COLLECTION NAME:
Jews of Color: Histories and Futures
Record
Collection Name:
Jews of Color: Histories and Futures
Title:
Interview with Maetal Gerson
Title Type:
Devised Title
Name:
Espinola, Rose
Resource Type:
Moving image
Genre:
interviews
Date Created:
2024-05-31
Language Term:
English
Extent:
1 online resource (1 video file, 1 hour, 33 min., 33 sec.)
Form:
digital moving image formats
Abstract:
A recorded zoom interview taken by Kami McDaniel (interviewer) of Maetal Gerson (interviewee) for the Jews of Color: Histories and Futures oral history project on May 31, 2024. Topics include: reform, conservative, and orthodox Jewish day schools, adoption, music and the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, anti-oppression and anti-racism work, rabbinical school, the Covid-19 pandemic, The LUNAR Collective, and security.
Note:
00:00:00 Kami McDaniel (interviewer) introduces Maetal Gerson (interviewee) and the Jews of Color: Histories and Futures oral history project. 00:00:19 Gerson shares about her family and background. She discusses growing up in Los Angeles and being adopted from China. 00:02:27 Gerson discusses her experiences in Jewish day schools and camps growing up and how it changed and some of the racism she experienced. 00:05:15 Gerson discusses her experiences at reform specific Jewish schools. 00:07:41 Gerson discusses spending time with Orthodox family and how it informed her understanding of Judaism?s multifaceted nature. 00:09:32 Gerson discusses her experience being adopted into a white Ashkenazi family and if she had the opportunity to connect with other Jews of Color (JOC) in her community specifically other Asian adoptees. 00:12:49 Gerson discusses music and how her love of music adds to her sense of community. She discusses her time playing piano and cello, the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, and volunteering in Koreatown. 00:19:45 Gerson discusses Jewish and musical learning and education as a method for anti-oppression. 00:25:59 Gerson discusses her choices for going to rabbinical school. 00:30:09 Gerson discusses the influence and inspiration that her mother?s single motherhood had on her. Gerson discusses her conversations about race with her mother as an example of her mother?s love, fortitude, and kindness. 00:36:46 Gerson discusses her mother?s attempts at connecting her with her Chinese ethnicity. 00:41:16 Gerson discusses her experience with anti-Asian sentiments and hate crimes at the start of the pandemic. She discusses connecting with The LUNAR Collective during this time. 00:45:48 Gerson discusses her experience working with the LUNAR Collective, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and the larger Jews of Color (JOC) community. 00:50:47 Gerson discusses the model for adopting children of color in the white Ashkenazi Jewish community. She discusses possible tools that could help white families with adopted children of color. 01:00:31 Gerson discusses her time alone in Chicago at the start of the pandemic and how she found a Jewish community. She also discusses some of the racism she experienced during that time influenced her desire to enter rabbinical school and seek out the JOC communities she ended up being a part of. 01:09:18 Gerson discusses the intricacies of adoptees of color versus white adoptees into Jewish communities. 01:16:44 Gearson discusses the divide between institutions and communities and the way racism is brought into both. Gerson discusses the way institutions employ security and the ways that can make JOC feel unsafe. 01:25:33 Gerson discusses what it means for her to be a Jew and a JOC. 01:33:33 End of recording.
Note Type:
Segment sequence
Subject Topic:
Jews
Subject Topic:
Jewish Holocaust (1939-1945)
Subject Topic:
Rabbinical school
Subject Topic:
Jewish day schools
Subject Topic:
Families
Subject Topic:
Racism
Subject Topic:
COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-)
Subject Topic:
Interracial adoption
Subject Topic:
Music
Subject Topic:
Teaching
Subject Name:
Jewish Council of Urban Affairs
Subject Name:
The LUNAR Collective
Subject Name:
Milken Community School
Subject Name:
Youth Orchestra LA
Subject Geographic:
United States (North and Central America) (nation)
Identifier:
narv_jewsofColor_gersonMaetal_interview.mp4
Physical Location:
University of Colorado Boulder Libraries Rare and Distinctive Collections
Shelf Locator:
COU: 5093
Related Item:
Transcript from interview with Maetal Gerson
Related Item Type:
constituent
Related Item Identifier:
narv_jewsofColor_gersonMaetal_transcript.docx
Date Captured:
2024
Internet Media Type:
audio/mp3
Digital Origin:
born digital
Access Condition:
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).