Kamren Curiel - "Digging Into My Family's Palo Verde Roots"

An oral history of Kamren Curiel, a freelance journalist from East LA.This interview highlights her childhood in Monterey Park and South San Gabriel, her time at San Francisco State University, and her journey to becoming a journalist, as well as her family's history in Palo Verde and the ways they were impacted by displacement. She also shares her thoughts on the Dodgers, reparations, ICE raids, and how she wants this history taught going forward.(0:22) Discusses her childhood growing up in Monterey Park and South San Gabriel.(0:05:10) Talks about her role models growing up; notes the schools she attended; describes the transition transferring from Shurr High School to South Pasadena High School; explains how she became interested in journalism.(0:11:09) Describes her time at San Francisco State University and her experience working for the school’s student newspaper, the Golden Gater (now the Golden Gate Xpress).(0:15:33) Traces her journey from college graduation to her current position as a freelance journalist.(0:21:30) Explains how she met her husband.(0:26:16) Discusses her family’s ties to Palo Verde, which she publicized in 2021 in “The House On The Hill: Digging Into My Family’s Palo Verde Roots." (https://laist.com/news/la-history/palo-verde-chavez-ravine-history-house-on-the-hill) (0:30:52) Talks about her family receiving the CHA's letter on 6/24/1950 saying their house would be torn down for the 13-story Elysian Heights Public Housing Project; notes that her grandfather had just returned from World War II after suffering a shrapnel wound; says that her great-grandfather died of a heart attack shortly after receiving the letter; speculates that being displaced may have contributed to the heart attack.(0:32:33) Discusses the push and pull factors that led her great-grandfather to move from Mexico to Palo Verde in 1914; notes that he was one of many Mexicans to leave the country during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920).(0:37:05) Describes how her family was impacted by displacement.(0:40:54) Notes that her grandparents only spoke English at home because they were told not to speak Spanish; says she wishes they passed their bilingualism on to the next generation.(0:42:30) Discusses the generational wealth the city stole from her family via eminent domain; notes that their homes would be worth millions today; explains how racial covenants and redlining limited Mexican Americans' housing options after being displaced; describes her grandparents’ transitions from Palo Verde to Commerce and Montebello; touches on her mother's childhood.(0:53:40) Talks about officials terminating the public housing project in 1951, as public housing had come to be associated with communism; speaks on the city using the land to construct Dodger Stadium; says the Dodgers were not celebrated in her home growing up; explains how Fernandomania changed many Mexican American’s views of the Dodgers; wonders if the Dodgers made a conscious effort to win over Mexican Americans to distract people from their role in destroying Palo Verde, La Loma, and Bishop.(0:58:24) Explains how she learned about Palo Verde; shares the only story her grandfather told her about Palo Verde; speaks on how beautiful the communities were.(1:08:34) Talks about the motivation, research, and writing process for her article.(1:13:03) Discusses her view of the Dodgers.(1:14:50) Shares her thoughts on reparations and the Chavez Ravine Accountability Act, which Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed in September 2024.(1:17:57) Talks about the Dodgers’ response to ICE raids near the stadium; notes that many Latinos have withdrawn their support from the Dodgers because they failed to condemn the ICE raids.(1:19:55) Explains how she would like this history taught going forward.