] ELEANOR HENRY: Hey, that sounds great. Do you have any questions you want to ask me?

[04:32] SOLOMON HENRY: Well, I suppose I have wondered a lot about you more. So the cultural aspect of you. Um, I was wondering during, okay, first I guess your youth, what have you done as when you were a child?

[04:46] ELEANOR HENRY: We played a lot because I grew up until I was 13 in Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. So we, it's so sunny there all the time. So I had a lot of time playing outside. I remember my nursery school years playing games outside during recess or lunchtime. And when it came here to the states, times of there was a lot of snow that was in the late sixties, seventies. So a lot of the snowball fights and just, just having fun. It was a lot more outside because tv was just becoming popular then.

[05:30] SOLOMON HENRY: Fair enough. Um, I, I guess. How have you changed since you were younger? Like, could you think of a phrase, a common phrase that would best describe you from the past and you and.

[05:42] ELEANOR HENRY: Now more responsible and I've always cared about people and interacting with people. My father is a big influence in the things that I learned to do that I like to do, especially travel because he worked at the airport. And when he took me just to walk through first airplane, that was it. For me, and I love to travel a lot. So from being able to do that and experiencing different cultures, different persons, I've nothing. Never been afraid of interacting with very people, lots of people from backgrounds all over, and especially when I travel.

[06:29] SOLOMON HENRY: Fair enough. I never liked airplanes, but I guess the idea of flying is very nice. Airplanes have ruined it for me, though. I guess my next question would be more so about who in your life has been the biggest influence on your ideas about other cultures and diversity. What are some of the things that he taught you? Like, I really want to focus more on, like, difference of appreciation of other cultures versus in Jamaica versus that in America.

[07:00] ELEANOR HENRY: Ah, just the different people that I met along my path, I can remember from back in Jamaica. I said, my dad, he, as a chef, he worked with individuals from various backgrounds and some from syrian background. And I got to meet and connect with them as he took me to meet them, and different types of food. When I came to the states, the school that I attended also had a variety of children, and it so happened because I was from another, like a foreign country. They put me in a class with individuals. They're learning to speak English. I didn't stay there long because they realized I did speak English, but I met with people from Greece, from Ireland, and yes, some of them spoke English, but other countries, and had a good interaction with them. I appreciate culture from traveling. As I've been to various caribbean islands. One of the first places, the places that I've gone to that I'd love to go back to is Israel. I love the food and the diversity of the vegetables and things that they have in their meals. And spanish culture. I haven't gone to Japan, but I love japanese food and appreciate their culture. Definitely chinese, Korean, a lot. Especially in spanish culture that I really love and enjoy the food.

[08:42] SOLOMON HENRY: All right, fair enough. Also, I guess, fun fact, general souls is not actually chinese. I found that out, like, a few days ago. I've been lied to. I guess the next question would be this, more so on from a cultural thing. Like, what are some traditions that make you think of home? Like, have you carried on any of these traditions? I mean, like, traditions from Jamaica?

[09:04] ELEANOR HENRY: Even though I haven't continued carrying it on, the tradition of foods, of Christmas, because we don't celebrate thanksgiving in Jamaica, so I celebrate thanksgiving here, but it reminds me of the Christmas traditions we had in Jamaica. And one of the foods especially, actually, it's a drink that I love to make, even when it's not Christmas, is called a sorrel drink, and it's from a very specific plant. It's reduced, but it's very delicious. And my mom used to make it, and I remember learning from her, and I continued to do that. Other traditions was, we love to go to shows. I don't know if you want to call that a tradition, but to church? Yes, we went to church, and in church, there was the singing that we did. We all participate in that and just enjoying fellowship with others. And dancing. That's dancing. Music and dancing. Always part of a culture that's from Jamaica, and I enjoy doing that here.

[10:15] SOLOMON HENRY: All right, thanks. I guess another question would be your relationship with your neighbors? Like, I am trying to become more social. I was wondering, how did you casually, naturally came about to have a relationship with your nate of your neighbors?

[10:32] ELEANOR HENRY: Well, the neighbors and the home where we live, been there for almost 18 years, and at one point in time, I was on the board because it's a co op building. And so through that, getting to know various people in the building. Neighbors, yes. That needed help. And as we've seen each other or things, you know, happen, sometimes you meet at the mailbox or you meet downstairs in the laundry room. And I remember there's one individual that to this day, even though she moved away, that was a deaf individual there in the building. And even though I didn't know sign language, we connected, and we still have a bond to this day. And we, of course, thank God to text in on the phone. We'll text. And just like, I miss you. I miss you. She just, you know, that's just been like a big bond. Another bond was to your. When you were in elementary school, Solomon and another neighbor had her grandchild in elementary school, and when there was snowstorms or just issues getting to the school, we would drive and connect and work with each other. So that was just. That was another way. And she's older now and needs help, and I still connect with her and help her sometimes just take her to the movies because she's unable to drive anymore. So that's been a big part. And I enjoy the connections that I've had with my neighbors.

[12:10] SOLOMON HENRY: Fair enough. Another question I suppose I would have would be like, what misconceptions do people have about culture of Jamaica? I suppose.

[12:20] ELEANOR HENRY: Well, Jamaica being west ending Jamaicans, because at one point in time, they were under England until independence. They are very proud people, and a lot of people that it kind of can be off putting at times because they're go getters. Not at all, but a majority. And even for myself, encouraging, definitely education, home ownership, just remembering who you are, where you came from, and just putting your best foot forward at all times. And one other aspect that I found even in my own family, Jamaicans, they're not afraid to travel. And you find us in all various parts of the world, Canada, England, Europe, arabian countries, and countries in the Mediterranean, definitely in the military. So that's a big part of that. Also came to find out through my family member family, checking their ancestry, that we had a relationship to General Powell, one of the generals that was here, a big part of our country, and for years, you know, so, yeah, just not afraid to take that step forward, no matter what industry or what country that we are or wherever we're placed or wherever we need to go to better ourselves.

[14:02] SOLOMON HENRY: Okay. I guess. And, I mean, there's more of a top in, like, american things, like. But, you know, it's like, diversity is something. Is a more of a more modern topic, at least in America, I suppose. What do you think it means to honor people's differences? And I mean, more like, in the context of, like, I guess, like, more so on, like, forced diversity, like. Like the good way to honor people's differences versus the bad way of honoring people's differences.

[14:34] ELEANOR HENRY: Differences.

[14:36] SOLOMON HENRY: Cultural, racial, ethnic backgrounds.

[14:40] ELEANOR HENRY: For me, I've never, you know, as far as people's racial backgrounds and their differences, I have been. I've been willing to accept it, what, you know, especially cultural, and to learn from them, because I guess that started, I said early in childhood, you know, being introduced to black people would say, okay, that they're white, as opposed to we're, you know, we're black or we're african Americans now, or. Because in Jamaica, we have Indians, we have Indians from India, we have chinese people, you know, from that were originally from China. We have. There was a lot of syrian population, but just white. What did consider white overall. So even in the schools that I attended, I had that from early. I just didn't. No go to a school that was just all black school. And when I came here, I had that same experience from there to college, from where I work, the background place where I work, there's just people from various cultures where I live even now where we live. So I've always appreciated that and learned from it, especially on the food, because I enjoy eating, enjoying the food, and learn, you know, having that experience through that and learning more their music, enjoy their music, their dance, you know, and what I've learned from that.

[16:17] SOLOMON HENRY: Fair enough, I guess. And I suppose more so of a closing question. What is your wish for future generations. And I guess, more specifically, what is your wish for my future? Any specifics?

[16:29] ELEANOR HENRY: Yes. For future generations. There's a lot to learn, and I know you know. Yes. When you come 18, everyone tries to. Okay, now you're adult. What does that mean exactly? I didn't know what that meant. And I went through a lot of things, not listening to my parents, being obedient and so to speak, in quotes, and went off enjoying. Yes, I wanted to party. Yes, I worked, and I enjoy that, or to spend money. But since then, I've learned to be responsible, especially regarding finances and savings, how important that is. Say, if you want to take a trip or even just want to go out to dinner, to have the finances to do that and still being able to pay your bills. The. The connection in their learning, you may not know. Some people do know. For instance, you do, you know, have an idea what your major is going to be in college. But I didn't. I started off wanting to maybe think about doing medicine. Then I, when I finally finished, completed, I did computer science and end up working in the finance area on Wall street. Retired, volunteered at a local non for profit organization, helped there, and they liked what I did. I was hired there, working with children. And from there I got into the foster care system. And eventually, now I've adopted. You are one of those young men and another, and I continue to work within the foster care system, this organization that sponsored us here today. Culture, for one. I've always enjoyed the arts, going to different shows and museums, and that has helped to bolster the young people and expose them. And I trust and pray for that, that through some of these experiences, they, too, and the next generation, will learn and grasp what that means and go forward and build so they can then become the homeowners or car and need to travel. The things that I've come to enjoy for themselves.

[19:05] SOLOMON HENRY: Okay, then. That was good to know.

[19:12] ELEANOR HENRY: If there. I'd love to say thank you, Solomon, for sharing this great experience with me. And thanks to starry cop. This was awesome. I don't want to get too emotional, but I just. Thank you.

[19:26] SOLOMON HENRY: Now had an up. Thanks. Sorry, Gus. I suppose I had an opportunity to learn more about you in a more casual, natural manner. So there's that.

[19:36] ELEANOR HENRY: Yeah. So thank you. Thank you, Solomon. And thank you, StoryCorps and culture, for one.