Interview with Angela Gates (2024-05-21)
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Download lvoh054_GatesAngela_transcript.pdf (341 KB)
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Interviewees
Angela Gates
Interviewer
Mateo McMinn Bautista
Study ID
054
Description
This oral history interview with Angela Gates, conducted by Mateo McMinn Bautista at Virginia Commonwealth University, explores her experiences as a first-generation mixed Latina navigating cultural identity, education, and career aspirations. Born in San Antonio, Texas, to a Panamanian mother and a Puerto Rican-Irish father, Angela recounts her bilingual upbringing, the challenges of relocating to Winchester, Virginia, and the cultural shifts she encountered. She reflects on the impact of her family's attitudes toward language and identity, as well as the difficulties of assimilating into predominantly white environments while striving to maintain her Latinidad. Angela details her academic journey, from attending a bilingual elementary school in Texas to earning her associate degree alongside her high school diploma, ultimately pursuing a doctorate in pharmacy at VCU. She discusses the barriers she faced as a first-generation college student, including financial challenges and a lack of familial guidance. Her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a renewed connection with her Latin heritage, influencing her career path toward serving Spanish-speaking communities in healthcare. Angela’s story highlights the resilience and adaptability required to balance cultural heritage, personal growth, and professional ambition in a multicultural society.
She also reflects on her evolving religious beliefs, her immersion in Richmond’s diverse community, and her aspirations to work in Northern Virginia’s Hispanic healthcare sector. Throughout the interview, Angela candidly addresses familial tensions, particularly with her father, whose opposition to Spanish language use and differing cultural perspectives strained their relationship.
Note
This interview was conducted in English, and the transcript is in English only.
Topical Subject
Panamanian Americans; Puerto Ricans; Hispanic Americans; Latin Americans; Emigration and immigration; Panama; Puerto Rico; Texas--San Antonio; Virginia--Winchester; Richmond (Va.); Education, Bilingual; First-generation college students; First-generation graduate students; Children of immigrants; Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (U.S.); Virginia Commonwealth University. School of Pharmacy; Pharmacy students; COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2023; Vaccination; Religion; Belonging (Social psychology); Group identity
City/Location
Richmond (Va.)
Genre
oral histories (literary genre)
Local Genre
oral history; sound recording; text
Type
Sound; Text
Digital Format
audio/mp3
Language
eng
Rights Statement URL
Rights
This material is protected by copyright, and copyright is held by Angela Gates. You are permitted to use this material in any way that is permitted by copyright. In addition, this material is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). Acknowledgment of Latino Virginia Project and Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries as a source is required.
Collection
Latino Virginia Oral Histories
Contributors
Latino Virginia Project
Source
Interview with Angela Gates (2024-05-21), Latino Virginia Oral History Project, Virginia Commonwealth University.
File Name
lvoh054_GatesAngela_interview.mp3
Disciplines
Latin American History | Latin American Languages and Societies | Oral History | Public History | Social History | United States History